In This Issue
More change at Wyevale Garden Centres as Roger builds his own team
Dobbies MD talking to investors in Tesco queue?
Frosty weather puts a hold on late April growth but sales of roses bloom
Vitax ready to cope with predicted slug invasion
Coles promote blue to back Leicester City's title bid
Gro-Sure brand gets new £1m TV campaign
Taylors Bulbs shoot for 23rd Chelsea Gold
Midsummer Cotswolds car rally to raise funds for Greenfingers
Dutch growers to stage 'inspiring' orchid week
The fashion-conscious will love this sweet pea say Wyevale Garden Centres
Wyevale Nurseries donate rare native tree to castle in Herefordshire
Legacy theme for Perennial's Hampton Court show garden
Nursery Manager (Hampshire)
Nursery Production Assistant (Essex)
Grounds Maintenance Team Leader
Horticultural/Plantarea Manager (Surrey)
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Reading garden centre plans to downsize to make way for homes
Gro-Sure Planting Magic becomes a bestseller
Veg-2-Gro sales take a dip
Slow down in compost sales
Flopro has WOW factor
Wolds View garden centre invites children to design its new flag
Eight line up for Young Horticulturalist of the Year final in Dublin
Forest Garden introduces TMTTT Lite
Dennis Espley bows out...Martin Breddy at the ready
Inside the May issue of Garden Trade News
Steve Kindon to host the GIMA Charity Golf Day
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
GCA centres were up 5.6% in March
Cream teas as Colin Squire looks back over group's 80 years in horticulture
Situations Vacant
Nursery Manager (Hampshire)
Salary: £25,000 - £35,000
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Nursery Production Assistant (Essex)
Salary: £17,000 - £17,500
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Grounds Maintenance Team Leader
Salary: £16,000 - £19,000 dependent on experience
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Horticultural/Plantarea Manager (Surrey)
Salary: £20,000 - £22,000
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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
GCA centres were up 5.6% in March



Turnover at Garden Centre Association member centres was 5.6% up on average in March, with food hall and farm shop up more than 23% compared to the same month last year.

The GCA’s latest ‘barometer of trade’ returns show that the best performing traditional category was houseplants at +8.36%

Outdoor plant sales rose 3.31% compared to last year while sales in seeds and bulbs were down 6.65%. Catering sales were up 11.78% and clothing was up 10.7%. 

Gift sales rose marginally by 0.13% but pets and aquatics showed a  6.19% increase. Hard landscaping sales were down 0.94% and furniture and barbecue sales up 7%.

GCA chief executive Iain Wylie said the success of the food hall and farm shop category was no surprise. “Due to the poor, wet weather and early Easter break, many gardeners haven’t had the chance to get working on their plots,” he said. Because the Easter break was so early this year, the month’s sales figures were not a true like-for-like comparison.
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