All the indications are that garden centre summer trading is getting back to normal, in terms of products, plants and catering – it’s just running at a steady 20% up on 2019 levels in terms of volumes sold...
All the indications are that garden centre summer trading is getting back to normal, in terms of products, plants and catering – it’s just running at a steady 20% up on 2019 levels in terms of volumes sold.
The first four weeks of July 2021 have been much quieter than last year, down by almost 7%, but July and August last year were still seeing the catch-up effects of Lockdown #1. So, the real measure of the ‘New Normal’ is a comparison to 2019 and that shows sales volumes so far this month up by 23%, and 30% higher than the same four weeks in the previous nine years.
Visits to centres have seen busy, bustling restaurants and coffee shops so it would appear garden centres are once again amongst the places of choice for lunching and dining during the school holidays. Perhaps that is driving the total volume sales performance despite gardening slowing with a return to good levels of impulse gift sales and other items.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2020: week 30.
Garden Products Top 50 – down 21%
Growing Media Top 50 – down 36%
Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – down 52%
Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 12%
GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2020: week 30.
All Plants with Barcode index – down 16%
All Items with Barcode index – down 5%
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
Nominations are coming in for the Glee Buyers Power List Awards, the winners will be celebrated at Glee 2021...
After eighteen months of all the challenges thrown at buyers and suppliers due to the COVID-19 pandemic Glee will be celebrating the best buyers of garden, leisure and pet products in the Glee Buyers Power List.
To acknowledge the immense pressure buyers have been under this year across the wide range of products the feature in garden, leisure and pet retailing there are ten Glee Buyers Power List categories this year and nominations can be made in any of the categories for buyers from independent garden centres and retailers, buyers of high street and DIY retailers and buyers from on-line retailers.
Nominations are coming in from from growers, suppliers, agents and wholesalers for the following categories of buyers and buying teams:
1. Plants buyer/buying team of the Year
2. Garden Care buyer/buying team of the Year
3. Outdoor Leisure buyer/buying team of the Year
4. Landscape buyer/buying team of the Year
5. Home & Gifts buyer/buying team of the Year
6. Pet buyer/buying team of the Year
7. Retail Food & Drinks buyer/buying team of the Year
8. Christmas buyer/buying team of the Year
9. Overall Multiple Garden Retailer Buying Team of the Year – 6 stores or more
10. Overall Independent Garden Centre Buying Team of the Year – up 5 stores
Nominations close on Tuesday 17th August after which voting will commence to decide the winners of the Glee Buyers Power List for 2021. Nominations can be made using the form in the July issue of GTN or on line using this link: Glee Buyers Power List 2021 nominations or by e-mail to: trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk. All nominations will be handled in strictest confidence.
The Glee Buyers Power List has celebrated the excellence of buying in the Garden, Leisure and Pet markets annually since 2015, and the winners have included:
Aylett Nurseries, B&M, B&Q, Blue Diamond, Enchanted-Earth.com, Frosts, gardensite.co.uk, Grovewell Garden Centres, Haskins, Homebase, John Lewis, MacKenzie & Cruikshank, Notcutts, Perrywood, Primrose.co.uk, Richard Jacksons Garden, Stax, The Range and Waitrose.
The winners of the Glee Buyers Power List 2021 will be announced live at Glee 2021 on Wednesday 15th September 2021. See you there!
Nomination Form:
I nominate the following buyers/buying teams for the Glee Buyers Power List 2021:
All nominations will be handled in strictest confidence
Send your completed nomination form to Glee Buyers Power List c/o GTN, Potting Shed Press, Dairy Drove, Thorney, Peterborough PE6 0TX or e-mail your nominations to: trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk by 27th July 2021 or vote on line using the On-LIne Glee Buyers Power List 2021 form
Tates of Sussex Garden Centre Group, which has four garden centres in the county, has switched to WinRetail from Corby & Fellas. Tate’s director Darren Clift explains how the system is proving to be a success for the group...
Tates of Sussex Garden Centre Group, which has four garden centres in the county, has switched to WinRetail from Corby & Fellas. Tate’s director Darren Clift explains how the system is proving to be a success for the group.
In 2020 we decided to review our EPoS and Retail Management systems, as we felt that we needed to take better control of our business and improve efficiency.
Although we were not unhappy with the system that we’d been using for more than 20 years, we decided to ‘review the situation’, and look at what systems were available specifically for garden centres.
Several vendors drew our attention, all of whom offered software with features that we felt would be useful to us; this included Corby & Fellas’ WinRetail system, which we knew was used by several prominent garden centres.
Our decision making process was influenced by several factors. Of course, system functionality was key amongst these, but we also wanted to ensure that:
The vendor was a well-established and stable company, with a track record of providing retail systems to garden centres. Ideally, multi-site businesses of a similar size to us.
The system would be well supported and that help would always be available as and when we needed it.
The software was comprehensive and included the features that we felt that we required (and possibly features that we were yet to realise that we needed).
The system would grow and develop over time, reflecting the ever changing needs of our business
The software was demonstrably robust, reliable and stable.
The system was fully integrated and did not consist of a mishmash of disparate modules whose interoperability could not always be relied upon.
Last, and by no means least, was run by people that we could get on with; who were able to understand our business culture and interpret our ideas.
I’m pleased to say that Corby & Fellas was able to meet our requirements and was able provide us with a system that included:
Fully integrated ecommerce web site.
A powerful Business Intelligence (BI)module.
Customer facing Apps running on smart devices.
A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) module.
A café/restaurant module.
We began the process of switching systems in February 2021, and I’m pleased to say that the transition to WinRetail was very straightforward.
I’m pleased that we made the decision to install WinRetail, and feel that it was a good decision. I am particularly impressed with Corby & Fellas ability to tailor their software to meet some of the needs that are peculiar to our business.
I am very happy to recommend Corby & Fellas and WinRetail to you.
Growing media sales continue to demonstrate the seismic shift in gardening activity and habits. So far this July, after four weeks of the month, sales volumes of the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 growing media lines are 30% up on the same period in 2019 and showing no sign of slowing...
Growing media sales continue to demonstarte the siesmic shift in gardening activity and habits. So far this July, after four weeks of the month, sales volumes of the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 growing media lines are 30% up on the same period in 2019 and showing no sign of slowing.
In fact these four weeks of July, when gardening activity traditionally tails off, have seen growing media sales volumes almost on a par with June volumes in 2019.
Highlights of the week were:
Westland Multipurpose Compost with John Innes 50 litres remains at the top of the GTN Growing Media chart.
Evergreen Garden Care Levington Organic Blend Top Soil is the highest climber of the week, up 13 places to No 6.
Bloomin Amazing 3 in 1 Soil Improver 50 litres re-enters the Top 50 at No 36.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
Following the government’s recent update regarding the safe reopening of events and working in consultancy with the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) and the NEC, it has been confirmed that this year’s Glee exhibition (September 14-17) will ask all attendees to verify their COVID-19 status on arrival...
Following the government’s recent update regarding the safe reopening of events and working in consultancy with the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) and the NEC, it has been confirmed that this year’s Glee exhibition (September 14-17) will ask all attendees to verify their COVID-19 status on arrival.
Visitors and exhibitors at Glee 2021 will be asked to provide proof of completion of a full course of vaccination two-weeks prior to arrival; or proof of negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of arrival*; or proof of natural immunity shown by a positive PCR test result for COVID-19, lasting for 180 days from the date of the positive test and following completion of the self-isolation period.
These updated safety measures have been put in place to ensure that everyone participating in Glee 2021 feels both safe and secure onsite and are part of a list of measures that together form Glee’s “Safe and Secure Guidance”.
Created by Glee’s Operations Director, Ian Solomon – who has been instrumental in working with the event industry’s associations alongside the government to create a safe and secure route to reopening events – Glee’s Safe and Secure Guidelines will take into account all elements of the show including pre-, during and post show, and will ensure that all those onsite can rest assured that all possible measures have been put in place to reduce the chance of transmission.
Wider measures onsite will include access to hand sanitiser and increased cleaning regimes particularly in high traffic touchpoints, plus 3m wide aisles to allow for more comfortable movement around the event, and contactless registration of visitors at entry points.
Additionally, building on the experience gained when constructing and operating the NHS Nightingale Birmingham facility, the NEC has upgraded all the filter media within the ventilation systems to high efficiency F7 media, which was the standard specified by University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Trust.
Glee will also be a mask friendly event. Whilst not currently government legislation to wear masks, Glee will be encouraging all exhibitors, contractors, and visitors to consider wearing masks, especially when in enclosed or crowded spaces.
Exhibitors have also been given a wealth of advice regarding how to ensure exhibition stands remain compliant, including guidance on stand layout, data capture, staffing and displaying product effectively.
All of this, plus advice on how to plan your visit to Glee and details on how NEC facilities will be working within government guidelines can be found at https://www.gleebirmingham.com/the-community/safe-secure - with regular updates added as the show approaches.
