Queuing for fuel last weekend may have had some impact on garden centre sales, but the GTN Bestsellers Garden Centre EPOS data, shows that sales for the week were 28% up on the same week in 2019. Did the RHS Chelsea Flower Show TV coverage contribute to that?

At Alton Garden Centre, Derek Bunker used the fuel problems to run an impromptu garden furniture promotion (pictured ….)  Andy Bunker told us they sold quite a few sets of furniture over the weekend, but not all customers wanted the free fuel!

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week in 2020: week 39.

• Garden Products Top 50 – down 19%
• Growing Media Top 50 – down 17%
• Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – down 22%
• Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 24%
• Christmas Top 50 – down 46%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week in 2020: week 39.

• All Plants with Barcode index – down 9%
• All Items with Barcode index – down 5%

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

The warmth of Martin Stewart’s tribute to Eddie Topping at the service celebrating the founder of the Barton Grange Group’s life was a moving testimony to the deep affection in which Eddie was held throughout the garden industry.

Martin told how his own father had been the first to pick up on the concept of garden centres, but Eddie had “all the skills, energy and ambition required to do it better”.

His father, an RAF pilot in World War II, had been reluctant to return to the Stewart family’s “dark, dingey and basically bankrupt” nursery business after the war but wrote home before returning from a trip delivering a plane to the United States in 1955: “I have seen the future – they are called Garden Centres.” The subsequently converted Stewart potting sheds became what was almost certainly the UK’s first embryonic garden centre.

It was in that same year that Eddie Topping took over the Rochdale Market fruit and veg stall from his father who (with his wife Ada) was by then busy building up business at the newly-developed hotel at Barton near Preston, adding a modest landscaping business two years later.  Over the decades ahead, Eddie (helped by his three sons, Guy, Peter and Ian) moulded the flourishing Barton Grange Group we know today, with the flagship multi-award winning Brock garden centre at its core, augmented more recently by the enterprising Flower Bowl leisure and entertainment centre. By any measure, it became one of the UK’s most spectacular garden retail, landscaping and leisure businesses.

When Martin Stewart’s father, Edward, was elected president of the Horticultural Trades Association in 1960, he would have met Eddie, 12 years his junior. Twenty-two years later, in the year of Edward Stewart’s death, Eddie was also to become HTA president. “He was a huge support to me at that time,” Martin recalled in his tribute. “For those of you not familiar with our trade, it is the most extraordinarily open, warm and friendly industry imaginable. It is now and it was then.”

“What a proper pioneering spirit. The finest example of his legacy can be seen within his offspring and the enterprises that they are involved with now. The Barton Grange business with its unique culture has Eddie written right through it like a stick of rock. What an extraordinary legacy.”

Martin summed up Eddie Topping as “amazing – a proper entrepreneurial pioneer, someone loved and respected more than anyone I have met in our trade. He earnt his reputation in the most beautiful, calm unruffled manner….”

Perhaps the last word should go to one of Eddie’s grandsons, Andrew, who said at the service: “I won the lottery having Eddie as our grandad.”

Read a fuller version of Martin Stewarts tribute to Eddie Topping in the upcoming October issue of GTN.

Plant Area Manager – Full Time – Alternate Weekends – Twickenham

£40+ Depending On Experience

A once in a career opportunity has arisen to join our flagship garden centre at Twickenham.  You will be responsible for managing the outdoor plant department.

This is an outstanding department which has won GCA Ruxley Rose competition on several occasions and has a reputation for excellent plant quality and the highest standards of plant care and advice. you will line manage two assistant plant department heads and a number of full time and part time colleagues who make up a motivated, responsible and committed team.

If you are energetic, highly motivated, have the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrate a passion for plants, are commercially aware and able to create dynamic, inspirational displays this could be just the opportunity for you. 

If you have garden centre retail experience and, ideally, horticultural qualifications, the ability to manage your department to achieve sales and profit targets, the ability to inspire your team to offer the highest standards of plant quality and customer service we look forward to hearing from you.

Hours: Full Time, including alternate weekends.

Rewards & Benefits

• Employee Discount – 50% in Restaurants and10% in Garden Centre on joining, increasing to 20% after 3 months service, 25% after 2 years’ service and 30% after 5 years’ service.
• Holiday (including bank holidays) – 5.6 weeks on joining increasing to 6.2 week after 2 years’ service and 6.6 weeks after 5 years’ service.
• Bonus – We reward our employees with a non-contractual bonus at Christmas, based on the profit of the company in any financial year.  (first year is dependent on start date)
• Pension – We are all aware of how important it is to save for our retirement. We offer a Defined Contribution Pension Plan to new employees. If you pay into the plan and meet the government criteria, the company will too, and these contributions will be invested.
• Attendance – Our employees with 100% attendance in a financial year, are rewarded with Squire’s gift vouchers.
• Made A Difference Scheme (M.A.D) – a reward scheme for team members who make a difference to our business through; outstanding customer service, over and above normal duties or initiatives that have grown / inspired the business. There is a monthly winner and a ‘team member of the year’. All winners select a gift to receive.
• Learning & Development -You can look forward to a wealth of learning opportunities with us that will enhance and develop you with the skills and confidence you need.
• Free parking – available to all employees in the designated parking areas on our sites.

Interested in this role? Call 01252 356860 or email hrtraining@squiresgardencentres.co.uk

About us

Squire’s is a family-owned group of 16 garden centres based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex, and Berkshire. We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticultural retailing. We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment. Our company is over 85 years old, and Twickenham was the first garden centre we opened way back in 1964. It was one of the first garden centres in the country and holds a very special place in the hearts of the family and at the heart of our business. Plants and core gardening remain central to our business.

Autumn plant sales really have moved to a new dimension judging by last weeks GTN Bestsellers EPOS sales data. Week 39 plant sales this year were up by 42% on the same week in 2019.  Did Chelsea have an effecton your plant sales?

Highlights of the week were:

• Cyclamen, Pansy and Viola sales all increased last week to remain the top 3 bestselling garden centre plant lines.
• Erysimum, wallflowers, tripled sales to move up to No 6.
• Calocephalus, a member of the Aster family, climbed even further up the chart, up 28 places to No 21.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Norman Sellers (above left) started Wildlife World in the 1990s from a small farm in Devon, by learning about customer preferences through retailing wildlife products at garden shows.

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Twenty-two-years on, Wildlife World is now Europe’s premier designer and manufacturer of wildlife habitats and feeders, supplying to retailers and leading wildlife charities across the UK, Europe, and the USA, and exporting to over 20 countries. 

The UK-based workshop, offices, warehousing and fulfilment operations have grown significantly in that time, and remain based in Chavenage on the outskirts of Tetbury in Gloucestershire. The farm in Devon continues to be a valuable test area for products and acts as proof of their huge environmental benefits

Norman won’t be leaving the business completely – he will remain involved in new product development, which has been his passion over the last 22 years, and will chair the newly created board of directors.

Mark Pitman (above right), General Manager of Wildlife World, has been appointed as the new Managing Director as of 1st October 2021.

Mark has a 35 year background in horticultural retailing and operations with some of the UK’s leading brands such as Hillier Nurseries, and the John Lewis Partnership. 

