Logistics that moves with you, part 5: Connect Logistics & Sierteelt Direct
July 15, 2025
To ensure that our logistics move with you every day, various logistics departments work from their areas of expertise to meet the needs of our growers, buyers and transporters. In a series of articles, we explain exactly which department plays which role in the logistics process. In this part: Connect Logistics and Sierteelt Direct.
Connect Logistics and Sierteelt Direct may seem like two different departments, but they fulfil the same role within the logistics chain: processing the flow of direct floriculture trade, i.e. everything that has already been sold by growers to their buyers 'outside the clock'. In Aalsmeer and Rijnburg, this department is called 'Connect Logistics' (CL), and in Naaldwijk 'Sierteelt Direct' (SD). They differ in a few areas, but largely do the same thing. For everything that both do, we use the abbreviation CL/SD here.
The team
In direct trade, the grower already delivers his products to the Royal FloraHolland logistics teams in the name of the buyer. An exception to this are split trolleys, which are load carriers containing products for multiple buyers. These are split by the team into separate buyer trolleys.
In Aalsmeer and Rijnsburg, all trade, including direct trade, arrives at the Logistics Services Supply (LDA) department. The LDA team scans the incoming load carriers and transfers them to Connect Logistics. There, the CL team starts by making an entry scan so that the load carrier can be traced further. The CL team then sorts the products and takes the load carriers to the box or another delivery point for the customer. Connect Logistiek processes both plants and flowers, so they also have access to refrigerated transhipment areas.
In Naaldwijk, the grower's trolleys arrive at Sierteelt Direct directly from the supplier, without going through LDA. The SD team also receives “clock trolleys”, which they prepare for clock sales. Sierteelt Direct mainly deals with plants and therefore works in non-refrigerated areas.
Read another article from the series here: Dock Services
Cooperation
A major challenge for the CL/SD team is that it does not know in advance when and how much stock will arrive. In the meantime, it must ensure that all the necessary manpower is available to achieve fast turnaround times and successful deliveries. That is why the team makes forecasts based on history, the weather and the possible impact of public holidays. The CL/SD teams at the various hubs work closely together on this. They also collaborate extensively with their colleagues in Logistics Operations (LO). This mainly involves the deployment of each other's manpower. The spring peak is the busiest period of the year, and LO staff regularly step in to help process direct trade more quickly. Together, they ensure excellent logistics performance even during peak periods.
Ergonomics are also very important. A trolley full of plants or flowers can be physically very heavy. Working in the CL/SD team is not only a team sport, but also a top-level sport. To keep the work healthy for everyone, we also use automation and the teams work in shifts.
Benefits for the customer
The grower chooses CL/SD's logistics services because of the fast turnaround times. The performance target (KPI) of the CL/SD team is to process 98% of deliveries within one hour. In other words, the department aims to deliver all direct trade received between 6.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to the buyer within one hour.
CL/SD also offers various customised services. For example, the team helps think about the grower's transport to minimise the amount of “empty” transport. One example of this is CL/SD splitting trolleys, which allows growers to deliver multiple sold batches on a single trolley. This makes the grower's transport more efficient.
What's more, as a grower or transporter, you can deliver your products virtually day and night. During peak periods, Royal FloraHolland's logistics managers consult with growers and their customers on a weekly basis to ensure that all logistical requirements and expectations are properly aligned. This enables the CL/DS teams to get the most out of their services to customers.
Would you like to know more about CL/SD? Please contact the Customer Contact Centre or your account manager.
Connect Logistics and Sierteelt Direct may seem like two different departments, but they fulfil the same role within the logistics chain: processing the flow of direct floriculture trade, i.e. everything that has already been sold by growers to their buyers 'outside the clock'. In Aalsmeer and Rijnburg, this department is called 'Connect Logistics' (CL), and in Naaldwijk 'Sierteelt Direct' (SD). They differ in a few areas, but largely do the same thing. For everything that both do, we use the abbreviation CL/SD here.
The team
In direct trade, the grower already delivers his products to the Royal FloraHolland logistics teams in the name of the buyer. An exception to this are split trolleys, which are load carriers containing products for multiple buyers. These are split by the team into separate buyer trolleys.
In Aalsmeer and Rijnsburg, all trade, including direct trade, arrives at the Logistics Services Supply (LDA) department. The LDA team scans the incoming load carriers and transfers them to Connect Logistics. There, the CL team starts by making an entry scan so that the load carrier can be traced further. The CL team then sorts the products and takes the load carriers to the box or another delivery point for the customer. Connect Logistiek processes both plants and flowers, so they also have access to refrigerated transhipment areas.
In Naaldwijk, the grower's trolleys arrive at Sierteelt Direct directly from the supplier, without going through LDA. The SD team also receives “clock trolleys”, which they prepare for clock sales. Sierteelt Direct mainly deals with plants and therefore works in non-refrigerated areas.
Read another article from the series here: Dock Services
Cooperation
A major challenge for the CL/SD team is that it does not know in advance when and how much stock will arrive. In the meantime, it must ensure that all the necessary manpower is available to achieve fast turnaround times and successful deliveries. That is why the team makes forecasts based on history, the weather and the possible impact of public holidays. The CL/SD teams at the various hubs work closely together on this. They also collaborate extensively with their colleagues in Logistics Operations (LO). This mainly involves the deployment of each other's manpower. The spring peak is the busiest period of the year, and LO staff regularly step in to help process direct trade more quickly. Together, they ensure excellent logistics performance even during peak periods.
Ergonomics are also very important. A trolley full of plants or flowers can be physically very heavy. Working in the CL/SD team is not only a team sport, but also a top-level sport. To keep the work healthy for everyone, we also use automation and the teams work in shifts.
Benefits for the customer
The grower chooses CL/SD's logistics services because of the fast turnaround times. The performance target (KPI) of the CL/SD team is to process 98% of deliveries within one hour. In other words, the department aims to deliver all direct trade received between 6.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to the buyer within one hour.
CL/SD also offers various customised services. For example, the team helps think about the grower's transport to minimise the amount of “empty” transport. One example of this is CL/SD splitting trolleys, which allows growers to deliver multiple sold batches on a single trolley. This makes the grower's transport more efficient.
What's more, as a grower or transporter, you can deliver your products virtually day and night. During peak periods, Royal FloraHolland's logistics managers consult with growers and their customers on a weekly basis to ensure that all logistical requirements and expectations are properly aligned. This enables the CL/DS teams to get the most out of their services to customers.
Would you like to know more about CL/SD? Please contact the Customer Contact Centre or your account manager.
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