Glee Event Director, Matthew Mein said: “The safety of our visitors and exhibitors is of paramount importance and we believe that by implementing COVID-19 Status checks – despite not currently being mandated by the government – we are operating in the best way to reduce the risk of transmission within the event itself. The return of Glee as an in-person event is a key milestone for us as an industry and we want to reassure our audience that we are doing everything we can to establish a safe and secure space for all involved.”
Adding to this, Ian Solomon, Operations Director said: “We appreciate that the situation is constantly evolving, which is why we are in continuous contact with our peers, supporting trade bodies, and the NEC to ensure that our ‘Safe and Secure’ guidelines go above and beyond. Verifying COVID-19 status before entry is a pragmatic solution that is backed by the events industry as it enables exhibitions to resume but, more importantly, gives further confidence to customers that events are backed by protocols to ensure the safety and protection of all involved.”
Find out more
To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com. To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2020 call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.
* If your proof is a negative lateral flow test and you are onsite for multiple days this will need to be retaken and reported again every 72hrs.
The Greenfingers Charity is offering its endless gratitude to entrants of the 2021 GIMA Awards as over £2,000 has been raised following the auctioning of donated product post-judging day...
The Greenfingers Charity is offering its endless gratitude to entrants of the 2021 GIMA Awards as over £2,000 has been raised following the auctioning of donated product post-judging day.
This year, the annual GIMA Awards saw over 250 entries with many suppliers kindly donating their product to Greenfingers following the judging process. These donations made up of pots and planters, gardening sundries and clothing, made the journey from Warwick where the GIMA judging took place to Greenfinger’s auction partners, W&H Peacock, in Bedford. It was here that all the donations went under the hammer, raising just over £2,200 for the charity.
Talking after the auction, GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall said: “We are delighted so much money was raised following our judging day, and a huge thank you to all our members who were happy to donate their products. We look forward to welcoming the Greenfingers team along to the GIMA Awards Gala Dinner on 11th November when we hope to raise even more money for this great charity.”
Linda Petrons, Director of Fundraising & Communications said: “A huge thank you to all those who donated product. A small gesture such as this really does make a big difference, raising funds that will help us to continue to build much needed garden spaces at children’s hospices across the country. These gardens are a true sanctuary for all those who use them, and their importance cannot be emphasised enough.
“Thanks also to GIMA for their continued support of Greenfingers, and to WH Peacock for their impeccable auctioning skills – we are forever indebted to both parties.”
Find out more
Anyone wanting to attend the GIMA Awards 2021 are urged to book their space now as there is only a limited number of seats available. Find out more at www.gima.org.uk
To find out more about Greenfingers Charity, and how to get involved in a range of fundraising events please email Linda@greenfingerscharity.org.uk.
“Penstemons are one of the most valuable late summer-flowering perennials and, in all but the coldest regions, are easy and reliable.” So says the RHS website, and it would appear the search for late summer colour is already starting in garden centre planterias. Sales of Penstemons doubled last week to move them up 20 places in the GTN Plants chart to be the 14th most popular plant of the week...
“Penstemons are one of the most valuable late summer-flowering perennials and, in all but the coldest regions, are easy and reliable.” So says the RHS website, and it would appear the search for late summer colour is already starting in garden centre planterias. Sales of Penstemons doubled last week to move them up 20 places in the GTN Plants chart to be the 14th most popular plant of the week.
Highlights of the week were:
Zonal Geraniums stayed at No 1.
Delphinium sales increased by 50% to move up to No 11.
Euphorbias were the highest chart re-entry at No 31.
All Plants volume sales change: Week on week DOWN 15.9%. Year to date vs 2020 UP 72.9%, vs 2019 UP 17.5%.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
Carbon Gold’s biochar, the professional growers’ best kept secret, will be on shelves in garden centres and DIY retailers across the UK this summer thanks to a newly signed exclusive distribution agreement with Decco...
Carbon Gold’s biochar, the professional growers’ best kept secret, will be on shelves in garden centres and DIY retailers across the UK this summer thanks to a newly signed exclusive distribution agreement with Decco.
Decco, the leading supplier to garden centres up and down the UK, is the first to recognise the potential of Carbon Gold’s new retail offering.
The biochar consumer market is growing rapidly but, until now, Carbon Gold’s 100% peat and chemical-free, FSC Certified and Soil Association Approved biochar products have been available primarily to commercial crop growers and tree care professionals.
Now, through Decco, Carbon Gold’s Soil Improver and Fertiliser will be available to the public at garden centres and DIY stores across the country, starting with Dobbies Garden Centres.
Mike Hartshorn, Managing Director of Carbon Gold, says, “Biochar is the perfect gardening product for 2021 and consumer demand is growing rapidly. Gardeners are increasingly looking for peat-free alternatives but they’re not always reliable, and here is this proven product used by both organic and conventional growers across the continent, as well as tree care specialists and even elite sports greenkeepers. It’s absolutely ideal for the gardeners of today.
“We’re thrilled to have partnered with Decco, as our products can be added to Garden Centre and DIY stores’ weekly Decco orders; even in single case quantities if required. It’s a massive step forward for us and in terms of offering garden centres a peat-free alternative that really works, meeting the demands of consumers who are increasingly concerned about climate change. These products are ideal for every garden task and every garden size, making them a strong addition to any retail offering.”
Biochar is very high in carbon, making it the perfect permanent home for beneficial fungi and microbiology. Carbon Gold’s biochar harnesses this phenomenon and is further enriched with mycorrhizae and Trichoderma, as well as trace nutrients and minerals, and is proven to boost plant health and vitality.
In scientific studies and commercial trials, Carbon Gold’s products have been shown to make plants more resistant to a wide range of environmental factors, diseases and pests including drought, honey fungus, root mat, ash dieback and replant disease because it makes them stronger and healthier. As well as being peat-free, biochar is also so high in carbon that for every kilo put in the ground, 3 kilos of CO2 are permanently sequestered from the atmosphere.
The first wave of Carbon Gold biochar products available through Decco will be:
Soil Improver (4.5kg)
Aids quicker establishment & root growth when used in the planting hole or potting on. Delivers increased nutrient to the plant. Improves vitality & retains moisture. Add to your compost mix or directly to the soil at any time of year to improve nutrient availability.
Fertiliser (2.5kg)
An organic, all-natural Fertiliser made of biochar with 5N. 5P. 5K. Ideal for superb results with no nasty additives!
All Purpose Compost (10ltr: £6.99 // 20ltr: £11.99)
An organic alternative to peat compost. Proven to deliver quicker root establishment, requires less watering, less fertiliser and boosts health and vigour.
Seed Compost (10ltr: £6.99 // 20ltr: £11.99)
Organic coir with our enriched biochar. Proven to deliver faster germination, healthier roots and easier potting on.
Biology Blend (1ltr: £9.99 // 4ltr: £18.99)
“Organic rocket fuel” used by pro greenhouse growers in the UK and Europe to boost yield and reduce losses. Perfect for a powerful boost to the vitality of any plant in any circumstance!
A wider selection of Carbon Gold products will be available through Decco in the near future. For more information about Carbon Gold or its biochar products, visit, www.carbongold.com.
Sproutl, a UK gardening tech start-up that aims to open up gardening to a whole new generation of gardeners and get everyone to plant something, has today launched a curated online marketplace that celebrates the best brands and businesses in the gardening industry. The company has also announced $9 million of seed funding led by Index Ventures with participation from Ada Ventures...
Sproutl, a UK gardening tech start-up that aims to open up gardening to a whole new generation of gardeners and get everyone to plant something, has today launched a curated online marketplace that celebrates the best brands and businesses in the gardening industry. The company has also announced $9 million of seed funding led by Index Ventures with participation from Ada Ventures.
Today, consumers from across the UK can access some of the best gardening products and plants from the country’s leading independent garden centres, nurseries and shops in an online curated marketplace, with more to be added over the coming months. In addition, the platform offers inspiration and straightforward advice, making gardening accessible to everyone.
Sproutl is not just an online gardening marketplace. It’s a platform that provides inspiration and advice to a new generation of growers, demystifying gardening, making it accessible and fun to fresh new audiences who may never have grown anything before, bringing plants and products seamlessly from phone to door.
Gardening in the UK is experiencing a renaissance. According to the Horticultural Trade Association, the number of gardeners rose by three million last year, with nearly half of these aged under forty-five. During the lockdown, searches for plants rivalled those for dresses. And Google searches related to gardening have doubled from May 2020 to May 2021. GlobalData estimates that the green-fingered boom shows no sign of abating this year, with spending estimated to rise by seven per cent.
From plants, pots and planters to outdoor living and gardening essentials, the site celebrates the best that gardening has to offer for the UK consumer.
The platform is designed to make shopping hassle-free for consumers and take the pain out of online selling for horticultural suppliers and integrate with their systems. Sproutl manages not only logistics, packaging sourcing, and delivery but also online marketing and customer services. Allowing local garden centres, shops and nurseries to develop their online presence and reach new national audiences, generating incremental sales.
