In This Issue
A Perfect Storm Hits the Garden Market
Sales pick up during Lockdown 2
Five creative ways to enhance your takeaway service during lockdown
Clipglove scores a Hat Trick in Gardeners’ World Review!
Profits up at Notcutts in year to February 2020
GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards are back!
Plant sales – a third up since re-opening
Gardenex organises webinar on ‘Beyond Transition: the steps UK exporters should take now!’
HTA calls on Government to delay implementation of plant health regulations
Further your professional development with the Ball Colegrave Scholarship
“The Smart Show must go on…line!”
Sales fall by 5.5% in Lockdown 2
EcoGro launch a range of specialist sustainable plant foods
RHS to launch rosé wine in time for Chelsea Flower Show
Tong Garden Centre wins Outstanding Employer award
APL Awards 2021 – finalists announced
GTN November issue now on-line
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
The sale of pot feet keep volumes up
Picks and Clips help to drive up Christmas sales
Lockdown hits Wild Bird Care sales
GROEN-Direkt’s Spring Showroom: February 2-3 2021
Brexit webinars to support global ornamental horticulture industry
The best of last week's
Barton Grange Christmas 2020 - Exclusive GTN Xtra Photo Tour
Homebase up for sale after recent overhaul
Little Dobbies opens in Edinburgh
Simpsons expands with purchase of Aberdeenshire garden centre
Thieves break into Dobbies Garden Centre
Garden Centre Photo Tours
Haskins Snowhill re-opens after £15m re-vamp
British Garden Centres open their 58th centre at Thatcham
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Buy your subscription to the GTN Bestsellers printed weekly newsletter
All the latest news from the world of pet products
Laughing Dog brings innovation to Christmas with festive treat
Lockdown sparks surge in love for 'man's best friend'
Unleashing holiday cheer with Purely Pets Top Trump packs
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Profits up at Notcutts in year to February 2020

Notcutts have announced another year of profit growth in the year ending February 2020 with operating profit up 13.5% to £1.72m.  This followed a 52.5% increase in operating profit on the prior year. Gross margin improved by 1.4% points to 48.9%.

 

Total sales of £76.1m were up 1.9% despite significant disruption to normal trading patterns as Notcutts continued with its progressive redevelopment and garden centre improvement programme.

 

Capital expenditure was £9.2m in the year. Restaurant redevelopments were completed at Woodbridge, Cranleigh and Ashton Park. Full centre redevelopments, covering both retail environments and restaurants were completed at Booker, St Albans and Garden Pride (Ditchling). In each of these schemes Notcutts’ trade mark show gardens were included as part of the developments. Two further show gardens were added in Maidstone and Victoria (Pontefract) and a woodland heritage walkway was opened for customers in Woodbridge.

 

Commenting on these results Chief Executive, Nick Burrows said: “We are pleased with our progress during a year in which we were able to deliver further growth in operating profit. A continued focus on margin and a successful cost efficiency programme helped underpin this achievement. This during a year when we completed further exciting projects to bring customers ever improving experiences in our garden centres. In addition the investment we made in our e-commerce platform has put us in a good position to serve customers through this growing sales channel.”

 

Nick Burrows was also pleased to have secured planning permissions for future improvement projects at Notcutts’ Oxford, Tunbridge Wells and Solihull garden centres. “We are now well through our planned programme of improvements” he said. “Whilst we have now paused our development programme for a period as we navigate the new challenges of the current coronavirus situation, we hope to recommence further projects when this passes”. Burrows also added “Like others, we have made a number of adjustments to our business model to reflect the current unprecedented situation. We believe these will place us in a good position to gear up again quickly when more normal trading conditions return”.

 

Notcutts introduced further show gardens and a stunning woodland nature walk in the year. Caroline Notcutt, Vice Chairman, hosted events for customers, partners and local communities at a number of grand opening events. She commented: These additions continue to showcase Notcutts’ horticultural and design credentials which extend back almost 125 years. They are real wellbeing spaces and as society becomes increasingly conscious of the enriching positive benefits of gardening and being outside with nature we see these as essential elements of our customer experience.” Caroline Notcutt added “We have also continued our work with Thrive to support training for Social Therapeutic Horticulture through the Charles Notcutt bursary”.

 

During the year Bridget McIntyre joined Notcutts as Chairman. Upon her appointment in January 2020 she commented “Living in Suffolk, I have always been a customer of and admired Notcutts. I am delighted to be able to join the board and work with the team of this great family business.”

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