This week’s news that Tesco is closing more than 40 stores and mothballing plans for around 50 new ones, plus other cost-cutting measures, has re-ignited speculation about the future of Dobbies Garden Centres.

Dobbies has been in Tesco’s ownership since 2007, following an ill-humoured takeover spat with Sir Tom Hunter, who reluctantly surrendered his 28 per cent stake. Tesco ending up paying £156 million – a drop in the ocean for a group whose 1500 UK stores were bringing in more than £35 billion. Clearly, in the pre-recession spending boom, Tesco had their eye on a garden industry that promised gold at the end of the rainbow.

At that point, there were just 21 Dobbies centres, but in 2010, the then CEO James Barnes trumpeted plans to create a truly national chain with 100 stores by the end of the current decade.

On Barnes’s watch, the portfolio steadily expanded – but today, with Barnes gone and just five years of the decade to go, there are still only 35 centres, leaving that target of 100 seemingly woefully irrelevant in the light of Tesco’s current troubles.

Rubbing the crystal ball reveals only cloudiness…but we can speculate!

It’s unthinkable that, while engineering this week’s cuts, Tesco will not have reviewed the return on their Dobbies investment. The last figures we have, for the year ending February 2013, show a profit of £7.3 million on turnover of £137.4 million, a 30 per cent hit to the bottom line after a weather-hit year. In Tesco terms, the sums are trifling – and selling Dobbies would not be regarded as much of a windfall. But if what Tesco CEO Dave Lewis – ‘Drastic Dave’, as he was known during his Unilever days – is aiming for is a four-square focus on the core business and the need, as he sees it, to get Tesco price competitive again, he may regard continuing ownership of a chain of garden centres as a distraction his team can do without. 

However, the garden centre industry is currently riding on a crest of good form, and Lewis may be viewing Dobbies as a sleeper he can waken when the investment climate improves – as long as it continues to ‘run itself’  and return a profit in the meantime. Then, of course, there is the question of all that valuable real estate (with retail planning permission).

Hang on a minute, though. He’s drafting in Matt Davies, chief executive of Halfords, to run Tesco’s UK business. At his old company, Davies was hot on the idea of improving the customer experience – a philosophy he would certainly want Dobbies CE Andy King and his team to employ to good effect. He might see a chink of an opportunity there to upscale the business…

Yet, would it be enough to satisfy Drastic Dave?

As one garden industry professional I spoke to this week said: “I don’t know whether the newly-managed Dobbies with its closer connection to Tesco stores is profitable or not. All I can say is that given that the fundamental reasons for Tesco getting into the gardening  business in the first place haven’t changed– the grey pound, the size and relative robustness of the garden market and so on – then whether they divest or not comes down to whether the sale would release enough funds to meet their needs and make make it worth pursuing.”

The Scotts sales team of more than 50 full-time sales representatives and CDEs will be out on the road over the next few weeks, following an investment in a new fleet of colourful, heavily-branded vans.

They will be visiting customers to help them with supplies, displays and enquiries about Scotts Miracle-Gro and Scotts Solus Brands.

The vans are promoting best selling products like EverGreen®, Miracle-Gro® and the new Miracle-Gro® Magic Start Planting Mix.

Retailers who would like a hand with merchandising the range to increase customer pickup and improve the overall value of sales are asked to contact their Scotts representative.

The full list of contacts and the areas they cover can be found in the trade area of the website :www.lovethegarden.com/trade-contact-us/garden-centre-sales-representatives

A number of Miracle-Gro®, EverGreen®, Weedol® and Roundup® products will be TV-advertised this spring and summer.

The new garden centre company set up by former Golden Acres Group owner Paul Richards is scheduled for official launch during the next month.

Richards told GTN Xtra that intellectual property on the name chosen for the new business, was still being checked. Meanwhile, Badger Garden Centre near Studley becomes the foundation stone for the new group, following the sale of the other four former Golden Acres group sites to Wyevale Garden Centres last month.

Richards is to re-build the Badger outlet, which will be re-named Mappleborough Green Garden Centre. He is aiming for a group of five to 10 centres, with a mix of new-builds and revamps, initially targeting an area south of the Warwickshire site.