Horticultural launch partners include Rosebourne, Polhill and Millbrook garden centres. As well as specialist nurseries such as Middleton and indoor plant specialist Bellr. Peat-free pioneers, Fertile Fibre and living wall specialist, Horticus have also come on board. Sproutl is already in discussions with many more partners who will join the marketplace in the coming months.
The seed and need for Sproutl were sown back in 2016 when former VP Trading and Strategy, Marketing at Farfetch, Anni Noel-Johnson, wanted to plant her small London garden. Working full time, she looked for an online option but found that they typically catered for an informed, mature audience and had huge variations in availability and delivery lead times.
After leaving Farfetch, over a coffee with former colleague Andy Done (who had previously been Director of Data Engineering at Farfetch and headed up data analytics at King, makers of the hit game Candy Crush), Sproutl was launched. Hollie Newton, who swapped from being an award-winning creative director to become a bestselling gardening author, was brought on board to be the Chief Creative Officer.
Anni Noel-Johnson, CEO, & Andy Done, CTO, said: “We built Sproutl to invite a new audience to take up gardening and give them the world-class eCommerce experience that digital natives expect. Our mission is to demystify growing plants and remove the barriers to getting started.” They continued, “We want to celebrate the UK’s brilliant horticultural industry and the network of family-owned and independent businesses, bringing their plants and products together in one place, generating incremental sales to new nationwide audiences.”
Hollie Newton, CCO, added: “You don’t need a ten-acre plot in the countryside to start gardening. To be honest, you don’t even need a garden. A terrace, a balcony, a small sunny windowsill - the modern garden is a brilliant place and one that thousands of people rediscovered in lockdown. Who cares if you’ve never picked up a trowel before? This is gardening made easy. The best plants and products, sitting alongside advice, inspiration, easy-to-shop edits, and high profile limited edition collections. It’s gardening for a new generation.”
Supplier quotes
“We are excited to get our products out to a new nationwide audience. Sproutl makes the online customer journey, fulfilment and logistics so much easier, but it also allows new customers to shop on their preferred device in an informative and enjoyable way.” Carol Paris, Rosebourne CEO
“I would like to say thank you to Anni and the Sproutl team who have provided us with a new revenue stream by integrating with our software sys-tems and enabling us to offer our specialist ranges online and reach a greater volume of customers nationwide through the use of their marketing, delivery and logistics expertise.” Mark Novell, Director Polhill
“Sproutl has taken the pain out of selling online for us. Their systems integrate with ours and their team manages online marketing, delivery and logistics.” Ben Woodhouse, Millbrook Garden Centres
With lockdown providing ample opportunity for us to spend time in our gardens, it’s no surprise that 2.7m new households entered the garden care category last year, resulting in a growth of 76.9% YOY (According to GfK data, YTD to April 2021). For Evergreen Garden Care, the growth was above and beyond this at 84.1% YOY...
With lockdown providing ample opportunity for us to spend time in our gardens, it’s no surprise that 2.7m new households entered the garden care category last year, resulting in a growth of 76.9% YOY (According to GfK data, YTD to April 2021). For Evergreen Garden Care, the growth was above and beyond this at 84.1% YOY.
According to GfK data, between January and April 2021 the company grew ahead of the market and competitors, delivering +84% of value growth, most notably adding over £1m incremental to the plant food category and over £2m incremental to the growing media category. We know this has been a particularly unusual season due to how fast sales began this year, but this doesn’t underestimate the growth we have seen across the gardening category.
This year, many people will still regard the garden as a safe space to socialise, and so further garden care growth is expected. While some home and garden subcategories such as tools and paint are unlikely to see consistent growth, as products last for a few years, consumables such as garden care products will drive repeat purchases.
The company is now the UK’s leading supplier of lawncare, with nearly £1 of every £2 spent in the category on the Evergreen Garden Care brands. Of the top 5 products in the category 4 belong to Evergreen. Fast acting grass seed was a key growth area for lawn seed – and Evergreen is the fastest growing supplier of Luxury/Fine seeds, up by +369% YTD.
House Plant Care is one of the fastest growing categories at +78% YTD – the category is becoming increasingly important with more consumers joining the houseplant trend, and the ability to grow and enjoy gardening in any space. Evergreen doubled its market share in this category. This has been driven predominantly by the Miracle-Gro Pump & Feed, which delivered incremental growth into the category since launch and has grown rate of sale by 93%YTD.
This year has not been without its challenges, with suppliers continually being forced to evolve and the industry-wide challenge of meeting the increased demand for growing media. This has led to a reshuffle of distribution and Market Shares in the short term. The core range of the Miracle-Gro and Levington brands has been vital for this growth, providing new and novice gardeners the tools they need to start their gardening journey. That being said, consumer behaviour is changing in terms of both shopping habits and product choices.
A trend to watch is natural alternatives which are leading the growth in their respective markets, with natural lawncare seeing +82% YTD growth and natural plant food growing at 193% YTD. Moreover, Evergreen Garden Care is backing the demand for peat-free; £1 in every £8 is now spent on peat-free growing media and to meet this interest, Evergreen Garden Care launched the biggest range of peat-free products in Europe and will continue to expand in the natural, organic and peat-free product categories.
It’s time to get planning ahead for what many will be the first port of call at Glee 2021 in September; the Glee New Product Showcase and Awards, in association with GTN...
The Glee New Product Awards, in association with Garden Trade News, is one of Glee’s most inspirational features and is sure to be the place for buyers to source the most unique and sought-after products during Glee 2021. The showcase features the latest and greatest products on the market, offering visitors a chance to see all the newest products all in one place.
Exhibitors who display their products also get entered into The Glee New Product Awards. The winners are decided by a panel of expert judges who award the best products in their categories based on innovation, saleability and aesthetics. The Top 3 products in each category will also have the chance to make a live pitch to the judges and the Glee audience as part of the judging process.
New Product Awards Glee 2021
Plants, Seeds and Bulbs
Growing Materials (growing media, plant feeds, pest & weed control)
With over 300 new products expected to be entered and displayed in the Glee New product Showcase, exhibitors need to make sure they have made their entries via the Glee Exhibitor Zone. Due to “Safe and Secure” guidelines there won’t be a facility to make entries at Glee this year so entries must be made on-line well before the show.
We look forward to seeing you at the Glee New products Showcase and hope you’ll be able to join us for the announcement of the Glee New Product Award winners on Wednesday evening, 15th September 2021.
Squire’s Garden Centres is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion garden centres across Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire and Middlesex each designed an eye-catching display.,,
Squire’s Garden Centres is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion garden centres across Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire and Middlesex each designed an eye-catching display.
Chairman Sarah Squire judged all the displays, then selected a winner and two runners-up. The overall winner was Squire’s in Crawley, and the runners-up were Squire’s in Badshot Lea and Chertsey.
Sarah Squire said: “I would like to congratulate all of our centres for their very creative and inspiring plant displays to celebrate our 85th anniversary.
"I loved the thought and teamwork that had gone into creating each display, and I hope that our customers will enjoy seeing the anniversary gardens at their local Squire’s.”
Visitors to the new Maggie’s cancer centre in Southampton will be able to benefit from the charity’s much-needed free support and expertise in a beautiful setting inspired by the nearby New Forest. Hillier Trees is proud to have supplied more than 100 British-grown trees, helping achieve the design vision of a tranquil oasis for visitors...
Visitors to the new Maggie’s cancer centre in Southampton will be able to benefit from the charity’s much-needed free support and expertise in a beautiful setting inspired by the nearby New Forest. Hillier Trees is proud to have supplied more than 100 British-grown trees, helping achieve the design vision of a tranquil oasis for visitors.
The brand-new Maggie’s in Southampton, which opened in 2021, is the first Maggie’s in the South of England. With around 10,000 people sadly diagnosed with cancer in the central south coast area of England each year, there was a clear need in the region for Maggie’s invaluable free support for those living with cancer as well as their family and friends.
The centre is in the grounds of the University Hospital Southampton, which is one of only 12 regional cancer centres and amongst the largest of the university hospitals in the UK. Maggie’s work will complement the treatments received by people at the hospital and the centre is expected to receive more than 20,000 visits each year.
Maggie’s are created with the intention to feel more like a home than a hospital. Great architecture and beautifully landscaped surroundings are a vital part of this and fundamental to all Maggie’s. Having viewed design plans for the new Maggie’s in Southampton, Hillier saw how they could use their horticultural expertise to offer support through the supply of trees. Hillier has provided more than 100 British-grown trees from the company’s nurseries in Hampshire at no profit to the company, which are all now in place for visitors to enjoy.
The centre has been created in partnership with award-wining architects AL_A, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Sarah Price, one of the country’s most sought-after landscape designers. Almost three-quarters of the 1,470m2 site has been given over to four distinct gardens, inspired by the ecology of the nearby New Forest. These form a tranquil oasis that looks as if it has always been there, providing seclusion from the outside world.
