A cut flower and potplant direct sales and delivery warehouse opened this week in Epsom, to target Surrey florists and nearby garden centre operators.

Arnott and Mason Flowers and Plants etc Ltd is a new venture by the similarly-named New Covent Garden pot plant specialist, which has diversified in response to a changing market.

Chairman Martin Panter explained to the Journal: 'The days of hard-working florists travelling to market early and then returning to run their shops are numbered. We have to compete with the Flying Dutchmen.' To achieve this A&MFP is offering telephone sales, e-mail ordering, and wherever economically viable, free delivery within a 20 mile radius.

The warehouse portfolio features cut flowers as well as exotics, and also has a section devoted to plants. An additional draw is a sundries department.

The company is being run by mananging director John Paynter and flower sales manager Andrew Noble, and opening hours will be 5am- 2pm – fitting in with the timetable of the 21st century florist.

Sourcing will be through the company's established suppliers in Holland, Belgium and Denmark as well as, at certain times of the year, Colombia and Kenya.

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