INTERVIEW
The florists' forcing did not pay. While professionals in the sector tried to obtain authorization from the government for the direct sale of lily of the valley for this day on May 1, the executive finally decided that the white bells would only be available for delivery or withdrawal of order on the doorstep of the shops. Thursday, the profession had had a brief hope when the French Federation of flower artisans said they had obtained authorization from the Prime Minister, before being disowned in the evening. "It was a bit of a mess," confirms at the microphone of Europe 1 Caroline Cnocquaert, CEO of the house of florists Lachaume, saying "angry".
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"We received an email from the florists' union chamber telling us that we were lucky to finally be able to open and possibly put a table outside so that customers could pick up their sprig of lily of the valley. Then, in the evening, we were told we couldn't ", says this professional. In any case, she specifies, such an authorization, the day before for the next day, "would not have changed much", because the May 1 holiday, for florists, "is prepared 15 days in advance ".
"We couldn't get the stock we wanted for D-Day"
However, due to the uncertainty that hung over May 1, florists were unable to assemble sufficient stocks. "We did not manage to have the stock we wanted for D-Day, because the producers, knowing that the florists could not sell it, had to turn around to sell it to the supermarkets", specifies Caroline Cnocquaert. "And when we were told that we could still sell it for delivery and drive, it was a bit late to have the quantities we wanted."
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At the microphone of Europe 1, Caroline Cnocquaert says "angry". "It's really a party that is for florists, and it represents a big turnover. And even if we can sell other flowers, what people want, on May 1, it is lily of the valley" .
Sales of lily of the valley remain permitted "in basic stores whose opening has been authorized since the beginning of containment", such as supermarkets, grocery stores, bakers or tobacco shops, said the Ministry of Agriculture.