Paolo Arrigo, UK director of Franchi Seeds of Italy, urged more garden centres catering department to offer the freshest food containing the best ingredients, preferably sourced locally.

Among his pet hates, he said during a presentation to Garden Centre Association conference delegates this week, were children’s menus, poor coffee, ‘chemical bread’ and canned cream.

“It seems adults get the quality stuff while we offer rubbish to the children,” he said. “So don’t offer children’s menus.” Pizza toppings should contain the best ingredients, “not re-formed ham and rubbery cheese”. And coffee should be served in cups, not a bucket, he pleaded.