Richards still owns the Golden Acres production nursery at West Parley, Ferndown, which he rents to Dorset Plants, and his daughter Charlote now runs the cash and carry business under the Plants for Trade Ltd name.

Savvy business-focussed retail buyers will be observing the latest consumer trends, looking at future forecasts and planning a strategy for their visit to the most important festive trade show of the year – Harrogate Christmas & Gift, which starts at the Harrogate International Centre on Sunday and continues until Wednesday.

Christmas & Gift has evolved considerably in recent years, attracting more garden centre buyers than ever before. In turn this is attracting significantly more exhibitors with product ranges particularly suited to the garden centre environment – which as we know has grown to encompass much more than flower pots and plants! 

Among the festive displays of Christmas trees, tinsels and baubles filling seven halls of the Harrogate International Centre you will find an array of exciting products from furniture, decorative wall plaques, dried flowers and ornaments to barbecues, garden furniture and lighting. In fact the show pretty much has the year’s entire buying requirements all wrapped up, with gifts for every occasion.

Simon Anslow, show organiser, comments: “It’s fantastic that Harrogate Christmas & Gift has revitalised in the last few years and has regained its vibrant atmosphere. It has always been a popular show for gift retailers, particularly department store buyers and visitor attractions such as theme parks, stately homes and cathedrals, but the influx of garden centre buyers has created a new dynamic which in turn has attracted new exhibitors with product ranges for the entire year.”

Gardman, which is renowned for its garden ranges from plants and garden accessories and wild bird care, will be attending Harrogate for the first time, showcasing its extensive range of new festive products including LED lighting, flameless candles, doormats, LED canvases and Christmas lights. 

Sifcon International is another exciting new exhibitor bringing a wealth of fabulous products to the 2015 show. Leading importers and distributors of design-led gifts, home decor and arts and crafts, buyers will be spoilt for choice with beautiful products such as cushions, throws and textiles; wall art; ornaments and collectibles; home fragrance; and decorative lighting.

Another big new name for the show is Widdop Bingham & Co, an award winning company and leading supplier of giftware to the trade. From photo frames to figurines, clocks to crystal and a huge catalogue of Christmas gifts and decorations, the company’s range is extremely comprehensive. 

Of course, Harrogate Christmas & Gift also welcomes the return of all of the best known names in the industry, including Premier Decorations, Festive Productions, which now incorporates Widmanns, Gisela Graham and Heaven Sends.

Kaemingk once again returns to Hall M with its catalogue of over 17,000 products, including decorative items for Christmas and spring. There are gifts for Easter and Valentines, pottery and baskets, plus Christmas lighting, glass baubles, gorgeous lit villages and ribbons and florestry.

SnowTime also takes its position in Hall D with one of the largest ranges of artificial trees, indoor and outdoor lights, LED fibre optic trees, garlands, wreaths, decorations and home decor that the show has to offer.  The company’s brands include Snowman & Snowdog, plus its fabulous range of Thomas Kinkade Tapestries.

Sagedecor and Konstmide (UK) Ltd also take pride of place once again in Hall M and both companies have plenty of exciting new products to offer. Sagedecor has been a supplier of high quality artificial plants, flowers and trees for over 40 years and presents a wide range of Christmas floral and tree decorations. Swedish company Konstmide caters to the market for home and environment and offers lighting fittings such as Christmas, decorative and garden lighting.

With so much to see at Harrogate Christmas & Gift this January and of course, the legendary hospitality surrounding the event, including the Greatest Christmas Awards and Party night on Sunday 11th and free drinks reception on Monday 12th, visitors will no doubt want to stay in Harrogate for a few days. The organiser has teamed up with Mice Concierge which offers extremely competitive hotel and restaurant rates ensuring visitors and exhibitors get the best value out of the show. 

For more information and a full list of exhibitors visit www.harrogatefair.com

After visiting 130 garden centres this Christmas season for The Greatest Christmas Awards, the judges have decided to do something different to help raise money for Make-A-Wish. Each of them is offering a day’s consultancy to a garden centre or supplier in return for a sizeable donation to Make-A-Wish.

The consultancy days are being offered in a Silent Auction at The Greatest Christmas Awards party at the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate, on Sunday evening.