Wildlife World is Europe’s leading designer and manufacturer of wildlife products, based in Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Their products cover a wide range, including; wildlife and bird feeders, nest boxes, beneficial insect houses and hotels, pollinator habitats, hedgehog houses, bat, frog and toad homes, birdbaths and sophisticated wildlife camera systems.

Conservation has been at the heart of their business since its inception in 1998, using recycled materials where possible and FSC certified timber. The UK based workshop where Wildlife World design and develop their unique products uses renewable energy to operate. More at www.wildlifeworld.co.uk

Amid all the media hype about fuel shortages, empty supermarket shelves and a shortage of labour in so many sectors of industry the GTNXtra news hound recalls mention of a shortage of Pigs in Blankets this Christmas.

Well this week our industries gardening guru and strongest supporter of UK horticulture in its broadest sense was himself like a pig in...  when he dropped into an Essex Garden Centre.

Peter Seabrook, journalist, broadcaster and gardening correspondent for The Sun newspaper popped into Meadow Croft Garden Centre near Wickford in Essex and was pleased to find a plentiful supply of lots of things including plenty of Pigs in Blanket flavoured crisps from leading supplier Mackies of Scotland!

Buying two packets does not constitute ‘panic buying’ insisted Peter, simply one for Christmas day and one for the days following to go with the cold turkey.

Meadow Croft Garden Centre is owned by W.D. Smith & Son, a local family of nurserymen who have been growing plants for gardeners for nearly ninety years.

They are putting the finishing touches to their Christmas display and have just opened their traditional German Market at the centre for the trading period up to Christmas.

Their concept of the German Christmas Market is really very simple but so effective. A fantastic range of products, many which despite all my years in the industry, I have not seen in other retail outlets. Little wonder the centre is such a draw to people from the heart of Essex and beyond.

Hannah Powell suffered burn out and was diagnosed with a Functional Neurological Disorder in 2009. She has now published a book called The Cactus Surgeon: Using Nature to Fix A Faulty Brain.

It’s a nature and health memoir which explores the possible reasons for Hannah’s burnout and investigates her connection with Mother Nature. It’s a book of mindful moments, savouring the small wonders of flora and fauna. Cactus Surgeon was her dream career when she was six.

Hannah Powell, Communications & HR Director for Perrywood Garden Centres, says, "My Functional Disorder meant I would twitch and jerk in response to sound or touch. I looked like a peculiar air drummer with no rhythm. There was no information available to help me, so I found my own way to get better.

"Growing up in a garden centre, my childhood was full of nature and plants. This was in stark contrast to the concrete of London, where I became unwell. After seeking alternative therapies and moving back to the countryside, I began to feel myself again. My 'green recovery' followed. I believe we all benefit from having mindful moments, and this can easily be done by savouring the small wonders of nature around us."

“I wrote the book primarily to help others. I want to raise awareness of functional neurological disorders and I’ve found that every time I open up and tell my story it encourages somebody else to ask for help.”

Functional Neurological Disorders affect one in three people attending neurology outpatient clinics. Yet, it is not something that most people have heard of. They can affect anyone. The diagnosis covers a range of difficulties in how the body works, including paralysis, seizures, pain, anxiety and difficulty speaking. 

The book is available to buy via Hannah’s website www.thecactussurgeon.com, at Perrywood Tiptree and Perrywood Sudbury, through independent book shops including Red Lion Books in Colchester, via e-book providers and on Amazon.

Hannah can be contacted via thecactussurgeon@gmail.com for bulk orders.

Demand for Burgon & Ball’s popular Razor Hoe has seen a huge increase, following an appearance on the BBC’s TV coverage of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show recently.

After featuring in the Medals Day edition of the BBC’s popular daily updates from the event, Razor Hoe was the star of the show and very much in demand. Its popularity continues as gardeners look to source this eye-catching tool once they return home.

Razor Hoe was shown in close-up on screen during a segment in which presenter Chris Bavin chose his top five must-have tools for a capsule gardening kit. He praised Razor Hoe for its versatility, as it’s ideal for weeding in beds and borders as well as for targeting weeds in paving.

With fresh stock of this popular tool available imminently, sales of the Razor Hoe are set to soar, as gardeners’ minds turn to the autumn tidy-up and on to Christmas gifting.

The screen time was a bonus for Burgon & Ball at this year’s unique autumn RHS Chelsea Flower Show. In its twenty-fourth year at the show, the Sheffield-based manufacturer returned to its high-profile position on Main Avenue, in among the show gardens.

The Burgon & Ball stand was recognised by the RHS judges for going above and beyond in its presentation, winning a coveted four-star award. A potting-shed themed display focused on autumn tasks like cutting back, dividing perennials, and bulb planting, creating an area which was not simply about product, but which offered an attraction in its own right, to enhance the Chelsea visitor experience.

Burgon & Ball managing director Rainer Schubert says: “We were delighted to get the BBC coverage for Razor Hoe; the impact it made on gardeners was immediate and very noticeable. To be one of just five tools selected from the whole of the show was a well-deserved accolade for this much-loved tool, which already has a bit of a cult following with both gardeners and allotmenteers.”

Razor Hoe is available in right-handed, left-handed and long-handled versions (RRP £20.99 - £29.99), meaning that there’s a Razor Hoe for every gardener.

After five years as Managing Director of Farplants, Brett Avery will be leaving at the end of the year to join UK soft fruit grower, Hall Hunter Partnership, as MD. 

During his time at Farplants, Brett has helped the business to grow and develop, and more recently provided support and stability to the team during the pandemic, culminating with this year being the company’s most successful yet. 

Brett has relished his time at Farplants and has said: “Thank you to Mike Tristram and the Farplants Board for providing me with the opportunity of running & leading such a wonderful business, nearly five and a half years ago. A huge thank you to my fantastic team.

"I am very proud of the amazing developments we have achieved and records that we have continuously broken across all areas of the business, year after year. I will look on from the sidelines with interest as Farplants continues to thrive and reach new heights. I wish them all the very best - onwards and upwards.”

The Farplants Group Chairman, Mike Tristram, said: “Brett Avery has brought great positive energy to the business.  He leaves a strong and confident team, united in our aim to be resilient and best in class for our customers and staff alike.  We were delighted to attract Brett into ornamentals horticulture, and though he is now leaving our sector, we are glad that his skills will continue to benefit growers.”

The HTA has also issued this statement: “With Brett Avery, HTA Vice-President, taking up employment with Hall Hunter Partnership, a UK soft fruit grower outside of HTA membership, he will regrettably not be able to put himself forward for the President-role at this year’s AGM on 7 October.

"We were obviously looking forward to Brett being proposed as the new HTA President. He has served just over a year as Vice-President and chaired a number of committees and groups over the years – bringing his expertise and enthusiasm to the roles.

"Current HTA President, Boyd Douglas-Davies has kindly agreed to continue in the role while we conclude the appointment of a successor. We wish Brett the very best in his new job."

Thompson & Morgan lead the way this season with their new seed introductions for 2022...here to tempt is their Top 10 Preview.