Naturalistic Tree Forms
In keeping with Sarah Price’s design ethos, trees at the new centre include species that create a natural, woodland look and feel, blend visually with the striking architectural design and provide year-round interest.
“Sarah is a very visual, creative designer,” comments Caroline Swann, Account Manager at Hillier Trees. “Due to Coronavirus restrictions, we conducted a number of video tours to select trees. This allowed us to give a 360° walk around each one to make sure it was perfect!”
Tree species to spot throughout the garden at the centre include Betula pendula (silver birch), Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), Sorbus aucuparia (Mountain ash), Prunus serrula (Tibetan cherry) and Prunus avium (wild cherry). Many of these are multi-stem or more naturalistic forms, as opposed to a more traditional neat clipped form.
A Team Effort
As well as supplying trees, Hillier contacted MJT Landscapes and Yoreland Design for support with hard and soft landscaping elements at the Centre.
MJT Landscapes, who have contributed to a number of gold-medal winning Hillier exhibits at RHS Chelsea Flower Show, were responsible for hard landscaping elements including creation of the planting bunds requiring nearly 1,500 tons of sub and topsoil.
“MJT Landscapes were thrilled to work with the Hillier Team on the project for Maggie’s at Southampton,” says Mark Tomlinson, Director of MJT Landscapes. “There were a number of challenges during the build due to Covid restrictions and delays with weather conditions, so it is great to see the garden now completed and in full bloom. I look forward to seeing it mature over time.”
“On behalf of the Yoreland Design team, I can say that it was a pleasure to support such a worthwhile cause,” says Leigh Richards, Founder and Director of Yoreland Design Ltd.
Supplier partners of Hillier Garden Centres also offered their support for this project, including Westland, who donated 12 pallets of mulch.
Generous support was also given by Platipus Anchors, who provided all the tree anchors used to support and stabilise the trees at a reduced cost, as well as making a company donation towards Maggie’s centres.
“Maggie's was delighted to work with Hillier to realise Sarah Price's landscape at University Hospital Southampton,” says Siobhan Wyatt, Property Projects Lead at Maggie’s. “Our New Forest oasis is now able to offer a calm haven for anyone living with cancer, and their loved ones, while they receive support from our staff.”
“We are delighted that all trees are now in position and thriving,” comments George Hillier, Director of Property at Hillier Nurseries. “This centre is already bringing a huge benefit to the community and we are proud to have been able to lend our support.”
Visit hillier.co.uk to find out more about Hillier Garden Centres
The launch of over 25 new products accompanied by 54 other items not previously exhibited, and the chance to announce the company’s positive plans for the future are the key reasons for Garland Products return to Glee in 2021...
The launch of over 25 new products accompanied by 54 other items not previously exhibited, and the chance to announce the company’s positive plans for the future are the key reasons for Garland Products return to Glee in 2021.
Exhibitions have been an important element of Garland’s marketing drive for many years and commenting on the return to Glee, the company’s sales director, Mark Dedman said “The opportunity to meet with our many loyal customers and also potential customers is not to be missed. The fact that Glee did not take place last year means that we will be showing 80 items not previously exhibited. It has been a highly successful year for Garland but not without its pressures due to shortages in basic raw materials and associated transport problems. Despite the difficulties, we have achieved a massive 66 per cent growth in sales.
As a result, we are already increasing our staffing numbers again for next season and will be investing in brand new warehouse management software over the coming months as well as opening a new customer showroom. Glee will give us the opportunity of discussing these progressive plans face-to-face with visitors to our stand.”
Garland Products Limited – Hall 8, Stand D30/E31
Product launches for 2022 will include a new range of decorative trellis for plants, comprising three plastic options and three designs of metal trellis each in four sizes. These will help add style and support to the growing trend in houseplant sales as well as being suitable for outdoor pots and planters.
There will also be three new Premium brooms and a Premium dust pan and brush that are ideal for tough outdoor jobs. A new product called Little Sprinklers is being added to the company’s ever popular Garden Basics range. It consists of a pack of two bottle top waterers. Another new item for 2022 is a red 5lt watering can, which joins the other four items in the Watering Can range. There are also new 14lt Flexi Tubs available in three colours; green, sage and anthracite.
The popular Furniture and Barbecue Covers range is being extended with the addition of a new black Rotary Line Cover to sit alongside the traditional green colour to match Garland’s other ranges. A new extra-large bistro set cover will be available in black or green. The total number of furniture covers in Garland’s range is an impressive 212 and they all feature Garland’s market leading Zero Fade Technology meaning that they retain their colour for life. The entry level covers have a 5-year guarantee and the Premium range has a 7-year guarantee. The Zero Fade material has been specially developed for Garland enabling them to offer this unique guarantee.
The Garland Products Group specialises in the manufacture of plastic injection moulded products and is one of the fastest growing suppliers to the garden industry. The products available to both keen or hobby gardeners have beendesigned through the company’s own experience as keen gardeners.
Growing fruit and vegetables at home has become increasingly popular in recent years. With the combination of food shortages due to COVID-19 last year, the rise in consumer consciousness and the growing appreciation for fresh food, many people now favour home-grown goodness!
Growing fruit and vegetables at home has become increasingly popular in recent years. With the combination of food shortages due to COVID-19 last year, the rise in consumer consciousness and the growing appreciation for fresh food, many people now favour home-grown goodness!
Sustainable plant pot manufacturer, elho, is passionate about helping people introduce nature into their homes, whether its flowers, plants or fruit and vegetables. The company has a range of solutions to make cultivating harvests at home simple, easy and enjoyable. There are growing solutions to accommodate any space, big or small – giving everyone the opportunity to nurture their love for fresh produce.
Tomatoes and potatoes galore!
For those new to growing their own food, the elho tomato and potato pots provide a practical and convenient way to begin the home-grown journey, whether they are growing in a large garden or on a patio or balcony. The green basics tomato pot comes with a built-in rack so tomato plants can climb higher. The added water reservoir also ensures that the growing fruit remains healthy and thriving – creating an efficient system that makes caring for tomato plants easy.
The green basics potato pot offers a similar style to the tomato pot, but it also provides gardeners with an easy way to keep track of how root vegetables are growing thanks to its clever design featuring a basic pot fitted within the outer pot. Once the seed potatoes have been planted and they have started to grow, simply lift up the inner pot to see the vegetables develop! The pots lightweight design also means it is easy to lift, making it perfect for children to get involved and learn more about the origins of food throughout the growing journey!
An urban edible paradise
For city dwellers and those with smaller exterior spaces, the elho green basics veggie wall offers an all-in-one growing solution, allowing a flurry of plants to be grown at once. With the addition of a 125cm trellis, the veggie wall optimises vertical growth, offering support and height to taller, climbing plants such as beans and peas.
The pot is also equipped with a 10-litre water reservoir, so plants can continue to flourish even in the depths of summer. Its thin, rectangular design also makes it an ideal pot to have adorned in smaller outdoor spaces, such as balconies or terraces due to its space-effective design.
No space is too small to grow!
For an all-round home-growing adventure, the elho green basics growing tables are perfect for growing a variety of fruits and vegetables – providing a portable growing garden of organic goodness. The design of the table is also at an ideal height for both adults and children to take part in harvesting their own fruits and vegetables.
Gardeners can be sure that their plants get just the right amount of water in the grow table as the hollow legs have small holes at the bottom which allows excess water to be drained. With two sizes to choose from – 75cm and 77cm – growing enthusiasts can choose the grow table most suitable for their space. They are available in living black, leaf green and lime green – to allow green-fingered enthusiasts to inject style and distinctive colour to their plots.
The green basics grow house is also available to protect growing fruit and vegetables from birds, pests and even the harsh sunlight, helping them prosper and grow even faster!
As with all elho products, they are 100% recyclable and are made with 80% recycled plastic, employing sustainability and innovative design to create truly beautiful products.
Growing food at home provides families with fresh organic food and with elho’s practical and simple growing solutions, it’s never been easier or more enjoyable.
As there will now be a break with no live football on TV until Sunday, it's coming home, how about gorging yourself on a smörgåsbord board of SOLEX videos. Here's the SOLEX SUN video showreel...
As there will now be a break with no live football on TV until Sunday, it's coming home, how about gorging yourself on a smörgåsbord board of SOLEX videos. Here's the SOLEX SUN video showreel, enjoy! And if you want to watch even more just go to the SOLEX On-Line website and watch to your hearts content.
The SOLEX Brochure and Floor Plan will remain on the SOLEX website so you can always re visit if you want to re connect with any of exhibitors or find out what’s on offer next season...
The SOLEX Brochure and Floor Plan will remain on the SOLEX website so you can always re visit if you want to re connect with any of exhibitors or find out what’s on offer next season.
