The latest HTA Market Update presents a mixed picture for UK garden centres in January 2025, with overall sales declining by 2% compared to January 2024. However, underlying this headline figure are notable differences across various categories.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, said: "January is typically a quieter month for gardening, but the adverse weather, including storms Éowyn and Herminia, coupled with temperatures that were nearly 1°C lower than in January 2024, put additional pressure on plant sales, leading to a 12% decline in gardening category sales. However, slightly more sunshine and lower rainfall helped offset this, and garden centres continued to be a welcoming space for customers, with non-gardening sales rising by 3% and café revenues increasing by 6%, which provided crucial off-season income and helped maintain steady footfall.

"Looking ahead, the spring season will be pivotal. If weather conditions improve, we expect a strong rebound in plant sales. This update comes just after our Garden Press Event with GIMA, where the strength of the UK garden retail sector was showcased, with exciting new products, plants, and initiatives, highlighting the industry's ongoing ambition.

"We also launched our latest HTA stats booklet, revealing that an estimated 203 million visits were made to garden centres in 2024, with 68% of UK adults visiting at least once. Garden centre cafés and restaurants saw 148 million visits, with 56% of UK adults visiting. Plus, the garden retail sector remains robust, with £9 billion spent on garden retail products in 2023, £2 billion on outdoor plants and £700 million on houseplants.

"The HTA will continue to support our members, ensuring they have the insights and resources needed to navigate the months ahead and make the most of the opportunities the peak season will bring."

HTA members can access further insights in this month’s Market Update on our website