One of Sweden’s most prominent grocery stores, ICA Toppen Höllviken has been selling roses treated with OptiBoost since April 2021, now we are happy to report the great results.
ICA Toppen in Höllviken, located in the most southern part of Sweden, is one of Sweden’s most prominent grocery stores and supermarkets.
They are always at the forefront of fresh products and have a strong focus on customer satisfaction. In fact, in 2020, it was named store of the year by the independent Swedish organization “Fri Köpenskap”.
Naturally, they want to offer their customers an even better product. So in mid-April 2021, they decided to try OptiBoost treated cut roses.
Optiboost is a technology and machine used to improve the freshness of flowers. The treatment is based on vacuum infusion. After the process, they are boosted with energy and natural ingredients which makes them stay fresh longer in the vase.
The results?
These effects lead to a chain of positive impacts for the entire supply chain in the flower industry. From transportation, energy consumption to wastage – OptiBoost makes a significant positive impact, in the end – a more sustainable flower industry.
If you’re new to our technology it might be a bit overwhelming to start with looking at the huge global flower industry, so let’s have a closer look at the case of the retailer in ICA Toppen in Höllviken, Sweden to start with. What difference does it make for the individual retailer and consumer?
The cut flowers sold at ICA Toppen is treated at the wholesaler APH in Malmö. Before arriving at the store they are treated with the OptiBoost technology and machinery.
The flowers are placed in containers for about 45 seconds. Exposed to vacuum infusion and impregnated with a potion of energy-boosting ingredients (only containing 100% natural ingredients).
Now they are ready to be transported to the store. But in fact, the technology is quite flexible, the treatment can be done before or after stem cutting, before or after transportation, at the grower, after transportation upon arrival, at the wholesaler, or after dry storage. The basic system can manage up to 40 000 roses/h.
So, what impact did we achieve at the retailer ICA Toppen?
A better product clearly attracted the consumers and resulted in an increase in sales of 15%.
As the OptiBoost treatment increased the vase-life of the cut flowers less wastage was produced, in this case, reduced by 25%.
The improved quality of the flowers meant that the customers were willing to pay a higher price as well, this resulted in a gross profit increase by 50% compared to the same period of 2020. The owner of ICA Toppen, Jenz Bertilzon commented on the results as well:
“Of course, we’re happy with a better financial outcome, but the most important thing for us is to offer our customers a better product with longer durability. That we can also reduce wastage and thereby contribute to less strain on our planet is a bonus.”
We are very happy with the results at ICA Toppen in Höllviken. Prioritizing sustainability doesn’t have to be a cost, rather it is a great selling point that leads to higher customer satisfaction. Not only that, with OptiBoost you cut costs in terms of waste… then we haven’t even mentioned the impact on transportation and energy savings yet. But we’ll get to that as well soon.
In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into the science behind vacuum infusion in forest cuttings propagation, understanding the principles and mechanisms that make it such an effective method for propagating forest cuttings.
TV-show host, florist and, gardener Karl-Fredrik shows how its done when boosting roses with OptiBoost
OptiCept has forged a partnership with a forestry company in Brazil to utilize the cutting-edge OptiBoost vacuum impregnation technology for enhancing high-yield forest cuttings.
With the OptiBoost technology, we contribute to an extended, optimized, and more sustainable Cut Flower Experience. We help growers, wholesalers and retailers boost quality, increase sustainability and improve business.
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