3. abril 2026
Flower Sourcing in Ethiopia : Visit to HortiFlora Expo in Addis Ababa (March 24–26)
From March 24th to 26th, I had the opportunity to visit the HortiFlora Expo in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — one of the key events in the East African flower industry.
It was a very valuable and enjoyable experience, bringing together a wide range of flower growers, suppliers, and industry professionals.
🌹 A strong presence of quality suppliers
The exhibition featured a diverse group of flower farms and exporters, including both Ethiopian growers and companies with international (including Dutch) ownership.
A wide variety of products were showcased:
- Premium roses
- Spray roses
- Summer flowers
- New and existing varieties
What stood out most was the overall quality.
Some suppliers presented exceptional roses with:
- strong stems
- large flower heads
- vibrant colours
Others offered slightly smaller varieties, but still with very good quality and consistency, suitable for different market needs.
Overall, the level of professionalism across suppliers was clearly visible.
🌱 Visiting a flower farm near Addis Ababa
As part of the trip, I also visited a flower farm located about one hour of Addis Ababa.
This gave valuable insight into the full production and export process.
🔧 The process in short:
- Flowers are grown in controlled greenhouse environments
- Once ready, they are carefully cut at the right stage
- Stems are sorted and graded based on length and quality
- Flowers are hydrated and cooled to preserve freshness
- They are then packed into export boxes
- Orders are prepared according to client specifications
- Finally, shipments are handled through cold chain logistics for export
Seeing this process firsthand confirmed the high standards and efficiency of Ethiopian flower farms.
🤝 Building new partnerships
This trip was not only informative, but also productive.
I was able to:
- identify new reliable suppliers
- evaluate quality across different farms
- establish new potential partnerships in Ethiopia
These new connections will allow me to expand sourcing options for my clients, including:
- importers
- wholesalers
- retail flower shops
- event and wedding planners
🚀 Looking ahead
Following this visit, I am currently finalising details with selected suppliers, including:
- pricing
- availability
- product selection
I am excited to start working with these new partners and to offer even more options and flexibility to my clients.
🌍 Conclusion
The HortiFlora Expo and farm visits confirmed once again the strong potential of Ethiopia as a reliable source of high-quality flowers.
It was a successful trip overall — combining industry insight, supplier discovery, and new opportunities for growth.
If you are looking for sourcing options from Ethiopia or Kenya, feel free to get in touch for current availability and pricing.