The winners will be the highest bids for each consultancy day, which have a value of at least £500 each (there are reserves which have to be met).  What a great way to add real value to your business and at the same time make help make the wish of a terminally ill child come true.

If you're not attending The Greatest Christmas Awards but would like to bid for one of the days (see details below) then send in your request by email to reach Trevor Pfeiffer before 9pm on Sunday (January 11), trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

The consultancy days:

Justin Avery: The Art of Christmas Marketing for Garden Centres. Having been Marketing Manager of The Greatest Awards multiple winning Endsleigh Garden Centre, Justin offers advice, ideas and action plans to make sure your Christmas marketing plans have the right objectives and maximise returns.

Ken Crafer: Magic Makers – Taking Christmas to the next level. This unique course from the Garden Centre Academy has been carefully designed to enable you and your Christmas Team to review your offer in 2014 and to consider practical and achievable ways to make 2015 more magical and profitable.

Roger Crookes: Roger now helps garden centre teams raise their retail standards as one of the GCA inspectors, and works with teams across all departments – he is particularly keen to help centres develop inspiring plant and bulb departments, Christmas departments, and Santa’s Grottos.

Steve Myatt: Business Development Mentor and Growth Coach. Steve covers analysis of the business, thoughts for further development and market opportunities, be it retail or supplier. 

Trevor Pfeiffer:  Publisher and GTN Bestsellers Analyst. Trevor offers teams an insight into the ideas that drive volume sales and ways to make the most of the Christmas peak.

Doug Stewart: Magic Makers – Taking Christmas to the next level. This unique course from the Garden Centre Academy has been carefully designed to enable you and your Christmas Team to review your offer in 2014 and to consider practical and achievable ways to make 2015 more magical and profitable.

Pictured: The Greatest Christmas Awards judges (from left to right): Neil Pope, Steve Myatt, Justin Avery, Ken Crafer, Doug Stewart, Roger Crookes, Carol Paris and Trevor Pfeiffer.

Inspired by the story of a young boy fighting leukaemia in the US, Make-A-Wish UK was formed to grant magical wishes to seriously-ill children in the UK. Buying raffle tickets tonight and taking part in the Silent Auction will be a great way of contributing further to the amazing work of Make-A-Wish.   For more information visit www.make-a-wish.org.uk. 

The Greatest Christmas Awards will be revealed at a special party, sponsored by Premier Decorations, at the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate, tomorrow evening (Sunday) as garden centres nationwide wait in anticipation to hear their fate. You’ll find out who are The Greatest at Christmas this year by joining us at the first awards event of 2015. Buy your tickets now...

Our annual awards presentation and Christmas party is an event not to be missed whether you are visiting the Harrogate Christmas and Gift show or just want to have another great Christmas Party with some great garden centre people.

Tickets are now on sale for the party, which includes reception drinks, a 3 course meal with wine, the awards presentation and dancing the night away to a live party band.

Ticket prices for The Greatest Christmas Awards Party, sponsored by Premier Decorations.

This is your last chance to book your tickets for the party. Use the Paypal link below or contact Trevor Pfeiffer direct on 07973 504214, email trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Prices below include VAT

Tickets

1 Ticket £100.80 GBP2 Tickets £201.60 GBP3 Tickets £288.00 GBP4 Tickets £384.00 GBP5 Tickets £456.00 GBP6 Tickets £547.20 GBP7 Tickets £638.40 GBP8 Tickets £729.60 GBP9 Tickets £820.80 GBPTable of 10 £864.00 GBP

The sponsors for The Greatest Christmas Awards are:  

Charles Farmer has been appointed head of consumer UK at Bord na Mona following Steve Harper’s move to Gardman.

Farmer, Bord na Móna’s national accounts controller, has worked for the growing media specialist for the past five years.

He will be responsioble for all UK retail business, overseeing sales, marketing and business development, with a remit to further build Bord na Móna UK’s products, brands and associated infrastructure.  He will report directly to Bord na Móna Ireland’s group director marketing & communications, Gerry O’Hagan.

Farmer has previously worked with blue-chip UK consumer brands such as Scotts Miracle-Gro and Addis Housewares. 

