Levoplant grows 5.5 million plants every year . And using an almost in full automate process . Co - owner Ron Fransen hopes to further introduce this Dutch company ’s processes with modern cultivation techniques . Together with Moore DRV , he discusses his architectural plan , on business and personal level .
Levoplant is a Dutch potted plant nursery with two main products . " The main one is Phalaenopsis - orchids - of which we have 50 assortment . We also do Cordyline australis , a garden and patio industrial plant . With these , we are by far Europe ’s marketplace leader . The Cordyline australis accounts for 15 % of our sales , and we serve 70 % of the grocery , " start Ron .
' We ’re a true kin business concern . My father - in - law , Leo van der Voort , founded the company in 1969 . He started with a single 7,000 m² location , get vegetables , tomato , cucumber , and lettuce . He very quick switched to green plants , and in the recent nineties , he start with the Phalaenopsis that eventually ensured our succeeder . "
Automation and innovation leaderLevoplant has always been at the vanguard of automation and instauration . " Leo always strain to get hold ways to simplify things , make them more effective . Can we accomplish the same resultant role with less study ? Our total system ’s automatize . All the plants have a code on their pot , so they ’re individually tracked throughout the process . We know exactly when the plant was pot , its variety , and who issue it , " Ron explains .
later on in the process , a photographic camera helps assess the plants . " On people of colour , variety show , numeral of branch and buds , and height . base on that data , the plant are sorted . For example , if someone orders a tray of clean flowers and two tray of pink , our machines automatically prepare those . There are almost no people affect anymore . "
" These worms bulge out as trivial flying bugs and lie in their testis in the pots , which grow larvae that feast on our industrial plant ' root . We desire to wrap up the pots with a kind of pantyhose to prevent the bug from getting in . That may sound uncomplicated , but it ’s harder than you think . We ’ll before long be running a enceinte pilot with some other growers to see if it works . '
Cooperation and expansionSuch quislingism could play an progressively authoritative character in future operations . " In our sector , more and more grower , suppliers , and customers are merging . I can not say exactly how that will affect our business . But I dare say , in five to ten long time , Levoplant will be much magnanimous than it is now . Whether that will number from organic growth or acquiring other fellowship remains to be seen , " pronounce Fransen .
The rest of the kinsfolk has a say in issue too . After all , Ron does not launch the fellowship alone but with his brother - in - law . Leo and his married woman Anneke are still shareholders , as are their son , who work at Levoplant , and the two daughters . " On Moore DRV ’s advice , we restructured Levoplant into an run troupe , with me , my brothers - in - jurisprudence , and father - in - law having personal holdings . "
percipient reciprocal agreementsHere , Moore DRV advisor Edwin van Nieuwkerk played a crucial role . " He exhort us to make clear agreements . About matters that you would n’t readily discuss as a syndicate because they ’re raw . What if someone is n’t happy ? What if you get into a fight ? What if someone gets divorced ? By discussing these things , the agreements are now clear to everyone and wo n’t conduct to variance . That ’s nice , " Ron admits .
Moore DRV has been doing the company ’s annual audited account and payroll and give tax advice and guidance to Levoplant for over 25 years . " The advisors recognize our personal site and how thing work within our family . So , half a word is often enough for them . That ’s great because sometimes we know what we want , but we do n’t know the financial implications or how we can best go about doing something from a fiscal perspective . "
concern succession rule for donationThat occur a few years ago when Leo wanted to donate part of the business to his children . " To do that in a revenue enhancement - friendly way , we wanted to habituate the business succession scheme . But to do that , several things had to change within the party . For instance , the cumulative preference shares had to be converted into subordinated loan , and all the children had to be put on the payroll department , " Ron recalls .
" Moore DRV advisor Wim Zandvliet guided us through that full process . He accompany my male parent - in - law and our money man to the Tax Office several times so we could be certain what we were doing was correct and let . And yes , of course , such advice cost money . But in the end , the contribution was made to save us plentitude of taxation . And that ’s what it was all about . "
Personal contactRon is generally well - pleased with Moore DRV ’s service . " The communicating lines are forgetful , and I can reach our advisor reasonably quickly . And If I require to take about doing something from my own limited company , I ’m immediately impart the best advice , " he summate . " Also , their local branch ’s door is always overt . And since that ’s located between our land site , it ’s idealistic . "
For Ron , the decisive agent is the personal contact they have with their accountants and relationship managing director . " Levoplant is a family business organization . Everything that pass off here is , by definition , also personal . You want to hash out that personally with someone who understands the relationships . It ’s not just about the numbers , but also about the tale behind them , " Ron concludes . The folk at Moore DRV get that .
Source : Moore DRV
