Sander Smeding – Managing Director, Kunming Anthura Horticulture Co.Ltd.
A strong drive for progress, fast-paced decision-making and a totally different culture: working in China is an exhilarating adventure, as long as you’re adaptable and ‘China-minded’.
Sander Smeding - Managing Director
“There is tremendous energy and drive in China. Things are going on 24/7, which means you can act quickly and make progress. This is a perfect fit with Anthura’s DNA. It also really appeals to me and makes it a great place to work. That’s why I’ve been doing it for so long,” says Sander Smeding. He joined Anthura in 1995, and became General Manager at Kunming Anthura Horticulture Co. Ltd. in China in 2008. For the past 12 years, he has been Managing Director.
“Here at our facility in southwest China, we grow starting material for anthuriums and orchids, and we have a large tissue culture laboratory where we produce young plants in a sterile environment. Our plants are sold to customers in China and other Asian countries, as well as to Europe, including to our company in Germany.”
You describe life in China as fast-paced. What does that mean for your company’s way of working?
“The Netherlands leads the way in horticulture and sustainability, but everything is moving at lightning speed in China. If the government in Beijing decides something tomorrow, it will be rolled out immediately. In contrast, in the Netherlands, we tend to spend longer discussing decisions before acting on them. China may currently lag behind in horticulture and sustainability, but it can catch up rapidly. For us, that’s a reason to always try to stay one step ahead. We look to the Netherlands for the automation and mechanisation trends. We then transfer our experience to China so that we can smoothly respond to any changes and are always ready for what the future holds.”
Why does Anthura consider it important to be a pioneer?
“Because we want to be the best at what we do, because that safeguards our future. That covers all aspects: from wastewater, to the quality of the starting material, to how we treat people. For example, we’re even proactive in terms of finding solutions for the 400 scooters of our employees that need somewhere to park every day. From our Dutch headquarters, the company is seriously supporting and investing in everything – preferably to the max, so that we’re set for the next 5 to 10 years.”
Speaking of the future, what are the plans?
“We’re in the middle of an exciting expansion phase! Production is growing. We’re focused on the local Chinese market, which is still in the early stages of development. Although the economic growth has slowed down, the demand for plants and flowers is still a long way behind the European level, so this offers huge opportunities. We want to help Chinese people realise that plants are not only beautiful, but are also healthy and create a warm and inviting atmosphere in the home. In support of this, we always stay close to the market and can deliver quickly.”
What are the biggest challenges for Anthura?
“One of our biggest challenges lies in preventing illegal propagation and copying in China. We are often involved in lengthy legal processes with local companies to stop this. Infrastructure-related projects in and around the company can also take quite a bit of time due to regulations. How do we tackle this? Not by taking shortcuts, but rather by making a start as early as possible, because time is our enemy.”
In the Netherlands, general managers need to be good at managing and connecting people. Is it the same in China, or does the role require a different approach?
“It’s definitely different. Even though they don’t have to, Chinese colleagues automatically address me as ‘boss’ – and that creates a certain distance. And if I say ‘My door is always open, feel free to stop by,’ no one does. People are reluctant to share their problems with me because they are afraid of the consequences. So I have to keep asking questions, checking and telling them that they have the freedom to make decisions – and this also means that mistakes will be made. That’s inevitable. You need to tune into this and communicate things well. That aspect needs more attention, which is why we’re putting extra energy into teambuilding to strengthen collaboration and make the teams more close-knit.”
So you need to be a bit China-minded?
“Definitely! People who are thinking ‘I’ve never been to China before, but working there sounds fun,’ could be in for a shock. It takes time to truly understand China. It really is very different from a holiday in Thailand; it’s a completely different world. But if you take the time to immerse yourself in the country and the culture, you can soon settle in and get to grips with how things are done.”
You certainly sound enthusiastic. What do you personally like most about working in China?
“The Chinese are flexible and inventive. If one approach doesn’t work, they will immediately try a different one. Somewhere, there is always a solution. That mindset really appeals to me. Because things are sometimes moving so fast, you regularly face new situations that need solving. That keeps things challenging, and there’s honestly never a boring day.”
Do you want to take the next step?
[Published: September 2024]