Commenting on his new role, he said: “Our success will continue to be built on  market leading quality in both peat-based and peat-free growing media and we will continue developing this ‘one stop shop’ approach.  Our philosophy is to give trade customers the reassurance of buying best in class, while ensuring that the consumer gets great results every time.

 “We are developing new products, new storage facilities and new distribution routes to service existing and prospective accounts and will use our brand potential, production and logistics capabilities to back these up.  We will also be looking to expand into other sectors where we can combine ethical technology with top quality product.”

Bord na Móna UK trades peat–reduced Growise and peat-free Vital Earth through garden centres nationally and is the largest own brand  supplier of compost and bark in the UK.  It is part of the Bord na Móna plc, which specialises in eco-fuels, growing media, recycling, resource recovery and renewable energy.

‘Grow your passion’ is the message consumers will see time and again at the point of sale, in advertising, on posters and in their potting sheds as a result of a major re-branding exercise for Sinclair Horticulture’s flagship J. Arthur Bower’s range

The words adorn more than 80 completely new packs – including a new SuperFyba enhanced, peat-reduced multi-purpose compost – all of which also feature new layouts, colourways, graphics and big, highly evocative images

A single image covers almost the entire front and sides of every pack. In the foreground is a specimen plant or crop, often cupped proudly in a pair of the grower’s hands. Each pack image is different but all project the same sense of pride and achievement.

In research, 48% of knowledgeable gardeners representing the target audience chose the new J. Arthur Bower’s pack as their intended purchase (the next highest score was 17%).

New peat and peat-reduced composts

The company is backing up a £550,000 re-branding investment with major new product launches – including 20L and 50L J. Arthur Bower's Masterblend® 100% peat traditional universal compost (£4.99 and £5.99) and an improved recipe 50% peat J. Arthur Bower’s Multi-purpose Compost containing 10% organic compost and 40% enriched SuperFyba, Sinclair’s unique new high performance peat substitute made from composted wood. Also new is a £1.99 2L one-pot bag of J. Arthur Bower’s MPC which retailers can elect to use as a free sample

Marketing director Simon McArdle said: “We will be reinforcing our commitment to passionate gardeners through our new brand positioning, advertising, PR, social media activity, website, point-of-sale material and everything else we do to engage with this committed and bigspending audience so that they can easily identify our offering at the point of sale.”

Trade enquiries: 01522 780300 or

www.william-sinclair.co.uk/gardening/trade 

Stand space at Glee 2015 is more than two thirds booked and a number of big names have confirmed their return to the exhibition after an absence, says the organiser, i2i Events.

Returning companies include Fiskars, Doff Portland and Maingate. Other key names confirmed include Gardman, Scotts, Grange Fencing, Artevasi, Treadstone Products, Javado, Plant Magic Plus, Aspire Outdoors, Barenbrug, The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company and Town & Country (who are planning their biggest Glee stand to date).

Glee’s event manager, Matthew Mein, said: “Glee is in really great shape.  We are presently 68% booked, which we didn't reach until March for the 2014 show. This is obviously great news as it demonstrates the value that Glee, as a revised and revitalised show, has for the garden retail market.  It’s also great to see so many brands returning to Glee, as they look to optimise the benefits the new-look show offers.”

Matt Jones, managing director of Doff Portland, said Glee was the perfect platform during an exciting period of growth for Doff. “At Glee 2015 people can expect to see from us an increased depth of product ranges on offer, and also get a taste of the various innovations that will be lifting the profile of Doff Portland. Retailers will be able to see that we are serious about becoming a leading supplier to the industry,” he added.

Companies making their Glee debut this year include Nisson Garden Buildings, and French footwear and country clothing experts Aigle.

An online course promoting best-practice water conservation for professionals will be available via the HTA next week.

The course is designed to help industry professionals demonstrate high standards of sustainable, environmentally sensitive and cost-effective use of water in gardens, parks, sports grounds and all areas of amenity horticulture, and will lead to the new Certificate in Water Conservation.

Fifteen leading horticultural and water supply organisations (including the HTA, BALI, RHS, IOG and Waterwise) have combined resources to help horticultural staff recognise and implement best practice in landscape water efficiency

The Four client focused modules last an hour in total, after which horticultural professionals and volunteers will be well equipped to take a leading role in demonstrating and promoting best water management practice and, by example, inspire and inform the public, as well as commit to industry codes of practice.

