Transport packaging optimally prepared for busy peak period

The spring peak season, with its many (flower) holidays, is just around the corner. Although it remains to be seen when the real rush will start – after all, the weather plays a major role in this – Royal FloraHolland's Transport Packaging department is ready to peak.

Sufficient packaging, CCs and trolleys are important prerequisites for the efficient supply and processing of flowers and plants. The Transport Packaging department ensures that all of these are available in sufficient quantities, even during peak periods.

Learning from the previous peak
We conclude each peak with an evaluation to identify possible areas for improvement for the next peak: how did it go, what went well, what could be improved. Together with the supply forecast for the following year, this forms the starting point for our preparations.

Thanks to the extensive preparations, the transport packaging peak in 2025 went smoothly: there was no need for internal overnight rentals and there was only a short collection halt for two types of plant trays (modest in volume).

Preparations for the peak in 2026
With the actions listed below, we expect to be able to meet the availability targets for our transport packaging again during the coming peak:

• It has not been necessary to purchase new trolleys for the upcoming peak. Efficiency improvements in (order picking) processes have freed up trolleys. And thanks to the successful deployment of our Mobile Control Team, the number of outgoing trolleys has remained very limited.
• Clustering of internal overnight rental in May, enabling us to reduce the number of unplanned internal overnight rental nights. We have now planned 12 internal nights for 2026, which is seven nights fewer than in 2025.
• To prevent any shortages, we are in daily contact with transporters to have trolleys picked up at the hub where availability is greatest.
• Optimization of inter hub transportation for greater availability of transport packaging.
• To guarantee the availability of our packaging during peak periods, we have purchased new packaging and replenished stocks to the required level.

A call to all users: do not hold on to and occupy trolleys unnecessarily. This also helps to increase availability during busy periods. And if you come across a trolley at one of our hubs with, for example, more or less than three fixed standard shelves, please leave it where it is so that we can repair these broken trolleys before the upcoming peak period.

20,000 extra CC containers available at the Royal FloraHolland CC depots
This year, we have again made arrangements to have extra CC containers available during the peak period. During the busy period, we can increase availability by around 20,000 CC containers. We expect this to enable us to achieve the same level of availability as last year.

No storage costs for CC material during the peak period
During the peak period, you will not pay any storage costs for CC containers and shelves. This means you can leave CC material at our depots at no cost, resulting in more CC containers being available. This year, the peak period will start on the night of Sunday 8 to 9 March 2026. During the peak period, a peak surcharge applies to both the hire of CC containers and CC shelves. This surcharge ensures that CC material is returned more quickly and that we can issue it again more quickly.