Pioneering Sea Freight for Kenya’s Flowers
When Flamingo began revolutionizing sea freight in Kenya, it was more than just a new approach to transporting flowers; it was about reshaping the global supply chain to prioritize people and the planet.
Shaping Flower Logistics for a Sustainable Future
Sea freight is a crucial component of Flamingo’s commitment to delivering world-class flowers while significantly reducing our environmental impact. By transitioning from air to ocean shipping, we gain the following benefits:
- Significantly Lower Carbon Emissions
- Enhanced Resilience: Diversifying our transport routes strengthens our logistics network.
This initiative aligns with our long-term vision: to responsibly cultivate and deliver beautiful flowers while minimizing our ecological footprint.
The Challenge: Preserving Living Flowers on a 35-50 Day Journey
Flower sea freight requires meticulous precision. As living products, flowers breathe, age, and react to their environment, making it essential to maintain optimal conditions throughout their journey. Key success factors include:
- Stable Temperature Control
- Custom Post-Harvest Treatments
- Optimized Oxygen and CO₂ Levels
- Strict Hydration and Cold Chain Management
Even minor deviations can have significant consequences, but each challenge has deepened our understanding and improved our processes.
Adapting to Global Disruptions
With the closure of the Red Sea corridor throughout much of 2024, transit times increased from 28–35 days to nearly 50, introducing new stops and delays. Rather than slowing down, we embraced the challenge:
- Testing New Post-Harvest Therapies
- Reassessing and Adjusting Temperature Protocols
- Collaborating with Long-Term Storage Specialists
- Evaluating Each Shipment for Continuous Improvement
Every trial container became a learning opportunity an occasion to innovate and enhance our operations.