Thompson & Morgan introduce their top10 new seed introductions for 2022, with standout varieties across flower, vegetable and fruit. The new flower seeds bring unusual shapes, colour, and form – perfect for creating interesting statement flower displays for both the garden and the home.

The new is led by native plants from South and North America, these tropical varieties are perfect in our changing climates, bringing with them drought tolerance and resistance, featuring beautiful bold blooms in sunshine shades of golden yellow, blazing orange and brick red, here you will find customer favourites and mini me versions, trailing blooms for baskets are cute and colourful, plus irresistible edibles also await.

The new in vegetables and fruit caters for all regardless of garden size or experience, easy to grow, tasty, juicy, and super healthy, appealing to all who are passionate about growing their own. Highlights include customer favourites and the delightfully unexpected, perfect for filling veg plots and allotments with homegrown produce. There’s a versatile tomato perfect for patio growing and a new tempting trio of colourful dwarf French beans awaits bringing the ultimate new vegetable seed mix perfect for French bean fanatics.

Thompson & Morgan’s New Seed for 2022 Top 10 Preview

Flower Introductions for 2022

Introducing T&M’s Flower seed of the year – ‘Sanvitalia Mini Sunflower’, the ultimate in mini me flower varieties, perfect for those who love sunflowers but have less outdoor space to house their typically large blooms!

Sanvitalia ‘Mini Sunflower’ – Code: KB9810

Sunflowers are a much-loved favourite in the summer garden and T&M are excited to be introducing the ‘Sanvitalia Mini Sunflower’ to their extensive range. This fabulous cascading plant is perfect for hanging baskets, windowsill and container growing! Producing 100s of mini me sunflower blooms in a warm sunshine yellow, growing to 30cm (12“) in height and 60cm (24“) spread makes it the perfect choice not only for all those who love sunflowers but also perfectly sized for those with less outside space – a mini variety perfect for mini sized garden spaces and containers. Simply deadhead this sun loving plant to keep its brilliant blooms coming from June through to October.

Other new flower seeds to tempt for the coming season include...

Introducing Marigold 'Kushi Mix' named after the Hindi word for ‘Joy’ and is the first Indian Marigold available for purchase in the UK!

Marigold ‘Kushi Mix’ - Code: KB9805

This beautiful colour mix of yellow to orange blooms is inspired by the gorgeous garlands of marigold flower heads created for Indian weddings and special occasions. The sunshine blooms will brighten your summer borders and patio pots from July through to September. These joyful flowers are perfect to create marigold flower garlands to dress outside spaces for summer gatherings, growing to a height of 60cm (24") and spread of 40cm (16") – plus their longer stems make them ideal for cut flowers too.

This next flower introduction is packed with personality Ratibida columnifera 'Red Midget'.

Ratibida columnifera ‘Red Midget’ - Code: KB9808

Prairie Coneflowers are native to the American prairies, so ‘Red Midget’ is a sun-loving, drought-resistant variety that will make a sensational addition to a sunny border, wildflower meadow or in Mediterranean-style low maintenance gravel garden. Also known as the Mexican Hat plant, ‘Red Midget’ will form fascinating flowers in tones of in brick-red with yellow edging, each resembling a mini sombrero. Blooming in its first year, you can enjoy the flowers from July to September. The woody stems of this hardy perennial are perfect to use as cut flowers, so you can enjoy the blooms indoors too, growing to a height of 50cm (20") and spread of 50cm. (20") its quirky flowers provide a statement for both the garden and as cut flowers in the home.

Introducing Bellis ‘Monstrosa Mix’ perfect for pom-pom inspired patio pots this season!

Daisy Bellis ‘Monstrosa Mix’ – Code: KB9795

Daisy Bellis 'Monstrosa Mix' is also known as the 'English Daisy' and grows attractive, large double flowers up to 4cm across in white, scarlet and rose shades. This strain has petals that are quilled, giving the flowers a pom-pom appearance. Plants grow to 20cm (8“) tall and are perfect for spring flowering in patio pots and containers. This short-lived perennial will keep blooming for a longer flowering period with regular deadheading.

Introducing Helianthus annum ‘Ms Mars’, its striking colour makes it the perfect pick for the garden and home!

Helianthus annum ‘Ms Mars’- Code: KB9801

Everyone loves a sunflower and 'Ms Mars' is no exception. This beautiful variety of Helianthus features striking colour with petals which graduate from purple to pink, each tipped in a contrasting cream. Beginnings start from pretty purple buds set against a dramatic backdrop of dark foliage, once fully open the delightful daisy-like flowers measure up to 15cm (6") across and show their dark red centres. Flowers sit happily upon its naturally dwarf habit, plants are upright and stout at a height of 60cm (24") and spread of 30cm (12"), its flowers also make a stunning cut flower displays for the home and being pollen free they make a great choice for hay fever sufferers too. This easy to grow Helianthus is the perfect pick for both children and adults, happy growing in your borders, beds or containers, enjoy its beautiful blooms from July to October, deadheading regularly to prolong flowering.

Vegetable introductions for 2022

Introducing T&M’s Vegetable seed of the Year – Dwarf French Bean ‘Colour Mix’, a colour trio providing brilliant beans to excite both veg grower and home cooks alike!

Dwarf French Bean ‘Colour Mix’ – Code: KB9791

New Dwarf Bean 'Colour Mix' combines three delicious bean varieties in one colourful and delicious mix! A gorgeous looking combo for both the plot and plate, dwarf bean garden favourites 'Compass', 'Adoration' and 'Mistik' come together to provide you with tasty green, yellow and purple extra fine bean pods. Keeping you well stocked up with each variety, expect high yields from these bush bean plants delivering fresh beans over a long cropping period. Growing to approximately 45cm (18”) tall and a spread off 30cm (12”) – perfect for patio pots yet equally happy in the garden or in raised beds. Simply keep picking to keep them coming, this will encourage more flowers to set and prolonging the season, with any surplus beans freezing well for use at a later date.

A real treat Tomato 'Veranda Red’ F1, the perfect patio tomato that’s big on flavour!

Tomato ‘Veranda Red’ F1 - Code: KB9814

Tomato 'Veranda Red’ F1 is a dwarf tomato with big flavour – delicately sweet, like a greenhouse-grown vine tomato. British bred, ‘Veranda Red’ F1 took 15 years to perfect and is very versatile, with good resistance to Fusarium, Verticillium and some resistance to late blight. Enjoy these early-ripening tomatoes from mid-July through to October, this Bush tomato variety will produce up to 75, 12-16g fruit per plant and is ideal for pots on your patio, hanging baskets or any containers. Height: 200cm (79"). Spread: 50cm (20").

Introducing the baby of the pack Pumpkin ‘Baby Bear’ F1, produces tasty fruits from small vine plants.

Pumpkin 'Baby Bear’ F1 - Code:  KC0342

'Baby Bear’ F1 is a superb tasting pumpkin featuring brightly coloured orange flesh under a thick outer skin. As its name suggests ‘Baby Bear’ F1 products small vine plants with a height of 45cm (18") and spread of 200cm (79"), each bearing 5-8 slightly flattened globe-shaped fruits, packed with delicious, sweet flesh. Its hull-less seeds can be toasted to provide a tasty and healthy snack too. Pumpkins change from green to orange as they ripen and store well into the winter months making this variety perfect for the store-cupboard – harvest these wonderful fruits from September through to October.

