How to Choose a Kenyan Cut Flower Export Supplier

Start with your customer’s flower brief

Write down the flower types, colours, varieties, stem lengths and opening stages your customers require. A florist supplying events may need a tightly defined colour palette, while a wholesaler may have more flexibility. Specify which substitutions are acceptable.

Check that a supplier’s catalogue matches the brief. Zavora lists single head roses, spray roses, carnations, summer flowers and foliage. Catalogue coverage is a starting point; quantities and dates still need confirmation.

Use the flower catalogue to define the assortment you want a supplier to assess.

Ask for a clear grading and packing explanation

A supplier should be able to describe the criteria used at packing: stem length, head condition, straightness, foliage and bunch counts. Ask how off-spec items are handled and when you will be notified if the proposed assortment changes.

For mixed flowers, request an itemised packing plan and suitable protection for each type. Ask for sample labels and packing documentation where available, not just a photograph of a beautiful bouquet that says nothing about export packing.

Discuss your acceptance criteria with Zavora’s quality assurance and inspection services before confirming the assortment.

Check traceability and destination readiness

Ask how the consignment can be traced to its grower or packing lot and which documents are planned for the destination. Verify any certification claims against the named operation and scope. Certification support does not establish that every supplier holds every standard.

Your importer should confirm current plant-health requirements at the actual entry point. Evidence of shipments to another country or for another flower type is not a substitute for checking your order’s eligibility.

Compare quotation scope rather than headline price

Check units, packed counts, grade, box dimensions, freight assumptions and the named delivery point. Ask which destination charges are excluded. Do not compare one supplier’s airport quote with another’s wider service without adjusting for the difference.

Review payment instructions, substitution rules and claims terms. Look for a practical explanation of what happens during shortages or routing changes. Reliable communication about constraints is more useful than an unlimited supply promise.

• Equivalent flowers, grades and net counts
• Documented packing and delivery responsibility
• Clear freight assumptions and excluded costs
• Agreed quality reporting and claims process

Evaluate the first arrival before scaling up

Reconcile the packing list, count the received assortment and check the agreed quality criteria. Document condition before distributing the flowers and follow suitable receiving care. Give feedback in measurable terms, such as a count difference or off-spec stem length.

Use several orders to assess consistency before expanding the programme. A first shipment can reveal useful information, but it does not justify guaranteed future volumes or a universal vase-life claim.

Send your assortment and destination in a cut flower quote request to assess whether Zavora’s service matches your programme.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a cut flower supplier suitable for my business?

A suitable supplier can confirm your assortment and explain grading, packing, traceability, documentation and delivery responsibilities against a written specification.

How do I compare flower export prices fairly?

Compare the same varieties, grades, stem lengths, counts, box dimensions and quotation scope, including freight assumptions and destination exclusions.

Should I request certification evidence?

Yes, where your customer or market requires it. Verify the relevant operation, scope and validity rather than relying on a displayed logo.

Plan for your destination market

Buying from Kenya for Africa, Europe, the Middle East or Asia? Start with the relevant regional guide, then confirm your country’s product eligibility, documents, airport handling and proposed routing. Regional guidance is not a guarantee of supply, direct flights or destination approval.

• Africa buyer guide
• Europe buyer guide
• Middle East buyer guide
• Asia buyer guide

Sources and further checks

Import requirements can change. Verify current rules for your product and destination with the relevant authority and your clearing agent before ordering.

• KEPHIS — exporter registration and traceability checks
• European Commission — importing plants and plant products from non-EU countries

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