The Orca Meet and Greet Days are almost here! Adomex is hosting this special event at their office in the auction building or Royal FloraHolland Aalsmeer (location C001-58), giving customers an up-close look at their full Orca product range and the quality behind the label. In this interview, Gerard Wijma, Managing Director of Adomex shares more of the story behind the brand, answering key questions about what makes this special assortment stand out and sharing insights into what’s next for the brand and its mission in the market.
Orca Label Is Hosting a Meet and Greet and Gerard Wijma, Managing Director of Adomex Shares More
The Aalsmeer flower auction in the Netherlands is the largest flower marketplace globally, where millions of flowers and plants are traded daily through an efficient, clock-based system that draws buyers worldwide. Attendees experience direct access to the freshest floral products, unique varieties, and an insider’s view of industry trends.
This year, Gerard and the team will host an exclusive Orca Meet-and-Greet right here in the epicenter of the floral industry, displaying part of the product line and offering a chance for customers to connect with the brand firsthand. For this, he participated in an interview where he shared all the details you must know about the label and why the Orca label is an absolute YES!
Q: Please tell us more about yourself and what you do for Adomex and the Orca label. Share ‘your inspiring story' with the world!
Gerard:
"Adomex, established in 1977, is the largest independent importer of foliage, fillers, and exotics in the Netherlands. We import greenery and other fillers from more than fifty countries all over the world and supply them to flower companies throughout Europe.
I have worked in the flower business for most of my professional life. I started a long time ago in the bouquet business at Sierafor, which later became part of Florimex. After a short detour in consultancy, I joined Broekhof Verpakkingen (now Paardekooper Horti), a supplier of packaging and decoration materials to horticultural companies. In 2021 I started working at Adomex, first as CFO, and in 2022 I took on the role of Managing Director."
Q: As the Managing Director of Adomex, what makes the Orca label stand out in the market, and why are the products must-haves for florists and any other floral professional out there?
Gerard:
"The OrcaGreen brand has been a well-known Adomex brand for quite a long time already for traditional cut foliage. When we decided to broaden our assortment to also include fillers and exotic flowers it was a logical step to use Orca as an umbrella label for all three groups.
We now have around twenty-five different Orca products on offer. All Orca products have a consistently high quality and are for the most part year round available which, together with the easily recognizable boxes with the Orca logo makes them the go-to products for wholesalers, bouquet-making companies, and florists alike. It is important to stress that only a select part of our suppliers are chosen to provide us with Orca products because of the consistently high quality. "
Orca Products Will Be Available to Explore at Aalsmeer
During the interview, he shared more details about what products will be on exhibition during the event so if you're curious, keep reading!
Q: Because the Trade Fair Aalsmeer is coming up, what products will be on exhibition during the Meet and Greet Days of Orca and why did you choose these?
Gerard:
"During these special days, we will showcase many of our well-known Orca products such as Salal, Leather Fern, Phoenix Roebelenii, etc., but also more recent additions to the Orca family such as Protea, Leucadendron, and Eucalyptus Cinerea."
Q: Why is it important for visitors to discover the Orca products?
Gerard:
"Even though we have been active with our new Orca labels for a year now we still meet customers and potential customers who do not know that next to the traditional foliage we also sell high-quality fillers and exotics. Our whole Orca assortment can also be seen on our Adomex website."
The Conquering of Foliage in the Greens Market
Adomex has built a strong reputation in the foliage and greens market by prioritizing quality, extensive product variety, and reliable service. With an innovative approach to sourcing, the company has fostered direct relationships with global growers, ensuring access to a diverse range of premium greens. This focus, combined with efficient logistics and a deep understanding of customer needs, has positioned them as a go-to provider in the floral industry for premium foliage that adds texture and value to floral designs worldwide. So, additionally, we asked Gerard:
Q: How is foliage like the products seen in the OrcaGreen label conquering the greens market? Likewise for the OrcaFloral and OrcaExotics. How are each of these individually conquering the market?
"We see that our Orca products from all three labels are gaining market share. Especially wholesalers recognize the label more and more as they appreciate its consistent quality."
Q: What are three top qualities/characteristics of the Orca products that attendees will get to see and experience during the Trade Fair?
Gerard:
"All of our Orca products have a consistently high quality because of the select group of suppliers who produce them. Most of them have a year-round availability and are packaged either in Orca boxes or with Orca sleeves, making them instantly recognizable."
Q: Why is the Orca label an absolute YES! when it comes to including these greens in floral design?
Gerard:
"Foliage and fillers in bouquets and arrangements add both volume and structure. But they also form a ‘breathing space’ between often colorful flowers in a bouquet. Exotic flowers add a feeling of luxury and exclusivity to a bouquet making it more interesting and attractive."
Exciting Times Ahead for the Meet and Greet
Lastly, Gerard was asked what excited him the most about participating in this year’s Meet and Greet during Trade Fair Aalsmeer to which he answered:
"We really look forward to meeting our customers from all over Europe at the Adomex office in the Aalsmeer auction. Both old acquaintances with whom we have done business for many years as well as other flower professionals who would like to get to know us and our Orca products better.
That said we do not only welcome customers but also our suppliers on those days, some of them already are Orca suppliers. So when you want to see more of our Orca products, contact your Adomex salesperson or email us at [email protected]. We are looking forward to meeting you!"
Photos courtesy of Adomex.
