Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest flower buying occasions of the year. This week, Britons will spend more than £100m on flowers alone.
Yet London’s florists have another date on their minds: 29 March, the day the UK is expected to officially leave the European Union. Brexit day.
The growing prospect of exiting the EU without a deal is concerning many florists in the capital. Every day, thousands of flowers are auctioned off in Europe and shipped directly to London.
But a no-deal Brexit could see shipments waiting at the border for three days, which is long enough to ruin them.
The British Chamber of Commerce says that Brexit doubts have left many firms hung out to dry.
The CEO of Bloom & Wild, Aron Gelbard, admits he doesn’t know what is going to happen next, and that the uncertainty is affecting business.
Mr Gelbard is especially anxious that a messy breakup could stem the flow of flowers from abroad. “My worry”, he says, “is about the physical supply chain and the disruption to that”.
He is also wary that Mother’s Day falls the weekend after the date of Brexit and that his desired range of flowers won’t necessarily be available in time.
However, other London florists paint a rosier picture. The Real Flower Company, based in Chelsea, doesn’t import anything during summer months.
Nancy Thornber says that because of the mainly English stock of flowers – which she describes as “superior” – Brexit won’t impact her significantly.
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HeadlineNo-deal Brexit fears leave London florists in flux
Short HeadlineNo-deal Brexit fears leave London florists in flux
StandfirstEvery day, thousands of flowers are auctioned off in Europe and shipped directly to London.
Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest flower buying occasions of the year. This week, Britons will spend more than £100m on flowers alone.
Yet London’s florists have another date on their minds: 29 March, the day the UK is expected to officially leave the European Union. Brexit day.
The growing prospect of exiting the EU without a deal is concerning many florists in the capital. Every day, thousands of flowers are auctioned off in Europe and shipped directly to London.
But a no-deal Brexit could see shipments waiting at the border for three days, which is long enough to ruin them.
The British Chamber of Commerce says that Brexit doubts have left many firms hung out to dry.
The CEO of Bloom & Wild, Aron Gelbard, admits he doesn’t know what is going to happen next, and that the uncertainty is affecting business.
Mr Gelbard is especially anxious that a messy breakup could stem the flow of flowers from abroad. “My worry”, he says, “is about the physical supply chain and the disruption to that”.
He is also wary that Mother’s Day falls the weekend after the date of Brexit and that his desired range of flowers won’t necessarily be available in time.
However, other London florists paint a rosier picture. The Real Flower Company, based in Chelsea, doesn’t import anything during summer months.
Nancy Thornber says that because of the mainly English stock of flowers – which she describes as “superior” – Brexit won’t impact her significantly.
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