Premium packaging for courgette flowers destined for customers around the world

What began as a school project quickly grew to become an international brand. Today, Finn’s Fleur ships courgette flowers to restaurants and customers in England, Spain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. To package this delicate culinary delight, owner Finn Verduijn chose Smart Packaging Solutions’ solid board packaging.

While he was at college, Finn worked for years with courgette grower Jan-Willem Doelman’s in Maasdijk (the Netherlands). Finn was studying for a degree in Entrepreneurship, and his course required him to start a business. That business became Finn’s Fleur, a brand built on a passion for cultivating and selling courgette flowers.

“Courgette flowers aren’t a widely known delicacy in the Netherlands,” says Finn. “But in global culinary circles they’re very popular, especially in the higher-end segment of the market. Our customers supply Michelin-starred restaurants in the Netherlands and abroad. Demand is growing rapidly. We’ve been doing this for three years now and sales are doubling almost every year.”

Courgette flowers are a true culinary delicacy. You can prepare them in different ways – stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella or goat’s cheese and then lightly deep-fried. But chefs also use them raw in salads, risottos and pasta dishes, or sauté them for an elegant, flavour-packed vegetable. “Personally, I think they taste best stuffed with ricotta,” says Finn. “But they’re yummy with rice, pistachios and goat’s cheese, too.”

“We grow them using geothermal heat, which means we can supply courgette flowers almost all year round, although the peak season is in June, July and August. During that time, we ship up to six hundred boxes a week.”

Courgette flowers are delicate and must be hand-picked first thing in the morning, as they only stay open for a short time. “We cut them early and, straight away, seal them one by one in airtight, transparent cones. After sealing, we pack fifteen flowers by hand into a single box.”

Customers range from small buyers ordering four boxes to large distributors ordering fifty to seventy boxes per delivery. Because the courgette flowers sometimes travel long distances, good protection is crucial. The courgette flowers are sent to national and international customers passing through various hubs. “During transit, they are often combined on mixed pallets with moist vegetables, such as radishes,” says Finn. “So it’s vital that the packaging remains rigid even in humid conditions.”

For such a unique product, Finn wanted packaging that reflects his brand’s image. So now the courgette flowers are packaged in a stylish box that showcases the Finn’s Fleur brand identity. “We used to pack the courgette flowers in standard catering packaging that didn’t carry the Finn’s Fleur brand name. But in the fruit and vegetable sector, presentation matters more and more. When you present a fabulous product in eye-catching packaging, it practically sells itself. The packaging creates an excellent first impression.”

When it came to the packaging, Finn knew exactly what he wanted – solid board from Smart Packaging Solutions. “I was already familiar with Smart Packaging Solutions from the packaging we use for our yellow courgettes,” says Finn. “And I knew exactly how I wanted the packaging to look. Smart were very helpful and sent us some templates to work with. Then, together with a friend, I designed the packaging.”

The result is a luxurious black-and-gold package that captures the look and feel of Finn’s Fleur perfectly, and is practical to use. “Smart Packaging Solutions provides ready-to-use packaging that is easy to erect. The boxes are sturdy and hold their shape, stack well and are easy to handle.”