In This Issue
Apta acquired by AMES
GCA Christmas competition winners announced
Primeur’s ECO Garden display stands set to revitalise sales of garden borders and stepping stones in 2020
The stock market is the “natural place” for Dobbies and it will look to float
Dobbies announce 12% sales growth to February 2019
‘A strong and vibrant ornamental horticulture sector’
New Strikes Garden Centre, Stokesley Opens
RHS Garden Wisley bucks the trend against High Street sales
Customers voting for Christmas at garden centres
Christmas success for Brimsmore...even with no glitter
Administrators sell off National Polytunnels business assets
Wish you were here! SOLEX winner enjoys prize in Barbados
Hillier announces environmental audit to cut carbon footprint
Brother and sister give up day jobs to run Kent centre
Vitax grows charity's funds by over £11,000
New book offers tips on reducing plastic in the garden
Wyevale Nurseries expands sales support team
Whartons invests in marketing with new management position
Inaugural Elm Stand Planted at the National Memorial Arboretum as Hillier Trees ‘Re-elms the British Countryside’
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Westland Group Announces Key Appointments to Leadership Teams
At 76, is this Santa's most senior Elf?
‘A strong and vibrant ornamental horticulture sector’ the HTA’s general election 2019 manifesto
Christmas on a new high
Environmentalist to speak at 2020 GCA conference
Keenies are still gardening
GCA conference attendees to hear from Eden Project co-founder
Lights at number one again
NGGV helps boost sales in National Tree Week
Pre-Christmas plant boost
Houseplant and pet categories perform well in October, according to HTA Market Update
The best of last week's
Christmas trees are slimming down
Horticultural ‘Oscars’ highlight gardening as force for good
Sustainability brings opportunity for garden industry
David Austin Roses launches sustainable packaging for bare root planting
Garden Centre Photo Tours
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
Drinks suppliers flock to show their wares at Casual Dining
Yorkshire chef launches first cookery book with a demo at Bradford garden centre
Situations Vacant
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Sustainability brings opportunity for garden industry

 

With sustainability as the underlying theme of the day the key messages to come from the quality line up of speakers at the Cultivating Retail Conference held on Tuesday in Nottingham included:

  • The garden industry is well placed to offer solutions that help mitigate the impact of climate change and shape the implementation of the Government’s 25-year environment plan.
  • The actions of individuals and businesses can make a real difference.
  • Sustainability is no longer just a ‘nice to have’ but an essential and integral component of modern business.
  • The industry needs to provide a unified approach to address the positive challenges and opportunities that sustainability presents.

The conference, supported by gold partner Evergreen Garden Care, brought together two hundred representatives from across the industry. With movements such as Extinction Rebellion rising to the fore and each political party vying for the green vote these changing times show environmental concerns have become mainstream. Consumers expect more from businesses and expect them to operate in a sustainable manner.

 

In conversation with HTA President Boyd Douglas-Davies, Dr David Bek, Sustainability Economist from Coventry University, spoke about the positives that the industry brings in terms of producing plant material and products that store and convert carbon. “With a changing climate, there is a real opportunity to adapt and challenge our approach to gardening embracing the more chaotic style of nature creating a new normal. The horticulture industry needs to be bold, innovative and nimble and connect with consumers to make a substantive impact on biodiversity and climate change”, said Dr Bek.

 

This was echoed by former CEO of Tesco, Sir Terry Leahy, who said that “sustainability brings new business opportunities for the garden industry to respond to. With changing weather patterns, increasing emphasis on biosecurity and provenance, garden centres are better placed and more relevant than many high street retail outlets to meet consumer demand as they provide the solutions for many of these issues.”

 

Bringing synergies from the takeaway sector, Graham Corfield, Chief Operating Officer for Just Eat, highlighted that “whilst sustainability is a big planet issue, individuals and communities can make a real difference as all actions add up to help change consumer behaviour.”

 

Addressing the audience, HTA Chairman James Barnes commented that “it has never been so important to come together as an industry to present a unified approach to demonstrate how we can provide solutions to help mitigate the impact of climate change.”

 

He added,  “The HTA has an opportunity and responsibility to help further the industry’s commitment to develop in an environmentally sustainable manner. Our planned environmental sustainability roadmap will enable us to be the central point of policy information for the industry on key topics including water, growing media, plastics, and energy.”

 

GIMA and the HTA would like to thank the event sponsors for their support of Cultivating Retail this year.

Gold Partner: Evergreen Garden Care

Silver Partner: Hozelock

Dinner Partner: Corby + Fellas

Partners: Anglia Car Charging, B2B SG Systems, Bord Na Mona, Dura-ID, Easigrass, Easitill, Eight Days A Week Print Solutions, Frobisher’s, GLEE, HTA Utilities, Ideal Lights, MorePeople, Smart Garden Products and Swan Retail.

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