Courgette 'Lingodor’ F1, bright yellow and a little nuttier to taste!

Courgette 'Lingodor’ F1 - Code: KC0343

Courgette ‘Lingodor’ F1 produces bright yellow, cylindrical zucchini fruits with a nuttier flavour and firmer flesh than most green varieties. It is a vigorous and productive plant growing to a height 45cm (18") and with a spread of 90cm (35”) and is resistant to diseases including powdery mildew and mosaic virus. ‘Lingodor’ F1 is suitable to grow in the garden or in a tunnel/greenhouse, where it will produce an early crop of these superb fruits which you can harvest and enjoy from July to October.

The last vegetable introduction in the Top 10 preview is Dwarf Bean 'Adoration' fine yellow beans and deliciously sweet to tempt!

Dwarf Bean 'Adoration' - Code: KB9793

Dwarf Bean 'Adoration' is an early cropping French bean producing high yields of thin, deliciously sweet, yellow bean pods measuring 12-13cm long. ‘Adoration’ is a great sized dwarf variety perfect for the allotment or garden at only 45cm tall – these plants will happily grow in patio pots too! (Height: 45cm (18“) and Spread of 30cm (12“). These bean plants are also really disease resistant, which makes them a must for any bean lover. Harvest this superb variety from July through to October.

All varieties featured above will be available in the T&M Seed Catalogue 2022, and available to buy online now.

The Garden Centre Association has seen a number of new members join in 2021 – with 10 signing up so far this year.

These include two centres from Squire’s Garden Centre, an additional centre for Webbs, Coolings and Creative Gardens, as well as other independent garden centres from across the country.

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, explained: “We’d like to welcome all of our new members, Coolings Wych Cross, Creative Gardens Logwood, Gates Garden Centre, Moss and Moor, Raglan Garden Centre, Squires Garden Centre Frensham, Squires Garden Centre Wokingham, Webbs Cheltenham, Woodworks Garden Centre and Simpsons at Happy Plant, Mintlaw, Scotland.

“It is a real pleasure to welcome these new members, especially after such a difficult year. We accept applications at any time of year, and we have already received interest from other centres, which will increase this record total even further, so if there are any centres out there thinking of joining us, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.”

These centres have already received visits from their regional inspectors, which differ from the GCA’s annual inspections as the date is pre-arranged, rather than unannounced, in order to give new members a chance to meet their inspector and be talked through the process.

Gordon Emslie, one of the GCA’s regional inspectors, said: “I recently visited two of the new centres and they are already doing a great job, and, now that they are members, they will benefit hugely from our inspection process as well as our annual conference, where they can network with other centres.

“Our members say our unique annual inspections and feedback sessions are one of the biggest benefits of membership. The inspections are a fantastic operational, management and motivational tool which helps towards improving standards within a business as well as helping colleagues develop their skills. These combine to keep everyone on their toes and ensure we’re always striving towards achieving operational excellence.

“We always aim to help our members achieve the highest standards across all areas of their businesses including customer service, merchandising, plant quality and marketing.”

GCA members are also able to access the Association’s e-learning initiative Garden Retail Online Workshops (GROW), which helps member garden centres keep their customer service at the highest standards.

Mike Burks, GCA Chairman, said: “There are so many benefits for centres to join an organisation like ours. We’re a friendly and inclusive bunch and membership enables businesses to easily share best practice, experiences and ideas, which helps them make positive and proactive decisions.

“We also help members to achieve high standards in areas like customer service and plant quality, which are important in ensuring they stand out from their competitors.”

Other benefits include access to the GCA’s Barometer of Trade results, this allows members to compare their trading positions with other member garden centres.  

Squire’s Garden Centres also added a further two centres to member status, bringing their total number of centres to 16.

Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, said: “I am delighted that our Frensham and Wokingham centres, the newest additions to the Squire’s family of garden centres, have passed their inspections and are now members of the GCA.

“The application process was very straightforward, and now all our 16 garden centres are GCA members. It is a fantastic organisation to belong to as it represents leading garden centres in the UK and sets the benchmark for high retailing standards within the industry through annual inspections.

“Membership also brings a host of other benefits, from networking and sharing best practice, to online training workshops and the GCA Conference.

“My father Colin was one of the initial group garden centre entrepreneurs who founded the GCA back in 1966 and we have enjoyed the benefits of membership ever since.”

One of the independent garden centres to pass their inspections was Moss and Moor in Ilkey, Yorkshire.

Louise Miller, Co-owner of Moss and Moor said: “We were delighted and proud to have achieved such great feedback from our GCA inspection. Achieving membership was important to us, as we saw it as a way to ensure customer confidence in a start-up business – enhancing our reputation.

“Developing and opening a purpose-built garden centre, against the backdrop of 2021, has been a huge challenge. As new entrants to the industry, Gordon’s feedback was extremely valuable as we look to shape the business for the future.

“The application process was helpful in reflecting upon and critiquing our own standards. We are now able to use those criteria to maintain standards throughout the year – our next challenge will be topping our score in 2022!”

Community plots in Edinburgh, herbal tea gardens in London and a city farm in the heart of Bristol are some of the initiatives receiving a cash boost from the Royal Horticultural Society as it unveils the first beneficiaries of its new Flourish Fund.

The gardening charity has announced recipients of its fund aimed at attracting budding gardeners into a career in horticulture, with a particular focus on under-represented communities.

The twelve organisations from across the UK will share £150,000, enabling them to grow their training and development offerings, benefitting more people and helping to pave the way for a career in horticulture. It is thought that around 650 people will benefit directly from RHS funding.

Organisations set to grow their offering this year include Hackney Herbal in London who will offer six positions at its publicly accessible herb garden; St Werburghs City Farm in Bristol who will pilot an Urban Growers Scheme and deliver training and skills workshops; and Edible Estates in Edinburgh, where 80 people will benefit from their community food hubs partnered with local food banks.

The 12 recipients of the RHS Flourish Fund in 2021 are: Bankside Open Spaces Trust (London), Birmingham City Council, Core Arts (London), Edible Estates (Edinburgh), Grow (Sheffield), Hackney Herbal (London), National Botanic Garden Wales, R-evolution (Hull), St Werburghs City Farm (Bristol), Surrey Docks Farm Provident Society (London), Walworth Garden (London) and Young Enterprise Scotland (Glasgow).

Chris Moncrieff, RHS Head of Horticultural Relations, said: “We are very pleased to announce the first tranche of grants aimed at improving the accessibility of horticultural careers.

"The RHS Flourish Fund will provide much-needed financial support to enable groups already doing fantastic work in their communities to grow their offering.

"More than ever, people are looking at gardening as a career option and this scheme is intended to ensure everyone can benefit from the opportunity.”

The RHS Flourish Fund was launched this year to coincide with the opening of RHS Hilltop, the gardening charity’s new scientific centre at RHS Garden Wisley and is part of the RHS’s commitment to helping ensure horticulture is more diverse and inclusive.

