Alconbury Weald's MM buys flower grower to support sustainable local supply chain

Alconbury Weald based MM Investment Holdings (MM), parent company of MM Flowers, the biggest supplier of flowers to UK retailers like M&S, Tesco and Co-op, has bought South Lincolnshire-based Poplar Flower Farms, 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 expanding part of MM’s business as it balances the consumer demand for locally grown flowers with flowers from the equator. 

Phil Whelan, MM’s CEO said: “We are delighted to bring Poplar Flower Farms into the MM family. This is a very important investment for us as we work to shorten our supply chain, 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. 
 
“As a growing global business working in the region, we’re confident this expansion will bring an exciting range of new opportunities for existing and prospective
employees.
 
“Poplar is a fantastic local business, employing a great team from the area and this is yet another example of our commitment to this region.”
 
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 brings – and we’re now perfectly placed to respond.” 
 
MM’s investment in the home-grown flower market via this Poplar acquisition is the latest move by the company to shorten its supply chain and offer consumers a
fresher, local product. In 2022, MM also opened its dedicated UK Field Crop Centre in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, which, at its height, processes 250,000 stems a day. 
 
As well as the processing facility, Alconbury Enterprise Campus is also home to MM’s R&D expertise through its Apex Plant Research Centre. Apex conducts
innovative research into cut flower longevity and improving product quality.