LOFA Marketing Manager Gina Hinde told SOLEX SUN: "Another Virtual SOLEX has been and gone. The online event kicked off on Tuesday 6th July, and over the three days we had just over 4,000 visitors to our SOLEX website, online brochure and virtual floor plan which is amazing, and a whopping 14,800 of you opened the GTN SOLEX SUN viewing almost 20,000 pages, which are amazing stats and we are, as always, very grateful for the support everyone has shown us, and taking the time to visit and interact with our exhibitors.
"We hope everyone enjoyed it and we look forward to welcoming you all back to the NEC next year, Halls 17/18/19, 12-14 July 2022."
Despite overall garden centre sales being 20% or more up on 2019 levels during July, the Top 50 Garden Products in the GTN Bestsellers data haven’t fared as well with the average weekly variance being 7% down...
Despite overall garden centre sales being 20% or more up on 2019 levels during July, the Top 50 Garden Products in the GTN Bestsellers data haven’t fared as well with the average weekly variance being 7% down.
Looking back at the 2019 July charts, it looks as though the drop is mainly due to lower volumes of garden lighting and other decorative products being purchased whereas plant feeds and bug control sales are improved as we’d expect given the increase in gardening activity.
Highlights of the week were:
Evergreen Garden Care Levington Tomorite 1L + 30% Free stays at No 1 in the GTN Chart, selling nearly 200% more volume than in the same week of 2019.
Neudorff Sluggo Slug & Snail Killer 800g is the highest chart climber, up 25 places to No 22.
Smart Solar’s Mega SpiraLight Warm White is the highest re-entry at No 11 and the highest placed lighting/decorative product this week. Back in 2019 there were four lighting lines in the Top 8 of the chart with Smart Solar Eureka! Neo Light Bulb Lantern – Clear/Blue/Pink at No 1 for the third consecutive week.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
Leading brands have snapped up stand spaces at Commercial Kitchen’s much-anticipated London debut show this 23-24 September. With the show almost sold out, organisers have revealed a preview of some of the brands sharing new product innovations and technologies at this year’s event...
Leading brands have snapped up stand spaces at Commercial Kitchen’s much-anticipated London debut show this 23-24 September. With the show almost sold out, organisers have revealed a preview of some of the brands sharing new product innovations and technologies at this year’s event.
Many return exhibitors have increased their stand size in anticipation of a fruitful two days of much-needed networking and innovation-sharing. Among the returning brands are UNOX UK, whose MD Scott Duncan recently said “UNOX UK is delighted to have supported the Commercial Kitchen show since its launch and we’re excited to be a part of the show’s debut in London. It’s fantastic to be able to get together with industry friends and colleagues again after so long and what better place to do it. We’ll be showcasing our new products and demonstrating our commitment to innovation once again on the stand.”
Also returning to the show are Adande Refrigeration, Carpigiani, Hupfer, Jestic Foodservice Solutions, Lincat, Meiko UK, Metcalfe Catering Equipment, Regale Microwave Ovens, Retigo, Synergy Grill and True Refrigeration. Jestic’s Sales Director, Steve Morris, commented on the quality of the visitors at the last edition, saying “we saw as many quality buyers on the first day of Commercial Kitchen as we have done in three days at other shows.”
The show, which celebrates its belated fifth anniversary this year, has confirmed a ream of first-time exhibitors, including AutoQuotes UK, Capital Cooling, Catra, Cold Store Group, Inox Fabrications, Karakuri, Mechline, MKN GmbH & Co. KG, Mobilchef, Norgroup, Pro Foodservice Reps, Quintex and Total QSR.
This dedicated industry event covers everything required to run, refurbish or build a commercial kitchen, including cooking equipment, refrigeration, kitchen gadgets, storage, warewashing, waste management, ventilation, fit out and design. A regular visitor at the show, Martyn Clover, Head of Food at Tortilla, commented that “Commercial Kitchen is one of the key events of the year. Innovation in our industry is moving so fast that the chance to see everything in one place is not to be missed.”
Other brands exhibiting at the show include Aco Building Drainage, Altro, Clifton Food Range, Cuisinequip, Duke Manufacturing, Environmental Products and Services, ETI Ltd, Filta Environmental, Jongor Hire, Klipspringer, MCS Technical, Multivac, Nelson, Purifed Air, rexmartins, Rimex Metals UK, Shelfspan, Univent, Valentine Equipment, Victor Manufacturing and Viessmann Refrigeration.
Commercial Kitchen’s charity partner, The Burnt Chef Project, will also have a presence at the show, raising awareness of mental health in the sector.
For visitors looking for design advice and inspiration, Commercial Kitchen’s lead partner ceda will be hosting their popular advice clinic. They will also be showcasing excellence in design, specification, fabrication and fitting on a host of professional kitchen and hospitality projects in the ceda Awards Gallery.
With the organisers continuing to add to the exhibitor list, the show remains “a must-see event [that] brings to life the innovation for the future” (Nathan Griffin, Operational Excellence Manager, Whitbread). Visitors can expect to discover a huge range of innovative products and keep up-to-date with industry trends, especially as the event is now co-located with its award-winning sister shows, lunch! and Casual Dining.
Living up to its reputation as “a fantastic platform to experience innovation in our industry” (Ross Ingleson, Group Executive Chef, Signature Pub Group), visitors can also look forward to the show’s biggest Innovation Challenge yet, which will be showcasing more new products than ever before. Entries into this year’s competition include products from Capital Cooling, Carpigiani, CK Direct, Duke Manufacturing, Environmental Products & Services, ETI Ltd, Filta Environmental, Hupfer, Jestic Foodservice Solutions, Klipspringer, Lincat, MCS Technical, Metcalfe Catering Equipment, MKN GmbH & Co. KG, Pro Foodservice Reps, Quintex, Retigo, rexmartins, Synergy Grill and UNOX UK.
“A fantastic show, attracting some of the biggest names in the industry. Moving to London will only add gravitas to what is already a must go to event,” says Simon Xavier, Executive Chef at The Restaurant Group Plc.
Commercial Kitchen 2021 takes place on 23-24 September at ExCeL London and is co-located with lunch! and Casual Dining. Registration is free and strictly for members of the trade only.
For more information and to register for your free trade pass, please visit www.commercialkitchen.co.uk and use priority code VCK1
Garden centre Wild Bird and Wild Life sales volumes continue to decline as we move through summer 2021, but the number of suppliers in the sector continues to grow.
Back in 2014 the GTN Chart was dominated by Gardman with only a few Peckish lines from Westland in the Top 50...
Garden centre Wild Bird and Wild Life sales volumes continue to decline as we move through summer 2021, but the number of suppliers in the sector continues to grow.
Back in 2014 the GTN Chart was dominated by Gardman with only a few Peckish lines from Westland in the Top 50.
In 2019 that had changed so that the Top 50 featured Gardman, Westland Peckish, Tom Chambers and a couple of Jacobi Jayne lines.
This year the number of different supplers in the Wild Bird care Top 50 has reached six with the addition of Henry Bell and the RHS bird food supplied by Agros in Germany.
Then there is the plethora of ‘Own Brand’ wild bird care lines which we can’t include in the GTN Top 50.
Highlights of the week were:
Westland Peckish Complete 2kg + 50% Free is the highest climber of the week, up 26 places to No 9.
Tom Chambers Seed & Nut Mix, 3kg + 50% re-enters the chart at No 12.
Brambles Hedgehog Food 2kg is a new entry at No 49.
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
In just over 18 months, the chart-topping Plant Based Podcast has welcomed a surge in listeners, with download figures rising by a staggering 320% since January 2020 – a milestone celebrated as the show’s fourth series comes to an end...
In just over 18 months, the chart-topping Plant Based Podcast has welcomed a surge in listeners, with download figures rising by a staggering 320% since January 2020 – a milestone celebrated as the show’s fourth series comes to an end.
Its soaring popularity reflects the increasing number of people of all ages turning to nature in light of the pandemic, encouraging many to discover the joy of gardening and explore the benefits of plants in everyday life.
With 18% of Brits tuning in to podcasts each week throughout 2020 - double the number who listened in the previous two years - the Plant Based Podcast has become a “go-to” resource for a host of green-fingered listeners, providing an essential source of plant-based information, inspiration and entertainment.
The podcast, which is hosted by horticulture stars Michael Perry and Ellen Mary, celebrates the importance of plants and the many unusual ways they can be used, with each episode welcoming a passionate plant-based expert to share their knowledge and shine a spotlight on a variety of different themes.
Since its launch in 2019, the Plant Based Podcast has become one of the most popular gardening podcasts to have emerged in recent years, having consistently been featured in the top 5 podcast charts on iTunes and regularly taking the number one spot in the leisure podcast chart.
Its fourth series, sponsored by Cobra, has featured guests including comedy writer, Lynn Ferguson; investigative journalist, Nelufar Hadayat; TV presenter, Nicki Chapman; and TV presenter and food importer, Chris Bavin, amongst many others. A whole roster of topics have been explored, from growing orchids and vegan diets to plant trafficking and plant-based buildings, plus a whole lot more. It also featured regular contributions from Richard Chilvers from Sharpen Your Spades as the show’s new Allotment Agony Uncle; Joey and Katy Cook sharing their plant-based recipe of the fortnight; and Forage and Folklore with their “foraging right now feature.”