Jacob Tompkins, MD of Waterwise, said: ‘Since the drought in 2012 water companies and horticulturalists have been working closely together to develop this excellent course. This means horticulturalists will be able to demonstrate their expertise in water management and deliver beautiful practical landscapes that enhance water resources and the natural environment.”

APL/HTA learning and careers manager Penny Evans said:”The horticulture industry is grasping the challenge to support employers in up-skilling their staff in the most cost-effective and accessible way. Using technology with best practice training design, creates highly interactive and impactful learning, which benefits the individual, business and industry.”

The course, available from 12 January at an introductory price of £10 plus VAT per learner (until mid-July 2015), comprises of an inspirational video, e-Learning module, an assessment and download of a personalised certificate once successfully passed.

Access is through: www.htalearning.org.uk

Plant Department Head (ref:BP6981)

Location: South East England
Salary: Up to £25,000pa
Date: 06 Jan
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

My client is a large chain of garden centres based in the South East of England. 

I am currently looking for a talented plant area manager to join the team of a well-established garden centre.

The successful individual will have several years retail management experience in planteria.

The ideal candidate will also have excellent merchandising and large team management skills.

To discuss this role further, please call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530.

Bedding Supervisor (ref:BP6980)

Location: South East England
Salary: Up to £18,000
Date: 06 Jan
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

My client is a large chain of garden centres based in the South East of England. 

I am currently looking for a talented plant retailer to join the team of a well-established garden centre.

The successful individual will have several years retail experience preferably in plants in a garden centre.

The ideal candidate will also have management experience in a retail environment.

To discuss this role further, please call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530.

Assistant Nursery Manager  (ref: DS6984)

Location: Surrey
Salary: Up to £18,000
Date: 06 Jan
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is the UK's largest online garden centre is looking for an experienced and motivated assistant nursery manager. The company operates from a 30 acre site in Surrey. The company was voted website of the year in 2014 and has won over 20 Gold Medals at the Chelsea Flower Show. 

The successful candidate will report to the Nursery Manager and will require the following skills; 

• Strong commercial growing background preferably from within the Hardy Nursery Stock sector 
• Experience of planning and co-ordinating nursery production 
• Experience of managing and supervising staff 
• Hands-on, can-do attitude 
• Strong communication skills 
• A commitment to quality 
• The ability to prioritise tasks 
• A strong level of plant knowledge 
• Good IT skills 
• Pesticide qualifications (PA1 & PA6) 
• The ability to show initiative 
• A desire to develop within an innovative and growing business 
• In addition, it would be preferable if the candidate had a forklift licence 
• Some knowledge of irrigation systems

To discuss this role further, please call MorePeople on 01780 480530.

Wholesale Supervisor (ref:DS6985)

Location: West Midlands
Salary: Up to £16,000 - £17,000
Date: 06 Jan
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our Client is a leading wholesale nursery who trade with both the professional amenity market and the public, who are seeking to recruit new team members for the coming spring.  

The position of Wholesale and Operations Supervisor will be to ensure the wholesale activities of the business are supervised and operated in an efficient and cost effective manner, whilst maintaining high levels of horticultural husbandry and customer satisfaction 

You will report to the site manager, 

And be responsible for:

• Supervision of the wholesale and cash and carry plant area, including
• Supervision of staff
• Ensuring incoming and outgoing goods are handled efficiently and effectively in a timely manner
•  Ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction are achieved
• Minimize wastage by ensuring high quality plant husbandry
• Coordinating the stocking of the wholesale area with the site manager
• Working within agreed budgets
• Working to agreed Health and Safety standards

Preferred Skills and experience would include:

• Horticulturally trained, with experience of working on a plant nursery
• Qualified to operate a counter balance and telescopic fork lift.
• PA1A and PA6A qualified
• Experience of Word and Excel, and working on computers.

The position will be 5 days per week with some weekend work during busy periods, and will be on an annualised hour's contract. 

As the site runs a retail plant centre, you will be required to work flexibly between departments when required by the site manager. 

The position would be ideally suited to someone looking to develop further experience in a wholesale plant environment.

