Oh, my goodness, we’ve done it again! We truly didn’t anticipate clinching the top spot of Flower Wholesaler of the Year at the BFA Industry Awards in the second time of entering this category, but we’re absolutely over the moon that we have.
Crowned Flower Wholesaler of the year
British Florist Association Awards
Over the past 12 months, we have worked really hard to bring an even better service to our wonderful customers, and the judges fully appreciated all the improvements we made. Couple that with the torrent of votes that poured in for us, and perhaps it was inevitable that we’d achieve this pinnacle of success once more.
However, the flower wholesalers who made it through to the finals represent the crème de la crème from across the entire United Kingdom. Our win through this formidable line-up reinforces our leading position within the industry—one that we’re not only grateful for and humbled by, but one we certainly do not take for granted.
Photographed left to right: David – Manager, Andy – Founder & Managing Director, Adrian – Fridge Manager, Sarah, Tracey – Marketing Manager, Michał Perz – Systems Administrator.
About the Awards (& us)
Winning this award is a significant achievement as it recognises excellence in the floral industry and the ‘Flower Wholesaler of the Year’ category is undoubtedly one of the most hotly contested of the entire BFA Industry Awards.
Previously
We won ‘Flower Wholesaler of the Year’ on first time of entering the competition in 2022, and last year gained first runner-up first runner-up in the ‘Sundries supplier of the Year’ Category (only one category can be entered each year). Each of these achievements were very special, namely: in 2022, it was our first time of entering the award, and in 2023 we were the only company not to solely sell sundries! However, this one feel extra special as regaining the crown illustrates these previous award wins weren’t one offs.
How it works
The award process is rigorous, beginning with an open nomination period followed by thorough verification, resulting in a shortlist. Selected companies submit detailed applications, which then undergo evaluation combining public voting and expert industry assessment. A panel of international experts meticulously evaluates finalists based on key factors, which, for Flower Wholesaler of the Year include: innovation, industry impact, product and service excellence, and support and staff development. This comprehensive analysis of customer satisfaction and industry standards determines the finalists, with the winner announced at the award ceremony.
What it means
The award highlights more than Westflor’s top spot, it signifies us as a leading force with a significant impact in the UK’s floral industry. But importantly we can categorically state that we are a supplier that won’t ever lose focus on our core vision, values and purpose, irrespective of our continued growth and upward trajectory.
We are committed to excellence; supplying outstanding quality products with exceptional customer service to our professional florist customers. Although we see you as so much more than ‘customers’ – you’re our driving force, and to have your trust, loyalty, and phenomenal support reflected back to us from the influx of votes which helped us win this award, means the world to us.
About the
Award Ceremony
What a night we had at the glittering ‘British Florist Association Industry Awards’ ceremony which took place on Saturday, 28th September 2023, at Loughborough University, as part of the annual FleurEx Florist Industry event.
For many, this is the night is the highlight of the two-day extravaganza. The atmosphere was electric, with the room buzzing with excitement and a celebratory feel even before the announcement had begun. Westflor was well represented with Director & Founder Andy and his wife Zoe, Manager Dave and his wife Sarah, Fridge Manager Adrian, Systems Administrator Michał, and Marketing Manager Tracey. Whilst each of us dreamed of winning we managed our expectation and never assumed we would for a second. This only added to our surprise and delight we heard our name clinching the top stop for the second time of entering. The event was a true celebration of the industry, with plenty of catching up, networking, and dancing well into the early hours.
The FleurEx show ran from 28th to 29th September, each year, the event brings together the best and brightest of the British florist industry, including florists, colleges, competitors, suppliers, and growers from the UK, Europe, and beyond. This year was outstanding, with an excellent new venue. It was also particularly special with the BFA Florist of the Year Competitions to find our UK representative and incredible demonstrations from our very own Lizzie Newcombe who came 3rd in the Interflora Floristry World Cup held in Manager last year and Lisa Pålsson who came 2nd in the same competition.
We’ll share more highlights in future posts.
We Wouldn’t Have Won Without You.
As we’ve mentioned, one of the main reasons why this award means so much is because it highlights the great support we get from our amazing customers. We wouldn’t win without your backing; this makes you the real stars. Once again, we asked for you to vote, and your overwhelming response is a huge reason why we won, and for that, we can’t thank you enough. It makes us exceptionally proud, humble, and grateful. Thank you for being an integral part of our success story.
We’d also like to publicly thank the incredible team at Westflor, whose hard work and dedication shine through. Lastly, we’d like to extend our thanks to the British Florist Association for their dedication and the constant, tireless work that goes on behind the scenes. It not only advances our industry but also creates opportunities like this for it to be truly celebrated.
Final Thoughts
Winning the ‘Flower Wholesaler of the Year’ award reflects our ongoing improvement and embodies the spirit of collaboration and trust we share with our amazing customers. However, it doesn’t stop there; it spurs us on to find new ways to continually enhance our products and services and support our customers — because you deserve no less. While we celebrate this win, we are also focused on what more we can do to push boundaries and continue raising the bar.
Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. There’s so much more to come, and we’re excited about what lies ahead. We hope you are too!
