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Millbrook Garden Centre champions local in new Food Hall
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All the winners from the Glee New Product Awards
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Glee Buyers Power List Winners Revealed
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The shortlisted New Product Awards entries
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New quiet grottos introduced at selected stores
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GTN September, Glee Preview Issue, on-line here
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Pot-mate scoops GIMA Innovators Seed Corn Fund
'No more time to waste’ for improving sustainability
Statement on delay to border checks
TV gardener David Domoney partners with Garantia
Houseplant sales on crest of a wave
Zest 4 Leisure presents over £8,000 to Greenfingers
Blue Diamond donates £10,000 for horticultural scholarships
Vivid Arts’ Rabbit raises over £10,000 for Greenfingers
Greenfingers gardens update
Dobbies set to showcase team expertise at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
The best of last week's
Farewell to the Eddie Topping, the Preston pioneer
GCA announces Ruxley Rose finalists
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Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
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All the latest news from the world of pet products
Tong doubles size of its pet department
Pet suppliers pick up awards
Fast-growing British dog care firm signs up pet expert
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Millbrook Garden Centre champions local in new Food Hall

 

Millbrook Garden Centre in Gravesend unveiled its brand new Food Hall & Butchers with an official launch event on Thursday 9 September 2021. The Mayor of Dartford, Councillor Rosanna Currans, was invited to open the new facility, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

 

The new Food Hall stocks a delicious selection of over 300 food and drink products from 23 local producers all under one roof - reducing food miles and keeping the very best flavours in the local community.

 

 

Over 30 VIP guests attended the launch event, including local producers, sector press, food bloggers and customers. Guests were all treated to an arrival drink from award-winning Biddenden Vineyard; a tour of the new Food Hall; tastings from local breweries Dartford Wobbler and Copper Rivet Distillery, Fawkham Bee Company, artisan food supplier Curd & Cure and Rooks Master Butchers.

 

Tammy Woodhouse, Managing Director of Millbrook Garden Centre, gave a warm welcome to everyone and explained that one of the reasons for opening the new Food Hall, was recognising during the pandemic the growing need to provide quality food and drink to its customer and the local community.

 

Tammy said: “Over the last 18 months, we’ve experienced a greater need to support our customers as they choose garden centres over other retailers due to their large open buildings and outdoor retail areas. At a time when people are not comfortable with visiting busy shops, we've increased our food offering to give people the option to buy their groceries while they shop for their gardening goods. As we have increased our food offering we have had requests for other products that go with our new ranges.

 

"We've now opened the new Food Hall, which still offers everything we always have, from frozen ready meals to tasty sweets and treats, but now also offers basic essentials including cleaning products, fresh produce and cupboard staples as well as tasty treats. Customers are able to create stunning meals for the family as well as buy their pots and plants! We also now have Rooks Master Butchers in-store, who are a family-run, Kent-based company who supply amazing fresh meats and cheeses.”

 

 

Some of the local suppliers have been around for many years, third and fourth generation family run businesses like the groceries supplier TH Brown & Son. 

 

Adam Smith, a Buyer from Millbrook, explains further: “Local suppliers are great to work with as they are so passionate about their products, but also the area we live in and the people who live in the communities. Many food suppliers spend years working with the communities and businesses around them to create products that are rich in flavour and quality.

 

 

"TH Brown & Son are a great example. They are so knowledgeable about where to source their locally-grown produce from as they have spent years working closely with the growers to ensure they have crops picked fresh and tasting great.

 

"Other suppliers are very young, such as Maidstone Distillery - opening their distillery during the start of the pandemic in 2020 was not the easiest start on their journey, but they have work tirelessly to create fantastic tasting gins and toffee liqueur. This earnt them the award for ‘Kent Spirit of the Year’ at the Taste of Kent Awards.”

 

If you know of a brilliant food local food producer and would like to recommend them please email the centre at: gravesendinfo@millbrookgc.co.uk

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