MM Flowers

Over the last few weeks, we have hosted ‘Trusted to Challenge’ training sessions for our operational management teams. Linking to our company values, the workshops equip our leaders with the knowledge and tools to challenge safety breaches, quality issues and incorrect behaviours.   Throughout the sessions, our teams explored why it is important to challenge constructively and their own personal challenges in giving feedback, what should be challenged and how to challenge using a simple feedback tool and some role play scenarios.    We had an incredible 84 managers from our Production and Warehousing teams attend the training sessions over the last 2 weeks and we look forward to hosting more of these sessions in the future! #MeaningfulMoments

Last week we had the pleasure of supporting the Mayor of Huntingdon with the annual Christmas Market and Huntingdon Town Council's 50th celebration in support of four local charities in the area: Dreamdrops, Hunts Forum, Royal British Legion and Young Lives vs Cancer (Veronica Claxon Memorial Fund). Both the Mayor and Mayoress stopped by our Alconbury site to collect some beautiful vases that our NPD Team had created for their event! #MeaningfulMoments

A massive thank you to our team who donated advent calendars over the last few weeks! We recently dropped off over 100 advent calendars to the Children’s Ward at Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust who were extremely grateful for the generosity of the MM Flowers Team! #MeaningfulMoments

A very exciting opportunity to join the Poplar team. Please register your interest with our recruitment team. resourcing@mm-flowers.com.

A great morning introducing some talented Cambridge university masters students to our business. I don’t think I’ve ever had so many questions on one site tour! I hope the students all went away with a greater understanding of the flowers production process and how automation will benefit us for the future. #mmflowers #meaningfulmoments #IfMCambridge #CambridgeUniversity

We are delighted to announce that MM Flowers has acquired Poplar Farm Flowers, the largest tulip grower in the UK. This is exciting news for both our customers and our employees.   Our CEO, Phil Whelan, said about the acquisition: “We are delighted to bring Poplar Farm Flowers into the MM family. This is a very important investment for us as we work to shorten our supply chains, reduce our carbon footprint and increase our supply of British-grown cut flowers. All of that with the ultimate aim of creating what we call meaningful moments for our customers, end consumers and employees.”    ANDREW ELLIS, managing director of Poplar Farm Flowers, said: “Becoming part of MM secures Poplar’s future. Like MM we are a family business. We’ve been successful for 64 years and this move will enable us to invest and build our business for years to come. There is growing demand for fresh cut British-grown flowers – with all the environmental and freshness benefits that it brings – and we’re now perfectly placed to respond.”    This acquisition is our latest investment in the home-grown flower market, and follows the opening of the UK Field Crop Centre in Lincolnshire in 2022.   In summer 2024, we also acquired Moolenaar, a Netherlands-based bulb business. The Moolenaar acquisition has strengthened the group’s bulb capacity, customer relationships and provides access to the garden centre sector with dried bulbs, gift packs and other bulb-related products. Both Poplar and Moolenaar will also have access to our amazing Apex Plant Research Centre. #MeaningfulMoments

Flower suppliers MM Flowers Flamingo Horticulture and JZ Flowers collaborated together to provide shared Stronger Together training to their growers. 💐 Working together in partnership among businesses enhances industry standards, demonstrating a commitment towards human rights and ethical practices. Our training supported growers to understand modern slavery and forced labour. It also increased awareness on how growers could deter, detect and deal with the issues identified. Jonathan Young #togetheragainstslavery #antislaveryweek #responsiblesourcing #ethicalpractices #modernslaveryawareness

What a night last week at the FPC Fresh Awards 🤩 We are delighted to announce that we received the FPC 'Supermarket Floral & Plant Supplier of the Year' award 🏆 The judges' comments: "MM Flowers has earned the trust of major UK and European retailers to breed, grow, import, pack, and deliver flowers directly by always prioritising the quality and fulfilment of its orders. The business has shown exceptional energy in developing sustainable practices and innovative ideas." We were also thrilled to see Marks and Spencer win 'Online Floral Retailer of the Year', with voters commenting that the "quality is unbeatable', "M&S flowers are fresh, smell great, and last for more than a week" and that they have "never been disappointed" - a great indication of our hard work paying off! 👏🏼 #FPCAwards #MeaningfulMoments

Fairtrade turns 30 years old! MM Flowers is proud to work closely with our producers, customers and The Fairtrade Foundation as we continue to advocate for fair conditions throughout our supply chain. By choosing to buy Fairtrade flowers, you are buying more than just a beautiful bouquet. The premium generated by Fairtrade sales is used to finance programmes chosen by farm workers themselves; projects that support women’s empowerment, education and healthcare are popular choices. Below, Evans Obiri an employee at one of our partner farms in Naivasha, Kenya reflects on how Fairtrade premiums have personally benefited her. “I have been benefiting from Fairtrade premiums since 2016. To date these have enabled me to acquire items including a gas cooker, solar panels, chairs, and fencing for my home. I have educated my children to a higher level, and I believe my future will be brighter. I hope for continued support from Fairtrade and encourage Fairtrade customers to buy more flowers so that more premiums can be generated.” Be the change. Choose Fairtrade #MeaningfulMoments