Key Takeaways from IFPA’s Floral Event: Trends, Challenges, & Opportunities

Introducing Colleen Fagundus: IFPA’s New Director of Floral

We were introduced to Colleen Fagundus, the new director of floral at IFPA. This is a big job, and she handled her new role beautifully. Welcome!

A New Event Connecting Floral Breeders & Mass Market Buyers

Much to my surprise, there were 25 breeders with displays at this new event for me. Most of the big names in breeding were present, including Deliflor, Ball, and Esmeralda (Genviv), all sponsors of Flowersandcents.com.

Challenges in the Floral Supply Chain

The concept for the event is to have floral breeders meet directly with mass market buyers. However, connecting the dots is not so simple. Breeders in general do not sell directly to supermarkets; they sell to growers who then sell to distributors.

Insights from the 250 Attendees: Valentine’s Day & Market Trends

My first question to all of them and the 250 attendees was, “How was Valentine’s?” Not surprisingly, the answers were all positive, which is what I have heard from importers and wholesalers alike.

Sustainability & Environmental Concerns in the Floral Industry

Since IFPA is about produce as well as flowers, there was much discussion about sustainability and all the components that affect it: packaging, climate change, carbon footprint, immigration, and chemical use.

Consumer Behavior & Floral Purchasing Trends

Women are the main purchasers of floral products. Health and wellness are big drivers of floral purchasing decisions by consumers.

Economic Impact on the Floral Industry

There was an interesting presentation about the economy, highlighting that 10% of households own 76% of the wealth, while the bottom 50% hold only 1%.

The Future of the Floral Market: Industry Leaders Weigh In

There was a panel discussion with some large bouquet manufacturers. They were very bullish on the market looking ahead over the next 5 to 10 years. Many of the challenges facing floral will be addressed and some will get fixed.

Final Thoughts & Video Review of the Event

There you have it—my take on what I heard. I invite you to look at my video review where you can see the products and the people that are making it happen.

Click here to watch the video review

Williee Armellini
Editor: Flowersandcents.com
[email protected]
The Original Floral Blog