Connecting with Our Supply Chain in Ethiopia and Kenya
In May 2025, a team from JZ Flowers travelled to Ethiopia and Kenya to connect with some of our most important growing partners. The goal? To see first-hand the people, places and practices that shape the flowers we supply – and to better understand the wider impact of our work across the supply chain.
Over the course of several packed and eye-opening days, we visited farms, hospitals, schools and community projects that are deeply rooted in both sustainability and social responsibility. In Ethiopia, we spent time with Afriflora Sher and Herburg Roses – two major suppliers for UK retail with impressive scale, but equally impressive values. From on-site hospitals and educational support to smart water use and pest control methods, these businesses are setting the bar for what sustainable floriculture can look like.
In Kenya, we visited Van den Berg Roses, Nini Roses, and the new Packed at Source Africa bouquet facility. Each site showed a clear commitment to quality, innovation, and community investment – whether through training programmes, staff wellbeing initiatives, or local school partnerships. What stood out most was the pride, passion and professionalism of everyone we met.
Huge thanks to our colleagues at Dutch Flower Group, DFG Africa, and all our hosts for their generosity and openness. Trips like this are a powerful reminder that the beauty of what we do isn’t just in the flowers themselves – it’s in the people, partnerships and purpose behind them.