Groenland and the L&M Group merged in June of this year to form the One Flora Group. With a turnover of EUR 400 million, the retail-oriented company is now one of the giants in the sector. John Celie and Jan-Willem Leeuwenburg are the CEOs of the merged company.
The companies have known each other for some time, L&M Group and Groenland. Groenland is one of L&M Group's clients. Originally a commission agent, L&M has always been very procurement-oriented, with its own nurseries and close partnerships with growers, says CEO Jan-Willem Leeuwenburg (JWL) in One Flora Group's office in Aalsmeer. "We find that we need each other for continuity. We are partners of our growers and try to get the best out of them. Groenland, on the other hand, is strong on the sales side."
Together with the man behind Groenland, John Celie (JC), Leeuwenburg forms the management of the merged company. "We find that our customers are increasingly demanding that we do business even more directly with growers, that we sign multi-annual contracts with them and market complete crops. Also, our customers indicate that they want to accelerate in the field of sustainability. This means that we will have to build a closer relationship with our suppliers. Moreover, retailers have different sales patterns than growers. We must create a buffer for that. L&M's purchasing is so well developed that we can take steps forward."