To discuss this role further, please call MorePeople on 01780 480530.

Seeds guru Tom Sharples is celebrating 40 years  of service with the same company.

He started his career with Dobies in Llangollen as trial ground manager after completing his degree at horticultural college. He went for the interview in a suit in pouring rain, having stayed overnight in a tent.

He progressed from trials to young plants manager and was the first to bring in seedlings and plugs by post for the home gardener.

When Dobies was taken over by Suttons, Tom moved to Devon as Dobies catalogue manager. Dobies was the first company to introduce a separate young seedlings and plugs catalogue. He then introduced desk top publishing and optical image storage to catalogue production.

Later he moved to new product development and took the position of marketing manager on the retail side of Suttons, working with garden centres and multiples.

He still works for Suttons three days a week, with responsibilities involving staff training and technical back up.

In Tom's expert view, the best new variety through the years was the Begonia ‘Non Stop’ series  from Benary of Germany, introduced by Dobies and still not beaten for performance.

|He believes the best development is the relatively recent advent of grafted vegetables, which Suttons pioneered.

Figures released in BDO’s monthly High Street Sales Tracker showed sales on the high street fell over the crucial Christmas period.

Like-for-like sales at mid-market retailers slumped 1.4% year-on-year over December as shoppers were absent from the traditional last minute rush in the wake of November’s ‘Black Friday’ shopping frenzy.

The fashion sector was hit the hardest, down 3.1% for the month. Like-for-like sales decreased in the run-up to Christmas, slumping to 6.1% down year-on-year in the last week of the year.

Sales of lifestyle goods (up 3.5%) and homewares (up 8.2%) repaired some of the damage, but retailers were left ruing a combination of unhelpful weather conditions and unfamiliar shopping patterns.

Sophie Bevan, Head of Retail and Wholesale at BDO LLP, said: “For most retailers, Black Friday took the wind out of their sails for December. The unseasonal weather over the autumn left fashion stores with stock to shift, but the hype around Black Friday meant many shoppers had spent the majority of their budget by the end of November.

“When like-for-like sales dropped by over 3% in the second week of December, retailers started to get nervous, resulting in early discounting. But we will not see the real cost that these heavy promotional activities have had on margins until the post-Christmas reckoning of results.”

Tom Shelston is to join the Royal Horticultural Society next month as director of members and marketing. He will be respopnsible for marketing RHS Gardens and shows, including the Chelsea Flower Show.

For the last three years he has been members and donors director for the National Trust. Previous roles incluided head of marketing at Everton Football Club and a range of marketing roles at McDonald’s Restaurants.

RHS director general Sue Biggs said he would play an integral part in leading the RHS and ensuring it delivered its plans to enrich people’s lives through growing plants and horticulture.

The society recently committed to a ten-year investment of £100 million in the future of horticulture, including finding a fifth RHS garden, creating the first RHS urban garden and increasing horticultural spectacle in its current gardens.

The RHS marketing division is responsible for delivering more than 2 million visitors to RHS shows and gardens, managing and growing the society’s 426,000 membership and securing and managing corporate partnerships.

Andrew Yates, of The Plantation Garden Company, is the winner of a VIP visit to Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair courtesy of the organisers and GTN...

Andrew's prize includes: 

• Two nights bed and breakfast at the luxury Majestic, Harrogate’s leading hotel. 
• Dinner for two on Saturday evening (up to the value of £80) 
• Two places at the prestigious Greatest Christmas Awards on Sunday evening, organised by Garden Trade News and supported by Christmas & Gift Harrogate 
• A bottle of champagne 

Jill Nicholson, of Gordale Garden Centre, wins a runners-up prize of two tickets for GTN’s fabulous Greatest Christmas Awards Party, which is held at the Majestic on the first evening of the show. The prize includes a superb three-course meal and dancing to a great live band. 

Steve Bishop has joined Bayer CropScience as product manager for professional products...

He was previously with Polypipe, having achieved an agriculture and food science BSc degree at Nottingham University and a Masters in Environmental Science at Cranfield University

He is a qualified falconer and a keen rugby player.

Casual Dining, the award winning trade event for the UK’s flourishing casual dining sector, is now accepting submissions for its prestigious 2015 Design Awards.

