After bankruptcy a company re-launched under the management of group of entrepreneurs. Within the structure of the new company there was an important role for employees and suppliers. The company, was founded in 1947, has grown to become Europe’s largest distributor of garden products such as flower bulbs, flower seeds and plants. Active in 17 countries, the company ran into financial difficulties and was declared bankrupt. After a period of uncertainty, the company restarted with new elan and a new businessmodel.

A New Chapter for a Pioneering E-Commerce Platform

The entrepreneurs, together with the company’s employees, had explored the possibility of a restart. They took over key assets—buildings, machinery, and intellectual property—to ensure the continuity and expansion of the company’s activities.

Hands-On Entrepreneurs with E-Commerce Expertise

The restart was led by a group of proactive entrepreneurs renowned for their expertise in e-commerce, marketing, sales, and distribution. At the time, the company employed around 200 people, with a significant majority based locally. As part of the transition, at least 50 employees transferred to the newly restructured organization. The company offered unique opportunities. For decades, it had delivered products directly from producers to consumers, bypassing traditional intermediaries. This allowed us to offer high-quality products directly to customers at a fair price.

A Platform for Producers, E-Commerce Players, and Retailers

The vision for the new platform was to bypass entire value chains while generating valuable data on consumer behavior, which allows to make tailored offerings accordingly. Based on the data gathered from customer purchases, the team anticipated being able to predict production needs for upcoming seasons, ensuring a steady supply of in-demand products. In this way, value was added across the entire industry.

Transforming the Business into a Collaborative Ecosystem

Under the leadership of the newly appointed CEO, the revamped company aimed to evolve into a platform that would enable other e-commerce players and retailers to deliver environmentally friendly products to their customers.

Employee and Supplier Involvement

As part of the restart, key stakeholders within the organization played an integral role. Embracing the philosophy “together we learn from our mistakes and together we celebrate our success,” a group of employees even became co-owners, ensuring they were deeply involved in the transformation process. Suppliers were brought closer into the business process, with data, efficiency, and outsourcing becoming pivotal components of the strategy.

This strategic restart marked a significant turning point, paving the way for the company to build a robust, collaborative platform that benefited producers, e-commerce entities, retailers, and all associated stakeholders.

Encina Oak Investments was proud to be lead investor behind this successful restart.