Huverba, located in the heart of Tree Centre Opheusden, positions itself as a total supplier of trees and plants. And that’s no exaggeration, as the nursery can supply almost anything the customer requests, anywhere in Europe. This extensive offering is Huverba’s great strength, and it will be central to their presence at GrootGroenPlus. Huverba draws from its own stock of field-grown and container plants, as well as from a large network of green suppliers.

Bron: Emiel te Walvaart

Huverba is a regular participant at GrootGroenPlus. "We’ve hardly missed a year," says Derk van Dorland, Huverba's commercial director. "We don’t just sell a lot of trees in the Netherlands; the international market is also important to us. During the trade fair in Zundert, we meet many of our customers and focus on maintaining those relationships. Additionally, we always encounter new people and companies with whom we haven’t previously been in contact. We also stay up to date on the latest developments through fellow participants. We hardly book any orders during the fair; our customers know where to find us during the season. There’s no need to buy plants in advance to secure them, as we have ample stock."

Wide network of suppliers

Huverba sets itself apart from other nurseries. Van Dorland: "I can confidently say we are a unique player with three fully-fledged departments. We have field-grown avenue tree cultivation. Additionally, we grow shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses in containers. The third branch consists of trade activities, where we offer a complete package. When a customer submits an order, we usually have part of it in the field and part in containers. Whatever we don’t have, we purchase from green suppliers." Within Europe, Huverba has a wide network of suppliers who provide both field-grown and container-grown plants. "This allows us to offer the green industry a complete package. Our clients include landscapers, gardeners, garden architects, tree nurseries, contractors, maintenance companies, end-users, and traders across Europe."

Total supplier

Huverba can rightfully call itself a total supplier of trees and plants throughout Europe. "On our own nurseries, we grow 1.5 million plants in pots annually, and we also cultivate avenue trees and multi-stemmed trees on over 100 hectares." The nursery in Opheusden has grown significantly in recent years. "Increasingly more customers know where to find us. We also have a loyal customer base; there’s very little turnover. Huverba has the potential to grow even further, but the shortage of staff could hinder that. If opportunities arise to expand, we’ll certainly take them. We can also focus on further mechanisation and automation in the future."

Guided tour on location

During GrootGroenPlus, sales team representatives will be present at the booth to provide visitors with all the necessary information. At the stand, one can see a cross-section of all Huverba's product groups, not necessarily new products. "Anyone who really wants to get an impression of our business should make an appointment. We’re always open to giving tours of our location in Opheusden. Because of our broad assortment and large volume, people get a better idea of the quality and many types we offer. On a 30-square-meter booth, you can’t show much. Ultimately, it’s mostly about customer contact and attracting potential clients. We also speak to many of our suppliers, who help us succeed." Van Dorland notes that this year there will be a large stock available. "We’ll again have plenty of stock, and a strategic selection of good species. We look forward to getting started with that." He notices that wild species are becoming increasingly more popular. However, he finds it difficult to predict which species will be in demand or become popular. "We operate in a variety of countries, and each country has its own needs. We almost always have something for everyone. I think that’s one of our nursery's strengths." 

The trees and plants are supplied throughout Europe

Huverba never has to disappoint a customer. The nursery receives many procurement lists from municipalities for greening projects, as well as lists from garden architects and landscapers with desired plants for (garden) projects. "We match the right species to their needs. We first draw from our own stock and then source the rest from our network of 300 suppliers. We greatly value our collaboration with our suppliers; thanks to them, we can fulfil any order list completely."

Sustainability

The nursery not only focuses on growth but also continues to develop in order to remain a leading player in the future. This particularly applies to sustainability and modernisation, but also to adjusting the assortment of trees to the changing climate. These so-called climate trees require less water and thrive better in unpredictable, varying weather conditions. The sustainability of the machinery and vehicle fleet is also very important. Van Dorland concludes that he doesn’t have any specific expectations for the upcoming edition of GrootGroenPlus. "We’ll just see what happens. In any case, I’m confident that plenty of visitors will find our stand again; I have full confidence in what we have to offer."