MM Investment Holdings (MM), parent company of MM Flowers, the biggest supplier of flowers to UK retailers including M&S, Tesco and Co-op, has bought Poplar Farm Flowers, the largest tulip grower in the UK.
The acquisition is part of MM’s drive to increase its supply of home-grown flowers and bouquets, shortening supply chains and reducing the carbon footprint of the flowers it supplies to UK retail.
British-grown flowers are an important and growing part of MM’s business as it balances the consumer demand for locally-grown flowers with flowers from the equator.
Poplar will continue to grow and sell its British flowers as a division of MM Investment Holdings, which, in addition to MM Flowers UK, also owns MM Flowers Europe and Apex Horticulture.
Commenting on the acquisition, Phil Whelan, MM’s CEO said: “We are delighted to bring Poplar Farm Flowers into the MM family. This is a very important investment for us as we work to shorten our supply chains, reduce our carbon footprint and increase our supply of British-grown cut flowers. All of that with the ultimate aim of creating what we call meaningful moments for our customers, end consumers and employees.
“Poplar is a fantastic business. It will operate as a separate division of the MM group. Andrew Ellis and the senior management team will remain in place and are fundamental to the future success of the business.”
Andrew Ellis, managing director of Poplar Farm Flowers, said: “Becoming part of MM secures Poplar’s future. Like MM we are a family business. We’ve been successful for 64 years and this move will enable us to invest and build our business for years to come. There is growing demand for fresh cut British-grown flowers – with all the environmental and freshness benefits that it brings – and we’re now perfectly placed to respond.”
This acquisition is the latest MM investment in the home-grown flower market. In 2022, MM opened a dedicated 50,000sqft UK Field Crop Centre in Lincolnshire.
