HortiTrends Weekly Comment & News Digest January 18th

Brand Ireland is taking a bashing at the moment. The Bord Bia Supported 'Quality Assurance 'Origin Ireland'??? Scheme' sticker is the visual connection that consumers make with Ireland and its produce. You may think that Fresh Produce & Ornamental Horticulture are not affected. In the mind of the consumer, when they are put in the position of maybe paying a little extra for an ornamental plant or fresh produce with the 'Grown In Ireland' sticker on it, they may well ask themselves; I wonder was it? and then proceed to pick up a cheaper imported alternative. We recently noted the withdrawal of a tender - Cancellation of Tender for ITT for the provision of Horticulture Quality Assurance Scheme Auditing Services.' and made an inquiry, which resulted in this response "Following a review of all tender submissions and an internal review of resources, Bord Bia has decided to cancel this tender. To offer increased efficiencies, savings and prevent an audit fee increase, the work will be conducted within Bord Bia." The relevant trade organisations will need to ascertain that the personnel, funding and resources are in place to carry out these important audits.

Tradeshow season is underway again with IPM ESSEN starting on the 22nd of January. Out of the traps first in Ireland is Rentes Plants with their ever successful Spring Plant Fair. The company has weathered the recent storm and reports 2011 figures of €3.25 million of sales based on 600,000 individual plants sold in the Business Profile - Rentes Plants Serving Irish Horticulture Sector for 35 Years. After 35 years of business in Ireland the company has won all of the usual and most sought after awards. Aside from his hardworking staff Wiet has a distinct advantage over many of his competitors, which is a strong team of family members, with distinct roles and responsibilities, who have been involved in bringing the business through the storm, stabilising it and are now pushing it forward, as the business begins to grow again. 

You can read about another company who are also on a steady footing for the future in Turfcare Group Emerges from Successful Examinership. With the backing of its creditors and the courts they have gone through the stringent process that Examinership entails. If the wolves are at the door this is a credible option and should be looked at by all struggling companies, while they are still in a fit state to trade.

There may be some hoping that the marketing power of the Dutch will be dented as the Flower Council of Holland Lays of 21 Employees .They do not give up market share without a fight and it will be interesting to see what the growers will do to bridge the marketing gap.

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