Woodlodge is celebrating its return to Glee with its order books full and a new accolade under its belt as the garden retail industry returned to trade events this month.

With a larger stand in the heart of Hall 6 that showcased the company’s entire portfolio, the UK’s leading supplier of pots, planters and gardenware had an extraordinary three days of sales at the show and won the coveted New Product Award for Garden Decoration. Woodlodge cemented its position as one of the market leaders in garden décor with its new solar mirror range, winning the category from an impressive amount of entries. 

Judges and visitors to the show were impressed with the clean, green solar-powered Heart Mirror which brightens up shade-filled spots and illuminates evening social spots in the garden. 

The show saw Woodlodge return to live events for the first time in two years with a larger 870 square metre stand packed full of new product ranges and innovation. Leading the way was the launch of the highly anticipated RHS planter collaboration. Having recently made an agreement with the RHS to become its licensee of outdoor pots, the carefully curated collection features glazed botanical designs, ageless terracotta and fibreclay that celebrate the charity’s history and the nation’s love of gardening.   The range was warmly received by all visitors and orders are well above initial expectations.

Other launches for 2022 included the new brand, Emberwood, Woodlodge’s new outdoor heating range of gas and wood firepits, fireplaces and chimineas to get retailers all fired up. Following on from extensive customer research and product development, the company’s furniture range has expanded to include on trend cocoon chairs, as well as new rattan designs that encompass sophistication, style and practicality.

The return to Glee also saw been Woodlodge build on additional product ranges that complement its core offer.  Garden décor brand Honey & Wild saw new additions to its range as consumers continue to extend interior design to their outdoor space.  This trend also saw an extension to Woodlodge’s successful Water Studio collection, a calming range of plug in and go water features with strong appeal for consumers who are looking to create a sense of tranquillity at home.

Visitors were treated to an early festive cheer through Snowlodge, Woodlodge’s Christmas range that was launched earlier this year. From ornaments to traditional décor, Christmas trees and plushes, winter stars and baubles, festive lighting and seasonal wreaths, the range, which combines innovation with quality, helps to provide retailers with a real point of difference and the potential to capture a greater share of the expanding Christmas market.

Woodlodge completed its extensive line-up of new product launches at Glee 2021 with the introduction of Down to Earth’s Garden sundries and essentials which will spur on impulse purchases instore,  and new on-trend designs within its Root Indoor interior range to capitalise on the popularity in houseplants with the younger generation.

Throughout the show, the company received great feedback on the ranges on display from a variety of garden centres, high street and DIY stores and other retail outlets that visited its stand.

Michael Wooldridge, Director of Woodlodge said: “ Glee 2021 was an amazing show for Woodlodge. Not only was it the opportunity to meet all of our customers that have supported us over the last 24 months, but also to showcase our entire product portfolio. With the increasing trend in gardening set to continue, it is more important than ever for Woodlodge to continuously develop products for both novice gardeners and experienced greenfingers.   We were delighted with the very positive response to our products at Glee and the quality of leads we received as a result of exhibiting.”

For more information on Woodlodge’s new ranges for 2022, please contact your local sales representative or visitwww.woodlodge.co.uk. 

Furniture and BBQ sales continue to dominate the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade and were up by 59.73% year-to-date according to its recently released figures for August.

The report also shows a year-to-date increase in 12 out of 13 categories proving demand remained strong during the month.

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, explained: “Our members’ August figures are very positive and although sales have slowed, they’ve stayed consistent across all areas. The heatwave at the end of July prompted people to continue spending more time in their gardens and outdoor living spaces.

"It was also the first restriction free full month, so hosting social occasions at home with friends and family resumed. Of course, demand for staycations has also been tremendous and for those unable to get a break in this country, holidaying at home has been the order of the day and this has also fuelled further demand for furniture and BBQs.

“Although catering has been unsettled throughout the past 18 months and is still facing some difficulties, it saw a more stable increase from August 2020 with sales up for the month. Social distancing was still in place at this point last year, which needs to be taken into consideration.”

The year-to-date figure for catering has increased and is up at 3.33%, however this is the first increase so far this year for the category.

Iain added: “Although we can now resume other hobbies and pursuits, the nation’s continued appreciation for plant life is still here, as houseplants have remained top sellers with sales up 50.42% and outdoor plants were also up 49.25%, year-to-date. The many advantages of gardening to our physical and mental health, plus, the inter-generational community it builds has helped maintain this.”

The remaining categories that performed well, year-to-date, in August were gift sales up 43.15%, hard landscaping 39.61%, clothing 39.54%, food hall/farm shop up 36.7%, garden sundries 33.73%, seeds and bulbs 25.83%, as well as pets and aquatics up 28.52%.

Iain continued: “As we move towards autumn and winter, experts are also predicting a very busy sales period, coming earlier than normal, as people get ready for the festivities and in anticipation of ‘normal’ celebrations and gatherings. We are also sure to see the impact of a September Chelsea Flower show coming through with boosted sales of plants in September and October following this year’s delayed event.”

Overall sales for the month were up in August by 2% when comparing 2020 with 2021.

The GCA BoT reports are compiled using actual sales figures and provide an up-to-date trading position statement. They are made available mid-month following the end of the prior month after all member garden centres have submitted their results.

The BoT reports allow members to compare their trading positions with other centres.

A once in a career opportunity has arisen to join our flagship garden centre at Twickenham.  You will be responsible for managing the outdoor plant department. This is an outstanding department which has won GCA Ruxley Rose competition on several occasions and has a reputation for excellent plant quality and the highest standards of plant care and advice. you will line manage two assistant plant department heads and a number of full time and part time colleagues who make up a motivated, responsible and committed team.

If you are energetic, highly motivated, have the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrate a passion for plants, are commercially aware and able to create dynamic, inspirational displays this could be just the opportunity for you. 

If you have garden centre retail experience and, ideally, horticultural qualifications, the ability to manage your department to achieve sales and profit targets, the ability to inspire your team to offer the highest standards of plant quality and customer service we look forward to hearing from you.

Hours: Full Time, including alternate weekends.

Rewards & Benefits

• Employee Discount – 50% in Restaurants and10% in Garden Centre on joining, increasing to 20% after 3 months service, 25% after 2 years’ service and 30% after 5 years’ service.
• Holiday (including bank holidays) – 5.6 weeks on joining increasing to 6.2 week after 2 years’ service and 6.6 weeks after 5 years’ service.
• Bonus – We reward our employees with a non-contractual bonus at Christmas, based on the profit of the company in any financial year.  (first year is dependent on start date)
• Pension – We are all aware of how important it is to save for our retirement. We offer a Defined Contribution Pension Plan to new employees. If you pay into the plan and meet the government criteria, the company will too, and these contributions will be invested.
• Attendance – Our employees with 100% attendance in a financial year, are rewarded with Squire’s gift vouchers.
• Made A Difference Scheme (M.A.D) – a reward scheme for team members who make a difference to our business through; outstanding customer service, over and above normal duties or initiatives that have grown / inspired the business. There is a monthly winner and a ‘team member of the year’. All winners select a gift to receive.
• Learning & Development -You can look forward to a wealth of learning opportunities with us that will enhance and develop you with the skills and confidence you need.
• Free parking – available to all employees in the designated parking areas on our sites.

