Panel SA: Mother’s Day intensifies price struggle between florists and producers

The soaring price of flowers on the eve of Mother’s Day caused an arm wrestle between florists and producers. The fear that the best sales date of the year will be a failure turned into a great debate in the sector this Thursday (5).

Those who cultivate and auction in Holambra (SP) say that it is just a balance between supply and demand, but retailers argue that it is necessary to negotiate because the current imbalance in the market is rooted in the pandemic.

Renato Opitz, director of Ibraflor, which represents the producers, says that until last week, the shortage of flowers was not a matter of great concern in the sector, but May brought a stronger resumption of parties and weddings, raising the tension in demand. .

“Many florists and decorators were programmed and bought in advance. But there were some who left it for the last minute”, he says.

Florist Raquel Franzini, who manages a social network profile that publicized demonstrations on both sides of the debate, says the increase exceeds 400% in some varieties.

“It becomes impractical for a florist to achieve a profit margin with a flower value like that, and for a decorator to promise something to the customer at a party that will happen much later”, says Franzini.

Joana Cunha with Andressa Motter and Paulo Ricardo Martins