In This Issue
Spring on hold - but for how long?
Bridgford Garden Centre gets set for Easter business
Wyevale unveils its first Garden Trends Report
Latest fashion trends inspire 68% increase in Added Value at Allensmore Nurseries
"I will FIX this issue" Gardman CEO updates GTN Xtra on delivery issues
Squire’s Garden Centre in Woking now open
Glee at Spring Fair proves fruitful for Creative Products
Sowing the seeds of fundraising success
Zest 4 Leisure announces 2018 charity partner
Polypropylene plant pot range suitable for recycling collections
New Triple Action Soil Enricher - Bloomin Amazing™ - launched in Dorset
Outback's Jupiter stars in Wyevale Best Product nominations
App controlled electric barbecue launches in the UK
From Stores to Stories - report and pictures from TREx in Holland
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Permission granted to build homes on former garden centre site
Vital expands support to garden centres
Carol Klein to open Blenheim Palace Flower Show
Patio Plant for 2018: Agapanthus
Looking for Christmas Ideas for 2018?
The best of last week's
Garden centre customers get the 'Love Spring' message
Local residents ‘sad’ at proposed closure of Reigate Garden Centre
Whitco CEO Jeff Whitaker passes away after short illness
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
The Klondyke Group announce appointment of Catering Director
Shop of the Year branches out, with revamped awards in store for independent retailers
Send us your news and great ideas

Contact us with your news. 

Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700



GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2107
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and raise money for the Greenfingers Charity to build magical gardens at Childrens Hospices across the UK.


See GTN's photo tours of 30+ garden centres this Christmas including Bents, Barton Grange, Brookside, Castle Gardens, Planters, Scotsdales, Silverbirch, Ruxley Manor and Whitehall using this link


Shop of the Year branches out, with revamped awards in store for independent retailers
 

The Guild of Fine Food's annual Shop of the Year awards, a competition which recognises and promotes excellence in independent retail, is now open for entry. Previously forming part of the Great Taste accreditation scheme, Shop of the Year will expand and break out on its own this year, to offer even more opportunities for small independent retailers, such as delis, farm shops and cheesemongers, to achieve a stamp of approval from respected industry experts.

The new-look Shop of the Year has four main categories, which businesses can enter themselves into, including, Best Delicatessen; Best Farm Shop or Garden Centre with Food Hall; Best Grocer, Village or Community Shop; and an award for a specialist cheese shop. In addition, for those unsung heroes in the industry, like the cheese counter assistant who knows their range like the back of their hand, or an in-house butcher that has introduced excellent hygiene procedures, there is also a Retail Hero award, to recognise the hard work of those individuals driving the business forward. A Newcomer of the Year award will be awarded at the judges' discretion to a shop that has been trading for less than 24 months.

Written entries will be reviewed by Shop of the Year's panel of expert judges, which includes Edward Berry of The Flying Fork, Stuart Gates, who has worked for both Harrods and Fortnum & Mason, award-winning retailer Tracey Colley, Georgina Mason from Gonalston Farm Shop, one of the UK's leading farm shops, and Karen Barnes, editor of delicious. magazine. The shortlist will then be mystery shopped in June and July, before the judges complete an announced visit during August.

John Farrand, managing director of the Guild of Fine Food, explains: "There are some very special independent retailers out there, who are doing wonderful things to inspire, educate and excite customers, so we felt it was about time that the deli owners, cheesemongers and grocers who are at the top of their game got the recognition that they deserve. We have over 35 years' experience in working with these people and really understand what it takes to be a success in speciality retail, and this is no small feat. In the coming years, we would really like to see the Shop of the Year logo being proudly displayed in shop windows, much like the Great Taste stamp adorns the products on their shelves, giving consumers the assurance that they are shopping in a truly excellent establishment. In the spirit of supporting the survival of our high street and encouraging people to shop local, Shop of the Year is only open to those with a 'bricks and mortar' premises, therefore no online retailers are able to enter."

 



Shop of the Year, which is free to enter, opened for entry on Sunday 11 February at Fine Food Show North in Harrogate. Entries can be submitted online at gff.co.uk/awards/soty and entry will close on Friday 13 April.

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