Interested in this role? Call 01252 356860 or email hrtraining@squiresgardencentres.co.uk

About us

Squire’s is a family-owned group of 16 garden centres based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex, and Berkshire. We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticultural retailing. We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment. Our company is over 85 years old, and Twickenham was the first garden centre we opened way back in 1964. It was one of the first garden centres in the country and holds a very special place in the hearts of the family and at the heart of our business. Plants and core gardening remain central to our business.

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Whilst growing media sales were significantly up on 2019 levels last week, garden product sales were 25% down. Within the Top 50s of 2019 and 2021 sales of pots and pot feet show as being 44% down this year.

It will be interesting to watch this over the coming weeks. Could this be the start of a ‘normalisation’ of pot sales or as a result of supply issues?

Highlights of the week were:

• Evergreen Garden Care Levington Tomorite 1L + 30% Free stays at No 1.
• Woodlodge Pot Feet Large were the highest re-entry of the week at No 2
• Westland Resolva Path & Drive Weedkiller 1L Ready To Use was the highest new entry to the GTN Chart at No 29.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Growing media sales may have dropped slightly week on week and were 17% down on the same week in 2020 but emphasising the increase in gardening as a result of the pandemic were 74% up on the same week in 2019.

Highights of the week were:

• Evergreen Garden Care Levington Essential Top Soil 35 litres was the highest re-entry of the week at No 6.
• Bloomin Amazing Soil Enricher 70 litres climbed 22 places up the GTN Chart to No 11.
• Westland Multipurpose Compost with John Innes 50 litres remains at No 1 in the Growing media Bestsellers chart for the third consecutive week.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Christmas garden centre sales are showing sweet promise but with many product lines still to arrive, the GTN Top 50 Christmas Bestsellers sales last week were down by 46% on the same week last year and down by 8% on week 39 in 2019.

Within the Top 50 Christmas products that were selling through, confectionery lines and advent calenders featured prominently.

Highlights of the week were:

• Steenland Chocolate Coins 70g moved up 9 places to No 2.
• PEZ Christmas Sweets Dispenser & 2 Refills re-entered at No 5.
• Lindt Children's Advent Calender climbed 38 places up the GTN Chart to No 11.

See the full GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts, compiled from garden centre Epos data every week, with a years subscription to the printed newsletter for only £145.00 using this link.

Azpects Ltd has appointed Samantha Norman as a Business Development Manager. 

Samantha has more than 20 years in project and category management experience, working for high profile brands including Howdens, Bradfords Building Supplies, Rigeons Ltd, Travis Perkins and Argos.

She also has extensive experience with independent buying groups, giving her excellent insight into the industry.

Kevin Ager, National Sales Manager of Azpects, commented: “Our company has grown significantly over the past couple of years, and it became clear this year that we needed to focus on our new business development opportunities with our national accounts and buying groups.

"We are therefore pleased to welcome Sam to the team. She has a significant deal of experience and will be invaluable to growing Azpects’ business.” 

By popular demand the deadline has been extended for the AIPH International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards 2022. Growers of ornamentals worldwide now have until Sunday 31st October 2021 to enter.

The awards are organised by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) in partnership with FloraCulture International (FCI) and headline sponsor Royal FloraHolland. The award ceremony will be held on 25 January 2022, at the Atlantic Hotel, alongside IPM Essen in Germany, the industry’s largest international trade fair.*

Established in 2009, the awards celebrate best practice and recognise the ‘best of the best’ in ornamentals production. The five categories are:

• Finished plants and trees - plants and trees ready for final sale.
• Young plants - cuttings, plugs, liners, seedlings, etc, sold for growing on.
• Cut flowers and bulbs - flowers and foliage cut for indoor decorative use and bulbs.
• Sustainability - best practice and innovation in improving sustainability.
• Inspiring business - small businesses (less than ten employees) that demonstrate unique qualities and innovation.

Within each category bronze, silver and gold awards can be won. From among these categories, only one winner will be crowned the ‘AIPH International Grower of the Year 2022’ and receive the ‘Gold Rose’ - the industry’s most coveted prize.

Candidates can enter the IGOTY Awards 2022 online. Judging will then take place by a panel of industry experts who will assess the entrants on five key criteria; economic performance, innovation, market insight, sustainability and human resources policy. From the entries a shortlist will be selected.

All winners will be announced at the IGOTY Awards ceremony in Essen in January; an event that brings together the industry for an evening of celebration.

To find out more about the IGOTY Awards visit www.aiph.org/events/igoty. For queries on entering on the awards please contact: events@aiph.org.

*Subject to COVID restrictions at time of event

The redevelopment of Klondyke Garden Centre at Polmont has now been finished.

A large new garden centre extension, which is modern, light and airy, has transformed the centre into a fantastic shopping experience, offering a customer journey starting with core gardening and garden lifestyle, leading into the new concept houseplant department and gifts and indoor living. 

Moving through to the second retail space, this is home to seasonal products, with the Christmas experience currently in situ; then flowing through to cookshop and food hall.

Adjacent to our houseplant zone is the entrance to the new 300-seater Restaurant and separate Coffee Bar. 

The Restaurant is full table service with a delicious new menu, featuring regional produce and the signature home baking. Social dining Is very much at the forefront with large booth areas and feature tables available. 

The new Coffee Bar seats 75 covers and has a large feature window looking onto the houseplant zone – coffee and plants, what could be better?

There are several new concession partners – Pavers Shoes; Klass Clothing; Outdoor Lifestyles Garden Rooms & Hot Tubs and Handy Andy Car Wash. There is also a Changing Places facility at the centre.

The project was carried out by R H Irving Construction Ltd.

The Blue Diamond Forge Garden was awarded Best Artisan Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2021 along with a Silver Award. 

Managing Director, Alan Roper was delighted with the awards and said: “RHS Chelsea has provided us with a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talents within the Blue Diamond Group.

"Our Garden was originally thought up and designed by employees within the Group who have then worked closely and had excellent support from Conquest Creative Spaces and Project Consultant, Cherry Carmen, to bring the Blue Diamond Forge Garden to life.

"I am delighted with how the Garden looks and I have already had many complimentary comments from visitors to the show about the Garden with many saying that they cannot believe that Forge was built in only two weeks, its authenticity making it appear to have always been in the grounds of Chelsea."

The Blue Diamond Forge Garden celebrates the artisan craft of Blacksmithing, inspired by the National Trust’s Branscombe Forge in Devon, which dates back to the 15^th Century.

The Garden features a thatched roof forge and bespoke, handcrafted pieces of metal work created by the resident blacksmith at Branscombe Forge, Simon Hall, who kindly agreed to help the team at Blue Diamond on their show garden journey and is spending time at the Forge Garden this week until Thursday, demonstrating his craft.

The garden demonstrates the modern work of a blacksmith and how metal work has evolved over time from fish hooks to sculptures and garden art, the present-day blacksmith often taking inspiration from the nature they see around them.

The naturalistic trees give structure to an informal planting scheme but blends wild plants and more ornamental varieties. The colours in the leaves and flowers mirror the colours associated with a working forge, the flames, embers and soot.

