Members' Council and Committees
Royal FloraHolland is a cooperative of growers. Via the Members' Council, growers are involved in important decisions and policy-making from the very start. This is how Royal FloraHolland makes decisions and comes up with solutions related to the members’ interests.
The Members' Council consists of at least 35 and at most 45 growers. The members of the Members' Council are appointed by all members of the cooperative. They are a good reflection of the members.
How does the Members' Council work?
Royal FloraHolland is changing. Many projects influence the cooperative's operations and therefore the operations of the suppliers too. Think about the digitisation of the marketplace or nationwide auctioning, for example. That is why the Members' Council is an important sounding board for the Management Board and the Supervisory Board (SB) when determining the company's course. The Members' Council speeds up changes by linking the knowledge of growers to the company's professionalism.
The role of the Members' Council:
- The formal tasks of the GMM (General Members' Meeting)
- Advisory function
- Reporting function
- Responsible for good dialogue between members and MC
The Management Board discusses important cooperative themes with the Management Board team and the Supervisory Board and give advice. This way, the members' interests are taken into account during the planning phase at an early stage. In 2019, the first year of the Members' Council, the Members' Council provided advice about the environmental registration and environmental certification for all suppliers on the marketplace and members provided input on the roll-out of Floriday. Furthermore, the Members' Council approved the annual figures for 2019 and the rates for 2020.
In 2020 the transition towards 100% Digital, nationwide auctioning and new forms of membership are on the agenda, as well as the effects of the corona crisis on our cooperative, of course.
Watch the video 2019 results
Dialogue with all members
In order to fulfil its advisory and reporting function, the Members' Council has to know which issues the members are dealing with. That is why the Members' Council organises multiple meetings per year. Members can provide input about important themes during member sessions. These opinions are taken into account by the Members' Council during meetings with the company.
Which responsibilities do not lie with the Members' Council?
The Members' Council is not responsible for the company's daily operations. The SB monitors the Management Board and everything related to the management of the company.
Committees of the Members' Council
The Members' Council has four committees, each with its own area of focus:
- strategy
- finance
- members engagement
- cooperative
The committees examine the subjects within their area of focus. They prepare recommendations and Members' Council decisions. They actively collect people's opinions and requirements or ask experts for advice wherever possible. Final recommendations to the Management Board or decisions are always made by the entire Members' Council.
Members' Council instead of the GMM
On 1 January 2019, the Members' Council was formed to replace Royal FloraHolland's General Members' Meeting (GMM). In doing so, the Members' Council has taken over the formal tasks of the GMM. Here you will find the minutes of the General Members' Meetings up to and including 6 December 2018.
Composition of committees
Cooperative Committee
This committee is concerned with appointments, functioning, training, possible establishment issues (such as amending the regulations), allowances and remuneration.
From the Members' Council:
- Dick Houtenbos
- Eva van Etten
- Lydia Klaver
- Marcel van Tol
- Niels de Groot
Strategy Committee
This committee is concerned with strategic subjects in dialogue with the company and consequently prepares an important part of the advisory role of the Members' Council.
From the Members' Council:
- Andre Zuidgeest
- Arnoud van der Knaap
- Avner Sheer
- Ed Stofbergen
- Frank Ammerlaan
- Fred Bunnik
- Marco Mol
- Peter Smak
- Richard (Kiki) Fernandes
- Sander van der Vaart
- Toon van Kessel
- Walter Zuijderwijk
- Zelalem Messele
Finance Committee
This committee is concerned with the financial aspects of the cooperative in dialogue with the company.
From the Members' Council:
- Ben Olsthoorn
- Bram Bernhard
- Herman de Jong
- Jan Mantel
- Martien Middelburg
- Martien van der Weijden
- Peter Varekamp
- Walter Straathof
Members Engagement and Consultation Committee
This committee is concerned with increasing members engagement and plays a big role in the organisation of the member sessions and Cooperative Day.
From the Members' Council:
- Frans van den Bosch
- Goos Hofland
- Job van Egmond
- Paul Koenraadt
- Rieneke van der Houwen
- Wim Koolhaas
