Norway celebrates 100 years with Interflora

The first early start to a floral adventure was laid in 1915 when Norwegian gardener and florist Iver J. Moum received a letter from the USA. The request was from a flower shop in Detroit who wondered if the shop in Norway could deliver two decorations to an address in Trondheim. Moum had already heard about the brothers Max and Theodor Hübner in Berlin who sent flower orders between themselves, and about the American Florist Telegraphs Delivery Association. He liked the idea of ​​cooperation between florists, but due to World War 1 and the time after that, 11 years would pass before a Norwegian flower organization was founded.

Moum had been in contact with florist Albert F. Rasmussen in Bergen and florist Hans C. Høegh in Oslo. The three met on a February day in 1926 and together they formed what was then called Norsk Blomstertelegraf (Norwegian Flower Telegraph) owned by the members. In 1961 the name was changed to Interflora Norge.

Interflora Norway is still owned by the Norwegian florists who are also behind the Norwegian Florist Organization (Norsk Blomsterhandlerforbund) established in 1947.

300 guests celebrated in Oslo

This year marks 100 years since the three gentlemen met in Oslo and on Saturday, March 7, Interflora’s 100th anniversary was held. The community hall in Oslo was covered with round tables and flowers in cream, yellow and gold. Nearly 300 guests from all parts of Norway participated in the celebration.

When it was time to go to the table, the doors to the banquet hall opened and the guests were greeted with different lavish floral arrangements on each table inspired by different ways of decorating tables over 100 years.

As the Man. Director Kjetil Løken said in his welcome speech

"For every bouquet that is tied, there is a craft. Experience. An eye for detail. Professional pride. And a promise that what is created will mean something. For someone.

Today we celebrate 100 years of pride. For everything we have achieved. For everything we have been for people. And for everything we will continue to be. Every day. All over Norway. All over the world."

Exhibition: "Flowers through 100 years"

Some of Norway’s great florists Tor Gundersen, Nils Norman, Turid Lien, Hanna Wilhelmsen, Lisa Pålsson and Eilin K. Melksersen had created some fantastic works for the exhibition "Flowers through 100 years" which was open to the public in Oslo as part of the celebrations. 

Florint wishes our Norwegian colleagues a Happy anniversary!