There is a stream that runs from the front to the side of the garden, water being an important part of a working forge and so allowing the blacksmith it fill the quench bowl inside the forge from the trough outside.

The Blue Diamond Forge Garden will be rebuilt in its entirely after the show at Bridgemere Show Gardens (part of the Blue Diamond owned Bridgemere Garden Centre), in Nantwich Cheshire where it will take its place alongside other RHS Award Winning Gardens.

The Ball Summer Trials at West Adderbury was the first Professional Trial Grounds in the UK to open its doors to customers this season.  

This year’s event not only presented numerous leading varieties in baskets, containers and flower beds, but also included extensive Perennial and Annual presentations in ‘retail ready’ pot displays, something customers really appreciated being able to see.

The extended trialling area of over 2,000 experimental Annual and Perennial varieties provides visitors full transparency on ‘Whats cooking in the kitchen’, a great insight to the continuous stream of future new plant varieties.  

“Trialling is at the heart of everything we do as we believe it is incredibly important for anyone involved in production and retail to see how the up-and-coming new plant developments perform in real growing and garden conditions,” comments Stuart Lowen.

“So, we were delighted to have been able to open our doors and receive so many trade visitors this summer. Due to popularity we even had to extend the open days by an extra week!” 

As always, Ball offer visitors the opportunity to vote for their favourite varieties from any of the trials or plant displays. Over 1,000 votes were cast which were equally split between Annual and Perennial varieties.

Customers' Favourite Varieties for 2022 – Annuals

Calibrachoa Cabaret Good Night Kiss is a wonderfully exciting novel colour adding to the Calibrachoa Cabaret series. The punchy two-tone purple flowers feature a striking and stable yellow star centre.

Customers' Favourite Varieties for 2022 – Perennials

Delphinium hybrida Red Lark – this stunning new Delphinium stopped visitors in their tracks with its unique coloured flowers.

Dobbies celebrated after being presented with a five star award for their trade stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The Dobbies stand features an impactful living wall, an area dedicated to promoting the benefits of pollinators and sustainable gardening practices, as well as a grow-your-own area.

There are a range of plants including Delphinium, Echinacea, Heuchera and Rudbeckia, as well as houseplants including Monstera, Nephrolepsis, Calathea and Adiantum. The creation of the garden involved a range of sustainable products including new ranges that are landing in-store at Dobbies this September, such as peat-free compost products for young to mature plants.

Marcus Eyles, Horticultural Director at Dobbies, commented: “Five stars is a brilliant accolade for our team and all the suppliers who have worked together to bring our vision to life. We’ve had such a positive response to the garden so far and it’s been great to share details of our sustainable practices as well as our team expertise. Thank you to everyone who has contributed.”

Dobbies’ stand features contributions from a range of suppliers including Evergreen, Carbon Gold, Bloomin’ Amazing, Pure Greenhouses, Contemporary Fencing, Talasey Group, Southern Trident, Ecopots plus plant suppliers Darby Nursery, Allensmore Nurseries, Lovania Nurseries, Floreac and Pro-Veg Seeds.

Also featuring in the Dobbies’ garden is Ergrownomics who offer a sustainably designed system of raised planters that allow everyone, regardless of garden size, the opportunity to grow their own vegetables.

Dobbies will record a podcast all about its RHS Chelsea Flower Show Garden. This will be shared on:

https://www.dobbies.com/content/podcast.html

Britons are being urged to get their Christmas tree ordered or face the risk of being without a festive centrepiece. 

Chris Bonnett, the founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk is expecting to see demand soar this year but says a shortage of lorry drivers and potential Covid restrictions could play havoc with Christmas preparations.

Lorry driver shortages in Denmark are expected to impact imports to the UK with any Covid related restrictions further adding to the problems. 

He’s also expecting a surge in demand after last year's muted celebrations as families and friends celebrate the festivities together.

Denmark is a major producer of live Christmas trees with around 90% of its crop exported to other European nations.

Last year it faced problems after it halted export in an attempt to control a Coronavirus mutation found on mink farms.

Now the shortage of drivers in Denmark could affect the distribution of Christmas trees across Europe.

With less than 100 days until Christmas, Bonnett is already seeing a jump in the number of customers searching for Christmas trees on his site despite the Christmas range not yet fully live. 

He’s urging customers to order early to ensure they’re able to secure a tree ahead of the big day.

Chris Bonnet said: “The last few years have played havoc with the Christmas tree market. Mild winters in Scandinavian countries have made it more complicated to fell trees. Add in the Covid restrictions in place last year and the current shortage of lorry drivers and you can see why we’re concerned that there could be a shortage of trees.

“A Christmas tree is an essential part of the festivities, not just on Christmas Day but in the run up - picking the tree, squeezing it into the car and decorating ahead of the celebrations.

“This year it’ll mean even more after the locked down restrictions of last year which is why we’re already seeing a surge in the number of customers searching for Christmas trees.

“Hopefully between now and December, things will improve.” 

Bonnett added: “We are seeing issues with disruption across the retail sector, from food and drink to gifts and clothing.

“For Britons really wanting to go all out to celebrate this year, the best advice is to plan ahead and get all the essentials pre-ordered so you can enjoy the festivities without the stress.”

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 newsletter.

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2018 as well as 2019 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 up-to-date gardening sales analysis that has already helped many UK garden centres increase their sales.  To subscribe call 07973 504214, e-mail karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or buy on-line using this link.

Highlights of the GTN Garden Products Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Christmas Bestsellers chart for last week are here

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.

Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters for only £145.00.

GTN Bestsellers is the only industry source of weekly garden centre sales information, collating Epos data from centres with an aggregate turnover in excess of £100m.

Use the weekly Garden Products and Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes charts to plan your hotspot and other promotions and ensure you have the right products in stock to satisfy the needs of your customers.

For further information contact karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk or call 07973504214.

Buy your subscription today and start receiving the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.

The winners of the New Product Awards at PATS Telford were chosen by a team of expert pet retailers, who arrived at the show before 9.30am on Sunday, September 26th, in order to make their choices from a record number of over 300 new products entered. 

Their decisions took into account a number of guideline criteria such as product innovation, design, quality, packaging, value for money and sustainability.

The judges agreed that the New Product Showcase had produced a high calibre of entries with a tremendous amount of innovation. They were pleased to see such a wide range of products, and felt the majority of items on display showed some great innovation.

The Awards were presented to the winners at 1pm on Sunday by Justine Thompson, editor of pbwnews, and show organiser Gordon Thomas.

Here is a full list of the winners together with the judges’ comments:

PATS Sandown 2020

New Product Award Winners (sponsored by pbwnews)

Cat Food and Products

Huskaloo Coconut Cat Litter

Tailor-Grace (stand C30)

Judges said: This is a natural alternative that fits well on the shelf and looks like it would appeal to cats.

Dog Food Products

Butcher’s Block

Cotswold Raw (stand C40)

Judges said: This single protein range, straight from the butcher’s block, is a great addition to the raw food market, and was a worthy winner of this competitive category.

