European Flower Growers Face Financial Crossroads During COVID-19
April 12, 2020 
The European horticulture industry is dealing with the same COVID-19-related concerns as growers in the U.S. As a result, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) says financial support for ornamental producers has become critical.
While AIPH recognizes that many governments have announced financial support packages for businesses in their countries, some do not fully understand the specific threats facing European flower growers. In response, AIPH has prepared a document explaining the impact that the current crisis is having on production businesses in the sector.
According to Rachel Wakefield, AIPH Communications Executive, sales of plants in many European countries have ceased due to the closure of many retail outlets; consumers focusing on essential purchases only; the closure of borders or reduction of available flights for flowers; and landscape and construction projects being put on hold. Those retailers that are still open are focused on food products, and some have stopped sales of ornamental horticulture products. Some online and delivery sales are continuing, but this represents a small market share for these typical impulse purchase products.
For flowers, the sales windows have passed, and crops must now be disposed of on-site. Growers of flowers and seasonal plants must decide whether to risk planting/sowing the next batch and unsold stock reduces space available for subsequent planned crops.
Wakefield says the consequences for producers without financial support are many:
- Urgent cash flow crisis
- Revenue has dropped to almost nothing during a period when most profit is usually earned and when the return on investment is expected. This pause leaves no money to pay staff and re-invest in crop maintenance and new crops.
- Stock wastage
- Considerable volumes of stock are rapidly becoming unsaleable due to perishability or missing sales windows. This stock will have to be written-off, which will reduce the stock valuation on company balance sheets making many businesses insolvent within weeks.
- Bankruptcy
- Typically, businesses in this sector run on narrow profit margins. Without support, a significant proportion of these businesses are likely to go out of business during 2020.
Financial Support Required
European flower growers urgently require the following financial assistance to remain in business, Wakefield says:
- Grant funding to support the cost of staff (including those who cannot work and those maintaining crops) during the crisis.
- Grant funding to support the cost of stock, which will be written-off.
- Grant and/or liquidity assistance for the additional costs of managing stock for longer periods than normal.
“It is critical that governments act now to financially support ornamental horticulture producers,” says AIPH Secretary General, Tim Briercliffe. “These are not like manufacturing businesses where production can be paused and re-started later with only staff costs to cover. The perishability and timing of plant and flower products make this sector particularly vulnerable and requiring significant additional help. The industry supports the need for measures to control COVID-19; but for it to survive, urgent financial support is required.”
Subscribe to eNewsletter
