In This Issue
Wyevale Crowland Garden Centre to close
Industry pioneer Mike Dunnett dies
"The unifying energising effect it has is priceless." Alan Roper on the Blue Diamond Awards evening
Dobbies signs with Nisa for everyday groceries
The best of March is still to come, says GTN Bestsellers
Garden Re-Leaf Day Walk and Cycle Challenge boasts record numbers
Bord na Móna boosts its credentials with triple award win
Highlights from Garden Re-Leaf Day around the country - UPDATED
Developer submits plans for homes on Bromsgrove garden centre site
Garden Re-Leaf Day: a big thank-you to all the sponsors
US jury says glyphosate caused man's cancer - and EU sets up its review panel
Falkirk garden centre raises £4k for cancer charity
Fire destroys West Midlands garden furniture warehouse
MP cuts ribbon for Worcestershire centre's new shop
New EASYGarden Range Transforms Outdoors Surfaces with Ease
Team Klondyke to take on the 3 Peaks Challenge
B&Q to close some UK stores as Kingfisher looks for new CEO
Wiltshire grower wins £1,000 BPOA Peter Seabrook Bursary
2018 Glee New Product winners – where are they now?
February warmth stoked online gardening sales
Stewarts Garden Centres name hospice as Charity of the Year
Robin retires after 39 years with Wyevale Nurseries
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
GCA Garden Centres see surge in outdoor plant sales in February
Let's not get carried away with plant sales
Ball Colegrave plans more Speedplanters to meet heavy demand
Making the most of growing on
Grow your own activity drives compost sales
HTA Catering Conference: first steps and next steps
Veg to Gro doubles sales
Turf shortages possible this year says Squire's
Wild Bird Care drops
The best of last week's
Fermoys and Le Friquet are the Garden Centres of the Year at Blue Diamond
Smart confirms transfer of five from Briers
Charity shop and garden centre takings slump to £3 because of road closure
Dobbies director to address GIMA Day Conference in April
After Red Nose Day it's time to Go Green for Garden Re-Leaf Day
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
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Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700






Fermoys and Le Friquet are the Garden Centres of the Year at Blue Diamond

Blue Diamond Awards 2019 190319_GTN182 Fermoys GC of Year.jpg

Blue Diamond celebrated their annual awards last night at Chateau Impney in the West Midlands with Fermoys and Le Friquet winning the Acorn and Oak Cups for Blue Diamond Garden Centres of the Year.  Trelawney and Redfields won the Blue Diamond Restaurant of the Year Awards and Managing Director Alan Roper was presented with a special award to recognise his 20 years at Blue Diamond.

Blue Diamond Awards 2019 190319_GTN188 Le Friquet Dest GC of Year.jpg

 

Over 500 staff from the 30 centres were joined by suppliers at the prestigious evening where winners were lauded across the group activities from Stock Management to Pastry Chef of the Year. Full list of winners below.

 

Blue Diamond Awards 2019 190319_GTN224 Simon Burke, Alan Roper, Geoffrey Dorey.jpg

 

Blue Diamond Awards 2019 190319_GTN237 Alan Speccial Award.jpgOn receiving his special award from Chairman Simon Burke and Life President Geoffrey Dorey, Alan said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every minute. There are 500 people in this room and there is a strong bond and strong connection between everyone of you. The energy, the sense of achievement and all being proud to work together as a great team. All I can do is lead, but you need a great team of people.  Without exception you’re just brilliant.  Thank you.” 

 

Earlier in the evening Alan announced a new centre development had been agreed at Elevden in Suffolk with further developments in progress at Totley in the Peak District, Tewkesbury and Scotch Corner.

 

“The group increased like for like turnover by 33% to £128m excluding Wyevale acquisitions and East Bridgford  in 2018 and projected sales for 2019 are £170m.

 

Full list of Blue Diamond Award Winners 2019:

Stock Management Award: 3 Shires

 

Home Award: Carol Spain - Fermoys and Sarah Thompson - Redfields

 

Christmas Award:  Dennis Risdon - Trelawney and Matt Gouveia – Le Friquet

 

Visual Merchandising Award: Suzie Young – Redfields

 

Fashion Award: Helen Danning – Trelawney and Amanda Brown-Reed – St Peters

 

Garden Care & Décor Award: Julie Sills – Harlow and Clye Hooper – Le Friquet

 

Garden Features & Containers Award: Andrew Lloyd – 3 Shires

 

Wild Animals Award: Suki Crook – St Peters

 

Furniture & Outdoor Leisure Award: Tracey Uphill – Chatsworth and Matt Gouveia – Le Friquet

 

Seeds & Bulbs Award: Fergus Keating – Brambridge Park and Tina Luker – Trentham

 

Seasonal Plants Award: Martina Mallett – Matlock and Anna Lancaster – Redfields

 

Hardy Plants Award: Peter Shirley – Fryers and Gemma Woods – Derby

 

Indoor Plants Award: Katie Wardell – Newbridge and Kevin Fleming – Trentham

 

Best Garden Centre for Social Media Engagement:  Grosvenor

 

Best Garden Centre for Customer Engagement and Loyalty:  Fermoys

 

Customer Service Superstar: All Blue Diamond Customer Service Managers

 

Head Chef of the Year: John Waldron – Newbridge

 

Pastry Chef of the Year: Tracey Miller – Chatsworth

 

Restaurant of the Year: Trelawney and Redfields

 

Core Garden Centre of the Year, The Acorn Cup: Fermoys

 

Destination Garden Centre of the Year, The Oak Cup: Le Friquet.

 

The awards in each category were presented by the group specialist teams based on performance over the whole of 2018 against the Blue Diamond BPI measures (Business Performance Indicators including profit per customer.)  Centres are grouped according to size with smaller “Core” centres grouped as Acorn and larger “Destination” centres as Oak.

 

 

 

 

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