e in Flux
W
hen one of Michelle Jones’s long-time wholesale sup- pliers was sold, the new owners began selling flowers directly to the public
— a shift that put the wholesaler into the retail space its customers once served. Not long after, other suppliers in her
Las Vegas market began changing how they operated. One stopped carrying flowers on hand entirely, requiring all orders to be prebooked. “If you have a last-minute order, like a funeral that comes in, and the truck isn’t coming for the next two days, then you’re out of luck,” says Jones, owner of Flowers by Michelle. “It really changes the dynamic here.” Across the country in New York,
Theresa Colucci, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, has seen consolidation play out very differently. When two wholesalers in her region merged, she says the result strengthened her business. “It’s been a great benefit to me,” says Colucci, owner of Meadowscent in Gardiner, New York. “We now have access to a strong supply department, and they’ve been instru- mental in providing education.” Those experiences reflect the uneven
Consolidation is accelerating — bringing new
effi ciencies, new pressures and uneven impacts for fl orists. BY AMANDA JEDLINSKY
but accelerating impact of wholesale consolidation — a wave that picked up pace in 2025 and continues into 2026. Last year alone, at least eight whole- salers were folded into larger platforms through acquisitions by companies such as Bill Doran Company, Delaware Valley Floral Group and Kennicott Brothers, redrawing regional supply maps and changing how florists access product, services and support. One of the most significant moves was the merger of Bill Doran Company and Denver Wholesale Florist, which brought together two major regional players and reshaped wholesale dynamics. In early 2026, Mayesh Wholesale Florist continued that momentum with the acquisition of Sooner Wholesale Florist, extending its foothold into Oklahoma and Texas and reinforcing signals that consolidation is not slowing. While florists’ day-to-day expe-
riences vary by market, wholesalers involved in these transactions con- sistently frame consolidation as a response to rising costs, aging
The magazine of the Society of American Florists (SAF) 27
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