Recording for series five is already underway, with an exciting line up of guests set to spill their plant-based stories, which will launch later on this year.
Ellen Mary commented: “We are so excited to be ending series four on such a high. We can’t thank our listeners enough for downloading and listening to the podcast. We’ve been really lucky to be able to interview so many amazing names, who share our passion of plants and understanding of connecting with nature. We’re currently recording series five and have spoken to some amazing people – we are so excited to share it with our listeners soon.”
The entire of the back catalogue of the Plant Based Podcast is available to download via iTunes orSpotify, as well as on theplantbasedpodcast.net.
As the café, coffee shop & food-to-go sector looks forward to the return of lunch!, on 23-24 September, the show’s organisers have revealed a preview of the exciting brands exhibiting at this year’s show...
As the café, coffee shop & food-to-go sector looks forward to the return of lunch!, on 23-24 September, the show’s organisers have revealed a preview of the exciting brands exhibiting at this year’s show.
lunch! 2021 will be showcasing more new and emerging brands than ever before, with first-time exhibitors making up an impressive 30% of the list. Among them are Luxuryshakes Ltd, OmniPork, Unrooted Drinks, Driver's Pickles, HiP, Mindful Snacker, The Vurger Co and Peter's Yard.
The show has also announced the return of many big-name brands including Hippeas, UCC Coffee UK Ltd, Rombouts Coffee, Soho Sandwich Company Limited, Chapter Coffee, Cawston Press, Around Noon, NOBL Thirst Ltd, Delice de France, Proper, Tony's Chocolonely, Innocent and Magrini (who will again be sponsoring the VIP lounge). Speaking of the last lunch! show, Magrini’s Amanda Grove said “the quality of visitors was exceptional…it was our best show to date with so much genuine interest from the food-to-go sector.”
The year’s show also boasts a huge range of exclusive product launches and its biggest ever Start Up Zone. Now in its 14th year, lunch! continues to exceed expectations among industry leaders, with itsu and Pret a Manger Founder, Julian Metcalfe, saying: “lunch! gets better every year, it’s the best show around and puts innovation right at the heart of our sector.”
Group Event Director Chris Brazier has commented upon the number of new products coming to the show, saying: “We love the fact that companies recognise lunch! as the perfect place to showcase their most exciting new products. This year is no exception and quality buyers are going to see a huge number of exclusive product launches. We’re delighted to be back and to be connecting to suppliers and operators when they need it most. A huge thank you to all our supporters.”
Among the many brands exclusively launching products at lunch! are Delice de France, Driver’s Pickles, Luker Chocolate, Ruby's Food Products, Sigma Alimentos Europe, Waterbomb Ltd and Zess.
In addition, hundreds of brands are bringing new products to the show, including Barebells, Boka Food, Flower and White, Food Connections Ltd, GATO, GFT Retail UK, Glebe Farm Foods, The Good Till Co Ltd, NOCCO, ONOFF My Thai Taste, Plamil Foods, Rombouts Coffee, Soreen, Source of the Earth, Veg of Lund and Zumex. Returning exhibitor Soreen described the last lunch! show as “The best show we have ever done, it was busy but more importantly it was full of quality buyers.” (James Platt, Senior National Account Manager).
Alongside the 300 exhibiting brands, visitors can discover and vote for their favourite new food-to-go products in the Innovation Challenge Gallery. This prestigious competition showcases products launched within the last 12 months, with finalists taking part in lively on-stage pitches to a judging panel of industry buyers.
The response to the Innovation Challenge, which has already received a remarkable number of entries, reflects just how vibrant this industry is. This year’s nominations so far come from Brite Drinks, Cano Drinks Ltd, Cocabana, GATO & Co, Itsu grocery ltd, Luker Chocolate, Simply Lunch, St Michel Biscuits, Upbeat Drinks, Quick Crepes, Nourish.growcookenjoy Ltd, Gimber, The Gut Stuff, Ballymaloe, FUL Foods BV, Waterbomb, LunchMate, The Good Till Co., Re:Nourish, The Collective, Celebration Packaging, Organix, Nuttalls, Dairy Concepts and Brezelbackerei Ditsch.
The full, ever-expanding exhibitor list is available to view online, and promises to showcase the latest innovations in food, drink, packaging and equipment products. In addition, this year’s lunch! is co-located with sister shows Casual Dining and Commercial Kitchen, making it an unmissable two days for retail, foodservice and hospitality buyers.
Neil Lake, Managing Director of Costa and lunch! 2021 Keynote Speaker, recently emphasised the importance this year’s show, saying: “I’m really excited to be attending lunch! and to have the industry come back together, which is critical as we collectively focus on safely emerging stronger from this pandemic.”
lunch! 2021 takes place on 23-24 September at ExCeL London; registration is free and strictly for members of the trade only.
Following the British Home Enhancement Trade Association’s approach to Government outlining its objections to the draft Plastic Packaging tax legislation, BHETA has received confirmation from HMRC that it has made a U-turn on the latest draft secondary legislation.
Following the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA)’s approach to Government outlining its objections to the draft Plastic Packaging tax legislation, BHETA has received confirmation from HMRC that it has made a U-turn on the latest draft secondary legislation.
HNRC’s original position was to extend the legislation’s scope to include multi-use consumer goods such as home and garden storage boxes and packed lunch boxes as well as packaging. This will not now be the case.
HMRC’s project leader, Mark Palmer has messaged BHETA thanking it for its input and clarifying the following: “HMRC has now published draft secondary legislation clarifying the scope of the tax. Storage boxes for home use and reusable food and drinks containers do not need to be included in these regulations. The draft legislation clarifies that a further number of products are outside of the scope, and examples of these include items sold for long term storage of goods throughout their lifetime, such as toolboxes, items where the packaging is integral to the use of the goods, such as water filter cartridges, and items for reuse in the presentation of goods, such as shop fittings.”
Prior to BHETA’s intervention, the previous draft of the legislation could have precipitated costs of an additional £10million per year in tax across the supplier base. Commenting on the breakthrough, BHETA’s marketing manager, Steve Richardson who co-ordinated the lobbying initiative said, “The amended legislation follows the principle BHETA championed that ‘single use plastics’ are a much bigger problem than ‘multi-use’ products. Any plastic single use items for home use will be liable to the plastic packaging tax. The draft legislation also sets out that single use plastic items for home use, such as carrier bags and plastic cups, are within the scope of the tax.
“The change of plan regarding multi-use products is great news for many suppliers across housewares, DIY and garden and BHETA thanks everyone who has supported the campaign to date. I’d like to thank members of the BHETA Steering Group, all members who generated support from MPs - collectively influencing more than a dozen cross party MPs, including a Cabinet Minister, to support the campaign - members who suggested upgraded technical specification tests on qualifying product; and specifically, Tony Grimshaw of Whatmore and Nicola Davies at Sistema Plastics who supported BHETA in its meeting with HMRC. BHETA is also very grateful to Paul van Danzig from BHETA Service Provider, Wastepack for technical advice.
Chief Operating Officer of BHETA Will Jones added, “When this draft legislation was originally made public for consultation, it was made clear that the tax framework that was conceived, and previously presented, as a measure ‘to encourage the use of recycled plastic … within packaging.’ This is entirely laudable but the proposed addition of consumer products into the scope of the proposed laws was unreasonable and counterproductive.
“Given the HMRC turn around, I am not only delighted with the outcome for all members affected, but I’m also thrilled to see what BHETA can achieve for members, by organising a collaborative, well thought through approach to Government.”
BHETA regularly lobbies on subjects affecting housewares, small electricals, DIY and garden members. It also provides member training and retail networking events, up to the minute data on market opportunities compliance advice. To find out more, contact the BHETA Member Services Team on 0121 237 1130 or alternatively, email on hf@bheta.co.uk
The best of last week's
If you missed last week's GTN Xtra, below are the most-read stories...
As the industry gears up for the return of Glee as an in-person event (14th-16th September, NEC Birmingham), there are a number of new brands which are getting ready to make their debut. Here we find out more about those companies never-before seen at the leading garden retail event...
As the industry gears up for the return of Glee as an in-person event (14th-16th September, NEC Birmingham), there are a number of new brands which are getting ready to make their debut. Here we find out more about those companies never-before seen at the leading garden retail event.
This year Glee is set to welcome over 80 new brands, with even more expected to secure their space ahead of the September event. Made up of UK and international exhibitors, these companies represent a thriving newness that is helping to shape the future of garden retail. Featuring grass root product development and established brands that are looking to diversify and capture more garden centre customers, buying teams will want to make a beeline for these exhibitors as they may be able to source something new and unique to bolster their retail offering in 2022.
