Swissport Ships 9,000 Tons of Roses for Valentine’s Day

When Valentine’s Day approaches, the world’s craving for fresh roses reaches its peak. Swissport, a leader in the global logistics arena, orchestrates the movement of over 9,000 tons of these love tokens through its acclaimed Flower Corridor, spanning from the Kenyan highlands to Europe. This intricate dance of logistics not only meets the demand but also champions sustainability.

Each week, 400 to 500 tons of cargo, with a staggering 85% being fresh flowers, glide through Swissport’s colossal cargo center in Nairobi, Kenya. And leading up to Valentine’s Day, this volume skyrockets by 50%-55%. This facility, blessed with IATA’s CEIV Fresh certification, is a fortress of safety for perishables like flowers, a major export from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Headed by Edwin Musungu, Swissport Nairobi ensures millions of fresh blooms are seamlessly transported, albeit facing aircraft capacity constraints due to the lucrative Chinese market’s allure during the Lunar New Year.

The real star of the show is Swissport’s brainchild, the Flower Corridor. This innovative cold-chain solution redefines the handling of fresh-cut flowers, linking Nairobi with key European hubs and markets in the Middle and Far East. It’s a collaborative effort involving farmers, airlines, and forwarders, extending the shelf life of delicate blossoms by a week and slashing waste.

From delivery truck docks to hermetically sealed gateways, Swissport’s attention to detail is unparalleled. Flowers undergo meticulous temperature screenings, are packed into Unit Load Devices (ULDs), and cooled down to 2ºC before their airborne journey. Thanks to state-of-the-art infrastructure, the flowers remain as fresh as the moment they were plucked.

According to Musungu, “The primary objective is to ensure that every single rose arrives at its destination as fresh as the moment it was harvested, creating consumer happiness and improving the carbon footprint.” Dirk Goovaerts, Swissport’s CEO, echoes this sentiment, highlighting the company’s commitment to evolving solutions and collaborating with local cargo communities.

Surprisingly, roses from Kenya boast a smaller environmental footprint than those grown in Europe, even factoring in air transport. A study commissioned by Swiss retail group Migros-Genossenschafts-Bund reveals that Kenyan roses emit far fewer greenhouse gases and require significantly less energy than their European counterparts.

Ultimately, Swissport’s Flower Corridor not only delivers flowers but also embodies a commitment to sustainable logistics, making Valentine’s Day a celebration of love for both people and the planet.