Arjen Stouten is the third generation in the Zeeuwse family business Huyskweker Stouten. Together with his father, brother, partners and an employee, they run the well-run nursery in Oosterland. Grandpa Bram is also present in the nursery on a daily basis despite his 74 years. In 2014, Stouten joined the Huyskweker Group, a formula of professional growers of mainly summer flowering plants in pots and containers. Since that time, Huyskweker Stouten has also become a customer of Legro.
Before Stouten joined the Huyskweker Group, Legro was already a supplier to this enthusiastic group of entrepreneurs. Salesman Henk Berendsen made the contact, and in late 2013 a first meeting took place. Arjen: “The connection was immediate, and when we joined the Huyskweker Group in 2014, we actually became a customer. We always had nice conversations over coffee and Zeeuwse bolussen. He listens carefully to our wishes and helps to make our ambitions a reality.”
Huyskweker Stouten grows and produces summer plants for hanging pots and flower boxes for private individuals. In addition to the nursery, a shop has been established where the plants are sold to customers from the wider region. Arjen: “An important part of the Huyskweker concept consists of special balcony and terrace pots and hanging pots. Thanks to these pots and pots, our customers can easily enjoy the most beautiful flowers all season. A smart water reservoir ensures that the plants absorb exactly the amount of water they need for lush flowering. In addition to summer plants, we grow plants that can overwinter, so the pots can also be filled during the winter.”
Arjen is not surprised that the relationship between Huyskweker Stouten and Legro is so good. “We share the same values when it comes to business and collaboration,” he says. “Just like we mainly look at the long term and are always looking for opportunities to improve. I think that’s typical of family businesses. We generally don’t wait, but we always look to the future and try to anticipate what’s coming. Together, we look at product development and think about using renewable raw materials for future-proof cultivation. We’re quite perfectionistic in that area and believe in slow growth.” We don’t want to have our plants grow too big too quickly, but instead we want them to develop roots first. This makes the plants stronger and they will eventually bloom much more beautifully as well.”
Together with Stouten, they developed their own substrate for growing plants. Arjen: “It’s nice to see that they really think along with us and have created a substrate especially for us that contains less peat. This substrate ensures that our plants last much longer and stay more active. We see this in the grow-out as well; the plants are more active and show earlier flowering. The Huyskweker also sells grow bags in 20 and 40 liter sizes. In addition, we also sell a number of products from the consumer line to our own customers. And for us, that’s how it stays. Just like us, we put maximum effort into quality.” Moreover, they are very flexible as a supplier. If I call when a delivery needs to take place a day earlier or later, that is almost never a problem.”
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