An overview: new brands to look out for
Poétic Garden is a 75-year-old family run company, based in the Lyon area of France that produces planters and accessories for indoor and outdoor use, with significant advantages such as minimum 90% recycled material, strong designs, cost-efficient production, and an effective logistical operation.
Established in 2019, Kin Ltd is a member of the Wilkinson Hardware Stores Ltd. family of businesses. The brand develops and designs sustainable products for the home and garden, taking a holistic approach to creativity, usability and commerciality; designing quality inventive products that are easy to use, effective and durable.
Biohort GmbH from Neufelden, is the European market leader for storage solutions made of metal. The product portfolio includes high-end garden sheds, handy storage boxes for the outdoor area and essentials for your garden such as raised vegetable beds. Biohort products are manufactured 100 % in Austria and provide best quality, longevity and freedom from maintenance.
Norwegian based O-Grill will showcase its portable gas grills for the first time at Glee. The company’s portable gas grills are designed to deliver maximum heat and grilling space whilst still being compact and safe to pack in your vehicle, wherever you are going.
Rouchette will be travelling from Le May Sur Evre in France to showcase its range of stylish ladies and men’s’ footwear, including garden, sailing, multi-use and casual design.
Leon Boots Co.will also be debuting at Glee with its range of ultra-lightweight wellington boots including the Garden Ankle Boot, Unisex Explorer and Ladies Montana styles. Weighing up to 65% less than traditional wellington boots and coupled with a much-lower price point, Leon Boots Co. hope to increase impulse and gifting sales potential within the footwear sector.
Dragon Den backed, Willsow, will be launching the first ever plantable children’s book at Glee 2021. Each book is made with special handmade paper embedded with real vegetable and herb seeds. When the paper is planted, vegetable and herbs will grow from the paper, making it a fun way to teach children about where our food comes from, whilst also giving the books a new lease of life.
Another new-to-Glee exhibitor will be BOOTPAC. Born during the first lockdown in 2020, the BOOTPAC was designed to make recycling easier by enabling the transport of wet or dirty items to the recycling centre to be a simpler and cleaner process. The bag itself fits almost all cars - unlike most boot liners which are car specific - and is designed to last for years and not be part of our disposable culture.
So & Mo has chosen to launch at Glee because “of the size of the show and the attention we're going to be able to get as a new brand from retailers around the country and potentially further afield. The timing of the show gives us a perfect run up for 2022 and to start to really build some momentum to elevate the lawn care industry.” The brand wants to bring performance lawn care products to the domestic market and combine these with its 30-years of expertise to make everyone a lawn expert. The So & Mo team has developed three formulations focussed on complete plant health which we use over the 12 months for year-round performance.
Ergrownomics is a father-and-son team determined to break the mould of the gardening sector, offering quality, built-to-last products manufactured entirely within the UK. The Ergrownomics system is designed to make home-growing simple, comfortable, reliable & productive – requiring minimal maintenance and no prior gardening experience. The planters are all equipped with excellent functionality, including irrigation, filter-drainage and a patented plant-training system, and are available at a range of four possible heights, with a class-leading 10-year warranty.
PlantGrow – who playfully refer to themselves as “an eco-conscious bunch who have found a solution to many problems in today’s gardening world and horticultural trade” - is the first in the UK to produce natural plant foods and growing mediums through a patented renewable energy process. Buyers at Glee will be able to see for the first time the full range of PlantGrow products which are organic and made entirely from plants; whilst also being 100% free of peat, chemicals and animal waste. The entire range is also tested for pesticides and herbicides and is Soil Association approved.
Goodchaps will be making its debut within Glee’s dedicated pet section, PAW. The family run, eco-friendly brand specialises in dog products including healthy, high-quality treats and toys, all created whilst keeping the environmental impact as small as possible. This means all of Goodchaps’ fish-based treats are sustainably sourced from established and trusted fish merchants within the UK, whilst its toys are handmade using 100% unbleached cotton and all Goodchaps packaging is 100% plastic free and biodegradable, compostable or recyclable. The Goodchaps team don't just cater to our four-legged friends, they also offer a range of bespoke hand illustrated gifts and stationery by local artist Beth Goodwin, which also comes in 100% plastic free packaging.
Whilst long established, 2021 marks the first time that Venteo will be exhibiting at Glee. This year the company will be showcasing its retail video solutions and launching its new RootSlayer™ - an indispensable new garden tool which combines the functionality of a spade and a cutting device for ultimate control in a range of garden settings.
Concept Research based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, is a UK manufacturer of ultrasound animal deterrents. For over 25 years the business has built a reputation as a reliable supplier of quality products that deliver on their promises. With a range that includes Catwatch, the only cat deterrent tested & approved by The RSPB, Concept Research is excited to be making its debut at Glee later this year.
Other new companies set to debut at Glee 2021 will be Veritable, Urban Farm It, Tri-Star Packaging, Tripod Home, Hansa Design, Jadecliff Ltd, Loud & Clear Safety, GoodToBee, Anglo-Peruvian Trading, By Jo Crafts, NIAB, Playback Frames ltd, S&S Garden Designs Ltd, Apollo Gardening, CJ Wildlife, Bedmax Ltd, Dansons Europe, Evercreatures, Allingham Games, The Stone & Garden Company, Teal International, Kingsley Designs Ltd, Lave-Lite, Carbon Gold Ltd, Collarways Ltd, Hornsey Hammocks, and George Rye & Sons Ltd.
Find out more
To keep up to date on the latest Glee news visit www.gleebirmingham.com. To enquire about exhibiting at Glee 2020 call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.
Following a series or concise feasibility, planning and design meetings, the owners opted to replicate the style of the original structure, creating a contemporary mix of black finished steel with our well-known glulaminated (‘glulam’) timber arches. With all steel work, including the 5.7m tall columns pictured with a member of our site crew, manufactured in Fordingbridge’s purpose-built West Sussex factory, the materials and construction team made the 600-mile journey to Inverness and work at the centre is well underway.
The canopy will be the widest glulam canopy in the company’s history, with previous past record breakers including the single section timber arches as used on the Greenpower building. Fordingbridge also believes the structure to be the widest of its type in the UK.
The 14,000sqft canopy roofing will feature a combination of the exclusive Opal 60 tensioned membrane and a 16mm triple-wall polycarbonate to form a central roof lantern. Opal 60, designed exclusively for Fordingbridge, is a durable, recyclable and lightweight PVC fabric. It reduces solar gain for the comfort of customers, while still allowing a generous 60% natural daylight to permeate.
“With Fordingbridge design technicians accustomed to working with both steel and timber, we are able to create striking weather-protected spaces suitable for any environment,” said a company spokesperson.
“This approach also ensures longevity and sustainability is built-in to the structure. Our specially treated structural glulam arches are fabricated to our design from FSC/PEFC timber, ensuring not only the carbon embodiment but also future safety of those forests producing the lumber is high. Equally, our design has been future-proofed, allowing the canopy to be easily converted to a fully insulated building at a later date.”
With Fordingbridge elements due for completion in the coming weeks, the area surrounding the canopy will also be extensively landscaped, adding to the retail experience of the leading independent garden centre.
Any fear of it being ‘too hot’ now and that stopping sales has been allayed by data from garden centres for GTN Bestsellers. For the first three weeks of the month sales volumes are 14% up on 2019 levels and 36% ahead of sales in July 2018...
Any fear of it being ‘too hot’ now and that stopping sales has been allayed by data from garden centres for GTN Bestsellers. For the first three weeks of the month sales volumes are 14% up on 2019 levels and 36% ahead of sales in July 2018.
While supermarkets are having problems filling their shelves, centres that GTN has visited this week all have plenty of stock now to cater for the summer demand, including good supplies of BBQs and even some furniture on display.
As we move towards the school holidays there’s still plenty of opportunity to sell late arriving outdoor leisure products, including loungers and children’s garden toys.
With some centres expecting their first Christmas deliveries this week, decisions will have to be made as to when festive products and decorations go on sale this year. Do you wait until October and make the most of the Autumn gardening season, which was exceptional last year, or go for it early just in case there is a later winter lockdown? Fingers and everything crossed that doesn’t happen.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2020: week 29.
Garden Products Top 50 – down 24%
Growing Media Top 50 – down 38%
Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – down 31%
Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 8%
GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2020: week 29.
All Plants with Barcode index – down 7%
All Items with Barcode index – down 12%
See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.
The horticultural hub of Glee, the Green Heart, is making its return later this year and is set to provide one of the first face-to-face networking opportunities for the plant trade sector within the last two years...
The horticultural hub of Glee, the Green Heart, is making its return later this year and is set to provide one of the first face-to-face networking opportunities for the plant trade sector within the last two years.
Working in partnership with Woodlodge – the Green Heart’s official merchandising bench supplier – Glee Green Heart is a must-attend event for any retailer wanting to optimise the unprecedented growth of green living in autumn 2021 and beyond.
