German-based propagator and plant producer Emsflower recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its location in Emsbüren, Germany, welcoming more than 700 customers, suppliers, and fellow growers for a jubilee day. The occasion also served as the official introduction of a newly completed 14-hectare greenhouse expansion. Visitors were taken on a tour of approximately 3.5 kilometres through the facilities, with staff on hand at each stop to explain the various stages of production.
© Mirthe Walpot | HortiDaily.comTom and Bart Kuipers. View more photos of the anniversary day here (link in Dutch)
The route passed through cultivation departments, processing lines, logistics systems, and breeding areas, and past kilometres of colourful plants. Visitors were shown the full production chain, from cutting to finished product, as well as the development of the company over the past two decades and details of the recent expansion.
From Kwekerij Kuipers to Emsflower
The family business traces its origins to 1954, when Jan Kuipers founded Kwekerij Kuipers in De Lutte, the Netherlands. His son Bennie Kuipers joined the business in 1977. In 2003, construction began on a new site in Emsbüren, Germany, and Tom and Bart Kuipers joined the company. The business was officially renamed Emsflower in March 2006, marking the formal opening of the German location.
Tom and Bart, the two managing directors, reflect positively on the past twenty years. "Our mother always told us: 'Don't go into horticulture, it means working seven days a week.' In the end, we both did, and the past twenty years have gone quickly."
© Mirthe Walpot | HortiDaily.comPart of the cultivation team at Emsflower
Expansion
The family business traces its origins to 1954, when Jan Kuipers founded Kwekerij Kuipers in De Lutte, the Netherlands. His son Bennie Kuipers joined the business in 1977. In 2003, construction began on a new site in Emsbüren, Germany, and Tom and Bart Kuipers joined the company. The business was officially renamed Emsflower in March 2006, marking the formal opening of the German location.
Tom and Bart, the two managing directors, reflect positively on the past twenty years. "Our mother always told us: 'Don't go into horticulture, it means working seven days a week.' In the end, we both did, and the past twenty years have gone quickly."
© Mirthe Walpot | HortiDaily.comView more photos of the anniversary day here (link in Dutch)
From Emsbüren to Ethiopia
The Emsbüren site is the company's largest location. It produces bedding and patio plants, as well as tomatoes and cucumbers, across 18 hectares of cultivation area. The total site covers 78 hectares of greenhouse space and also includes the garden centre XXL Gartenwelt and a visitor attraction, the Erlebnispark, which draws around 300,000 visitors annually. A staff hotel with 150 rooms is also located on the premises.
In addition to Emsbüren, Emsflower operates a production site in Erica, in the Netherlands, where approximately 7 hectares are used for bedding plants, patio plants, and young vegetable plants. The company also propagates cuttings at a facility in Modjo, Ethiopia, where species including pelargonium, osteospermum, chrysanthemum, lavender, and bidens are propagated. The cuttings are then transported to Emsbüren for further growing-on. Strawberries are also produced at the Ethiopian site, not originally part of the plan, but an activity that was already taking place there and has proven successful.
© Mirthe Walpot | HortiDaily.com
Part of the TB Emsland Gemüse team.
Breeding and new crops
The tour also highlighted the company's breeding activities and trials with new crops. Three greenhouses within the new facility have been dedicated to breeding work. "In breeding, we focus on characteristics that can also be grown at scale," says Bart. "You can develop all kinds of varieties, but ultimately they have to fit into production and come with a viable market price."
A trial with water-based lettuce cultivation is also underway. According to Tom, there may be opportunities in this area. "In lettuce, there is still a major transition taking place from open-ground to protected cultivation. We are now running a small trial to explore what is possible."
Family business
Emsflower employs around 330 permanent staff in Europe, with additional seasonal workers brought on during peak periods. For Bart, the development of the team is one of the most significant achievements of the past two decades. "The company has grown, and the team has grown with it."
Tom is equally proud of the position the nursery is in today. "We have a concept in which we control the entire chain — from cutting to finished product. And at the same time, we are still a family business."
After the tour of the company, it was time for a party in the big barn. On Saturday, the company opened its doors for all visitors to celebrate 20 years of Emsflower.
View our photo report here (link in Dutch)