Reflecting the importance of design to successful casual dining operators – from conveying brand identity to creating ambiance and attracting/retaining custom – the awards will enjoy a prominent showcase at Casual Dining 2015, which returns to the Business Design Centre in London next month on 25-26 February.

The deadline for award entries is 24 January, with selected design projects competing for the top spot in the following three categories: Best Designed Independent Restaurant, Best Designed Multiple Restaurant, and Best Designed Casual Dining Pub.

Projects will be judged on their innovation and uniqueness, brand consistency, impact, the degree to which the final design reflects the brief, and proven evidence of the success of the design/re-design in increasing revenue and/or customer satisfaction levels.

Casual Dining operators who have completed a design/re-design during the past 12 months are invited to enter the awards online at www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/design-entry.

The winners will be announced following a dedicated design panel session in the show’s Keynote Theatre on Wednesday 25 February.

“Restaurant design today is increasingly about understanding the customer as an individual and creating a comfortable dining experience,” says Simon Kincaid, associate director of Conran and Partners, one of last year’s judges.

Winners of Casual Dining’s 2014 Design Awards included:

• Best Designed Independent Restaurant: Graze Bar, Brewery & Chophouse in Bath (operated by Bath Ales, designed by Simple Simon Designs)
• Best Designed Multiple Restaurant: Vapiano with sites in Austria and Germany (operated by Vapiano Franchising International GmbH, designed by Matthew Thun, Milan)
• Best Designed Casual Dining Pub: No 11 Pimlico Road, London (operated by Darwin & Wallace, designed by Buro Creative/Fusion DNA)

Casual Dining returns to the Business Design Centre, Islington, London, on Wednesday and Thursday 25-26 February 2015.  To register for a free trade pass, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk and quote priority code CDPR1 (direct link: www.eventdata.co.uk/Visitor/CasualDining.aspx?TrackingCode=CDPR1).

Great British Bake Off celebrity Mary Berry will indulge her other great passion –  for gardening – by opening next year’s Blenheim Palace Flower Show.

The three-day event returns to the Oxfordshire stately home from 19-21 June, with a 25,000 sq.ft Grand Floral Marquee as its centrepiece, featuring more than 40 floral displays and nursery stands.

While she has become one of the nation’s favourite cookery writers, Mary is a keen gardener, growing her own culinary herbs, fruit and vegetables.

 “I’m thrilled to be opening the Blenheim Palace Flower Show as gardening is a huge passion of mine,” she said. “I am almost as happy in a garden as I am in a kitchen. I find it very relaxing and enjoy nothing more than cooking the produce we’ve grown. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing the amazing floral displays from some of the country’s leading nurseries as well as being inspired by the fantastic show gardens.”

Matt Upson, director of show organiser Aztec Events, said having Mary Berry open the show was ”the icing on the cake”.

Stewart Garden has added lead-effect planters to its decorative planters range.

In black with a rustic silver cross hatch design on all four sides, they are resistant to harsh weather. There are two sizes, 32cm x 32cm and 38cm x 38cm, at SRP £19.99 and £26.99 respectively.

2015 sees parent company Stewart Group Holdings celebrate its 70th anniversary as a UK manufacturer of gardening products. 

Suttons have launched a range of collectable seed tins for 2015

The six designs reflect a touch of heritage with a modern day retro twist. The range, each SRP £4.99, comprises, Rainbow Veg, Chillies & Pepper, Herb, Salad, Pea & Bean and Scented Flower.

Ian Preedy, group commercial director of Travis Perkins (TP/Wickes, Tool Station) will speak at the British Home Enhancement Trade Association’s next member forum on 15 January.

He will share with BHETA members the group’s latest plans and developments in a session reflecting the crossover between DIY and traditional builders merchant business. 

The agenda will include presentations from GFK on the DIY, garden and builders merchant Sector, a presentation by Fiona Russell-Horne (editor of Builders Merchants Journal) and a case study from BHETA member, Tembe DIY, which has developed and grown its business in both the DIY and merchant sectors.

The event will be held in the Warwickshire Suite at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground (9.30am for registration and coffee).

Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips.

The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra printed newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2012 as well as 2013 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period.

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most upto date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers.  Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.