This year’s Green Heart will be home to a number of leading brands, including Key Essentials, Craigmarloch Nurseries Ltd, Porters/Happy Plants, The Bransford Webb Plant Company, Lovania Nurseries Ltd, New Leaf Plants, MNP Flowers, Pacific Nurseries and John Richards Nurseries - all coming together to create the strongest display of new plant varieties and inspiration for plant buyers and retailers looking to develop both their indoor and outdoor plant offering in the coming season.
Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director said: “The Green Heart is a really important part of Glee and is designed to put plants right at the centre of the show but, more than this, we want to arm retailers and growers with a platform to communicate – whether in regard to what’s new or how to better drive sales in-store.
“After a significant period of growth for plants, this year’s Glee Green Heart will be more vital than ever.
"This year’s event will provide plant suppliers and growers with a cost-effective solution for showcasing their latest ranges, to owners and buyers from an unrivalled selection of UK-based independent garden retail businesses, as well as from many of the chains, multiple groups and complementary garden retailers.”
Plants will also be celebrated through Glee’s dedicated New Product Showcase with the dedicated Garden Plants, Seeds and Bulbs award.
Chris Dartnell, Manager of Squire’s Garden Centre in Washington, has written a captivating children’s book called ‘Most animals like to…’, with beautiful illustrations by Helz Cuppleditch who also works at Squire’s...
Chris Dartnell, Manager of Squire’s Garden Centre in Washington, has written a captivating children’s book called ‘Most animals like to…’, with beautiful illustrations by Helz Cuppleditch who also works at Squire’s.
The book is aimed at children aged 3-5, and is about animals who have fun yet unusual habits which are reflected in their names, so there’s Cheddar the mouse, Howler the dog, Chippy the seagull and Suds the cat, to name but a few.
The book is £4.99 and is available to buy now at Squire’s Garden Centre in Washington.
Author Chris Dartnell, who is from East Sussex, is a man of many talents. As well as writing his first book he has a passion for horticulture, and has been Manager of Squire’s Garden Centre in Washington for nine years.
He is also an accomplished drummer and has played with many bands, including local favourite The Reform Club with whom he has released two albums.
Chris Dartnell commented; “I was inspired to write this book when I saw my cat drinking from the sink tap one day, and I thought it would be fun to write about the unusual habits that animals have.
"Some of my inspiration also came from the Pets & Aquatics department at Squire’s in Washington, as we have a great selection of furry animals as well as reptiles and fish. It’s very exciting to see my book for sale at Squire’s!
"Massive thanks go to my colleague Helz Cuppleditch who did all the beautiful illustrations in the book which really brings it to life.”
In advance of the launch of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, GTN's Northern Correspondent, Steve Myatt, paid a visit to Barton Grange to bring you this first GTN Xtra Christmas photo tour.
In advance of the launch of GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2020, GTN's Northern Correspondent, Steve Myatt, paid a visit to Barton Grange to bring you this first GTN Xtra Christmas photo tour.
Here's a sneak preview of Perrywoods photo tour entry in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards for 2020, including the vital ingredient for all entries, team photos. See the gallery of photos below. Apologies for the wrong photos being included in yesterdays edition.
There's over £7,000 worth of prizes to be won in GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards so get snapping and enter today. Full details can be found here.
Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts...
Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.
The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra newsletter.
As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2018 as well as 2019 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.
Access is by subscription only. For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales. To subscribe call 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.
WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers. Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.
Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters for only £145.00.
GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £100m.
Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.
Mars Petcare is launching a natural-inspired range under its premium dog brand, Cesar. The new range features a multi-pack format, and the brand’s first wet multi-serve option – Cesar Natural Goodness Cans – that caters for two to three servings...
Mars Petcare is launching a natural-inspired range under its premium dog brand, Cesar. The new range features a multi-pack format, and the brand’s first wet multi-serve option – Cesar Natural Goodness Cans – that caters for two to three servings.
Available now, the products are available in 100% recyclable packaging, contain 100% natural ingredients with vitamins and minerals, are grain-free and contain a selection of wholesome ingredients, including cranberry, sweet potato and beans.
The ‘Natural Goodness’ products tap into the premium and natural trends seen across the petcare category. Containing a higher meat and animal derivative content (+12%) and lower fat content (-1%) than the Cesar core range which will appeal to health-conscious pet owners, the range will launch in three flavours, rich in chicken, garnished with sweet potato, peas & cranberry, rich in beef, garnished with carrots, green beans & herbs, and rich in lamb, garnished with carrots, potatoes & spinach. It will give retailers a more premium offering to tempt Cesar shoppers and those looking for a multi-serve option.
Arthur Renault, Marketing Portfolio Director at Mars Petcare comments: “After our success in 2020,where Cesar’s value growth eclipsed the combined value growth of four of our single serve competitors, we knew we wanted to continue driving momentum. Half of our Cesar shoppers wanted the brand to offer a multi-serve option and we listened. This is how Cesar ‘Natural Goodness’ came to life.
“The range is designed to offer shoppers something even more luxurious to Cesar’s core range. As it’s clear that many pet owners are unwilling to compromise on the quality of the food they purchase for their four-legged companion, demonstrated by natural-inspired pet foods achieving +14.8% growth over the last 12 months.”
Tuft, a new brand in the pet tech arena, has launched the UK’s first app-integrated salon management software to give dog groomers a convenient way to manage their business and reach new clients...
Tuft, a new brand in the pet tech arena, has launched the UK’s first app-integrated salon management software to give dog groomers a convenient way to manage their business and reach new clients.
The new salon management software, which has been developed for desktop use, boasts a host of innovative features to cut down admin time and a digital dashboard with client, pet and grooming history all in one place. Coupled with this is a dedicated client-side app that allows dog owners to find, book and review local groomers at the touch of a button, making it easier than ever for salons to reach new customers.
Seamlessly integrating the client app activity with the salon dashboard, Tuft takes care of bookings 24/7, so groomers no longer need to worry about losing leads because they’re busy or with another client. Payments are also managed through the app, with Tuft taking zero commission on salon bookings*.
Day-to-day business is streamlined with a powerful booking calendar that allows groomers to effortlessly keep track of their availability. Plus, Tuft’s automated push notifications within the app inform clients about upcoming appointments and when their pooch is ready for collection, helping to reduce no-shows and late pick-ups.
An in-app messaging system connects to the salon dashboard, allowing dog groomers to keep a ‘paper trail’ of all conversations should they need to update the owners, answer questions, or resolve any disputes.
What’s more, Tuft’s quality-rating system encourages pet owners to leave honest, valuable reviews, helping businesses to build their reputation with ease. And just like with the popular Uber app, groomers can rate their clients too.
For groomers that aren’t so tech-savvy, Tuft has a dedicated support team to help them transition to a digital business management system. Alongside this is a designated WhatsApp group – aptly named ‘The Pack’ – for groomers to share feedback and make feature requests for both the salon software and client app.
Chloe Smith, Founder of Tuft, comments: “We couldn’t be more excited to launch Tuft. Not only does it connect groomers to hundreds of new, local clients, but the integrated software allows professionals to take control of their salon and streamline their business more than they ever have before. With Tuft doing the hard work for you, groomers can concentrate on what they do best: making pooches look pretty!”
Available now, Tuft is offering a free one-month membership to groomers when they join. The standard monthly price is £25 per month, excluding VAT.
*If users opt for the in-app eCommerce shop, which is an integrated platform launching soon to sell products alongside salon income, Tuft will take 5% commission on shops.
Pointer Pet Products, the home of innovative dog biscuits and snacks, has launched a new range in its mini rolls range: Pointer Duck & Orange Flavoured Mini Rolls.
Pointer Pet Products, the home of innovative dog biscuits and snacks, has launched a new range in its mini rolls range: Pointer Duck & Orange Flavoured Mini Rolls.
Naturally oven-baked, these wheatmeal mini treats are made with no added artificial colours or flavours. With an extra crunchy texture due to oven-baking, the treats can also be used to help keep teeth clean. Suitable for all dogs over 12 weeks.
Pointer Duck & Orange rolls are available to order now and are stocked in all good pet shops as 12.5kg bulk boxes.
For further information, free POS materials or samples, email info@foldhill.co.uk or call (Freephone) 0800 0988057.
Garland Products Limited – Hall 8, Stand D30/E31
Tomatoes and potatoes galore! 
An urban edible paradise
No space is too small to grow! 
Ellen Mary commented: “We are so excited to be ending series four on such a high. We can’t thank our listeners enough for downloading and listening to the podcast. We’ve been really lucky to be able to interview so many amazing names, who share our passion of plants and understanding of connecting with nature. We’re currently recording series five and have spoken to some amazing people – we are so excited to share it with our listeners soon.”
The book is aimed at children aged 3-5, and is about animals who have fun yet unusual habits which are reflected in their names, so there’s Cheddar the mouse, Howler the dog, Chippy the seagull and Suds the cat, to name but a few.