Dog Treat Products

Louis & Ada Natural Treats

Naturaw (stand C24)

Judges said: These 100% natural dog treats made from British meat fit the green agenda. The packaging is colourful and also compostable, making this product a good addition to the treats markets.

Dog Accessories and Toys

Jawables Bad Boys

Ancol (stand A12)

Judges said: This tough bonded fabric plush toy is fun, eye-catching and very cute. The solid material will make it a long-lasting toy. It will be a big-selling product.

Dog Harnesses, Leads and Dog Wear

AK-9 Dog Lead

Vetfleece (stand H11)

Judges said: This product is eye-catching, sturdy and very strong with a fast action clip.

Small Animal and Bird Products

Henry Bell Sterling 3-in1 Squirrel Proof Feeder

Mr Johnson’s (stand C36)

Judges said: Seeds, fatballs and peanuts can be encased in this squirrel proof feeder. This price is fantastic and we would be very happy to stock it. 

Pet Care Products

DoggyRade Pro

DoggyRade (stand F53)

Judges said: This isotonic rehydration drink is a good price and helps dogs to recover from tummy trouble.

Grooming Products

Noodle Drying Towel in Display Unit

Henry Wag (stand F40)

Judges said: Retailers will sell large numbers of this great multi-use product thanks to this well-designed point of sale display unit.

Business Services

Personalised Memorial Hanging Sign

Memorials for Your Pet (stand H51)

This is a new category this year, and the judges said it’s lovely to see this original memorial for people’s beloved pets.

The UK pet industry finally had the chance to celebrate in person during the announcement of the PetQuip Awards 2021 when companies were honoured for outstanding performance during a challenging period of lockdown restrictions.

A packed gathering of retailers and suppliers attended the awards presentations which were held after the first day of PATS Telford.

The event, presented by Pat Flynn, PetQuip trade association manager, and Amanda Sizer Barrett MBE, director general of the PetQuip association, included 12 gold and 11 silver awards, plus nine highly commended awards and a special Lifetime Achievement Award for Craig Taylor, chairman of Natures Menu.

Two new categories – ‘Innovations in Lockdown’ and ‘Community Projects During a Crisis’ – were introduced this year to reflect on how well pet companies and individuals have excelled in the face of adversity.

Also presented for the first time this year and sponsored by Group 55 was the Theresa Swann Trophy for Exporter of the Year, in memory of PetQuip’s former Head of Events & Administration, who sadly passed away in December 2019.

At the close of the event, Amanda Sizer Barrett said: “The enjoyment evident on the faces of so many people from the industry at our event has made it all worthwhile. The association is proud to recognise all the hard work, innovation and teamwork demonstrated by our industry.

“In adition to seeing so many happy winners, it was really rewarding to witness everyone enjoying the fruits of their labours and the positive networking that took place between suppliers and buyers during the evening. We are already looking forward to our new style PetQuip Awards and party in 2022 and making plans to ensure that it will be a bumper year for the industry.”

Here is a full list of the award winners:

Exporter of the Year (Theresa Swann Trophy)

Gold Award: Scruffs     

Silver Award: Clydach Farm

Highly Commended: ChickenGuard

The judges recognised the Scruffs team works hard to produce a full and exciting range of products, merchandised in eye-catching ways which appeal to countries worldwide.

Innovations in Lockdown

Gold Award: Tailor-Grace  

Silver Award: Pawfect Foods

Highly Commended: Frozzys

The judges recognised Tailor-Grace’s innovative development of the Huskaloo ‘eco’ cat litter made from a sustainable source. They were also impressed with the company’s inventive marketing campaign, which included sponsorship of a sailing boat used by trainee scientists from under-privileged backgrounds to assess the impact of climate change off our shores.

Community Projects During a Crisis

Gold Award: Pets Country Manor

Silver Award: Forthglade

Highly Commended: C&D Foods

The judges recognised the efforts of Pets Country Manor who worked hard for the welfare of cats during the pandemic. The team put together YouTube training sessions advising new owners on how best to introduce cats and kittens into a home and how to look after them. It has since opened a feline food bank in Merseyside, which is helping to feed abandoned pets following the lifting of restrictions.    

Business Start-Up Award

Gold Award: Wyld Cub

Silver Award: Sniffe & Likkit

Highly Commended: The Green Poop Bag

The judges felt Wyld Cub had come a long way in just a short space of time with panache and flair, not only in its marketing and promotional acumen, but also demonstrated in its wide business knowledge.  

Business of the Year

Gold Award: The Eco Dog Design Company

Silver Award: C&D Foods

Highly Commended: Pedigree Wholesale

The judges said the ideals and values displayed by The Eco Dog Design Company shone through even though they were up against some of the big names in the industry.  

Product of the Year – Accessories/Technical

Gold Award: Sniffe & Likkit – Scent-a-Message

Silver Award: Wyld Cub – reversible harness for dogs

Highly Commended: Pedigree Wholesale – AI poo bag holder and torch

The judges felt Sniffe & Likkit was taking the industry by storm with its attractive, slightly different, scented products, which would sell well in a wide range of outlets, including garden centres.

Product of the Year – Food

Gold Award: Eden Holistic – Semi-Moist Country Feast

Silver Award: Pedigree Wholesale – Natures Deli

Highly Commended: Walker & Drake – Cold Pressed Foods

The judges were instantly drawn to the packaging of Eden Holistic’s Semi-Moist Country Feast product, which stood out from its competitors. The product had excellent shelf appeal.

Product of the Year – Treats

Gold Award: Frozzys

Silver Award: Burgess Excel Nature Snacks

Highly Commended: Mealberry – Little One Green Valley Sticks

The judges were impressed by Frozzys’ new handy-sized four packs and updated packaging. They felt it would tempt new customers into trying the frozen yoghurt range.

Product of the Year – Healthcare/Grooming

Gold Award: Tropiclean – PerfectFur range    

Silver Award: Sniffe & Likkit – Woof Pack

Highly Commended: Eden Holistic – Joint Support for dogs

The judges described Tropiclean’s PerfectFur range of six shampoos and one tangle remover as “gorgeous”.  

International Retailer, Wholesaler or Distributor of the Year

Gold Award: Petzone, Middle East

Silver Award: Warmako BV, The Netherlands

The judges said Petzone stood out with its vision for the future and its pioneering attitude towards educating pet owners.

UK Retailer of the Year

Joint Gold Award: Just for Pets and Natural Cornish Pet

Silver Award: Chepstow Pet Supplies, Creature Comforts and Paws (an independent chain of three pet stores)

The judges decided on joint gold winners – an independent pioneering store known for all things natural, and a chain which had gone from strength to strength since being taken over four years ago.

Lifetime Achievement 

Craig Taylor, chairman, Natures Menu 

The judges felt Craig deserved this high accolade for his outstanding service to the pet food industry. Craig has been at the forefront of the company’s success since he became managing director of Anglian Meat Products in 1992. He launched Natures Menu 15 years later and took the country by storm, before overseeing a management buy-out in 2012 and becoming chairman in February 2020.

The 2021 PetQuip Awards were supported by APPA (American Pet Products Association), Natures Menu, Group55, James & Steel (Sotnos and Bam!), pbwnews and PATS Telford.