High Prices Impact UK Sales of Popular Flowers

The appeal of some traditional flower varieties is waning due to consistently high prices driven by rising industry costs and supply competition, say florists. 

Customers are reportedly turning their backs on staples and repurposing blooms at events, while supply has fallen amid some florists and growers going out of business.

The British Florist Association (BFA) said the price of flowers was in-line with other inflation products in the UK.

Cut flowers, such as chrysanthemums, have reached sky-high prices in the past few years, claim local florists. 

Staple varieties are losing popularity due to their price tag, Andrea Moat, who runs Elizabeth's Florist in Cambridgeshire, told the BBC.

Chrysanthemums, traditionally used in floral tributes on graves, have risen up to five times their price post-Covid and post-Brexit, according to Ms Moat, while another florist explained to the BBC that prices for flowers had “more than doubled”. 

Ms Moat described the price of flowers as “ridiculous”, explaining that the high cost persists throughout the year, despite previously falling during summertime. 

“Before Covid-19 and Brexit they were about £2 a bunch, now they are £10. People just can't afford them any more,” she lamented.

BFA Says Prices Follow Inflation

The price of flowers in the UK falls in-line with other inflation products, according to the British Florist Association (BFA), which explained that flower production is reliant on all the factors that have pushed up prices across many industries in the UK.

“Wage and National insurance increases, energy and Brexit-related paperwork will all play a part – however, they are in-line with inflation, unlike other products,” a BFA representative told the BBC. 

With regards to chrysanthemums, BFA said the main fluctuations in price was season-dependant since they are grown in the Netherlands, and come autumn and winter they require more energy to produce.

Growers Feeling The Pinch

Some Dutch growers are reportedly reducing production because of rising energy costs across Europe, while some have folded altogether. As a result, competition is affecting availability and compounding pricing for UK florists. 

“It's not just the UK buying flowers from Holland, it's Germany, France, etc. And less flowers puts the prices up at the auction,” Bonnie Twigg, who runs Twigg and Bows in Peterborough, told the BBC.

“I think the price of flowers has risen by 130% in the last few years," Twigg added.

Wedding Flowers Repurposed

The increase in price is also impacting on traditional flower-heavy events, like weddings. Florists says couples are reusing floral arrangements or limiting button-hole flowers to their immediate family in an effort to cut costs for the big day. 

“Years ago, flowers were at the top of the list for a wedding – now they are at the bottom,” explained Leah Francombe, who runs floristry business Darling Buds of Wilburton.

Source: BBC News