German discount supermarket Aldi and flower distributor JZ Flowers have renewed their supply contract that sees the Dutch firm provide 33 million fresh flower stems annually to Aldi stores in Ireland.
JZ Flowers recently opened a new €1.3m packing plant in Naas. The 51,000 sq ft facility, which employs 54 staff, is dedicated solely to supplying Aldi’s 137 Irish stores.
Aldi says it sold 4.2 million bouquets through 2018, and claims to be Ireland’s biggest retailer of fresh cut flowers, with a market share estimated at 21.1% by value.
JZ Flowers was established in 1990 in Britain, when Dutch entrepreneur Jelle Zwemstra imported flowers and plants from Holland to sell direct to florists in the Yorkshire region.
In 1997 JZ Flowers International was formed, in partnership with the Dutch Flower Group, to expand trade in the UK.
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A decade later the company had three packing sites in the Hull area, plus a wholesale operation in Spalding. The company is also active in the US and in Turkey. JZ Flowers International had turnover of £125 million in 2017 and operates on a gross profit margin of 11.9%. Pre-tax profit in 2017 was £5 million.
JZ Flowers and Aldi Ireland have been working together since 1999, when JZ began supplying Aldi’s Irish stores from the UK. In 2016 JZ Flowers established a 10,000 sq ft packing facility in Naas at Aldi's behest.
JZ Flowers commercial manager Wayne Rowlatt commented: “Aldi’s unique partnering and sourcing model provides the confidence to invest in and develop our Irish operations. We’re immensely proud of our new facility in Naas and our dedicated team that supplies fresh flowers daily for Aldi’s customers throughout Ireland.”
Aldi buying director John Curtin added: “We now work with over 175 Irish suppliers, and these relationships allow us to provide our customers with the very best products at unbeatable prices. In turn, our suppliers receive the security they need to invest in their businesses to lower costs and improve quality for Aldi and our shoppers.”
Photo: Wayne Rowlatt with Aoife Habenicht, buying director at Aldi Ireland. (Pix: Conor McCabe Photography)
