GTN's October issue, which will be arriving in the post early next week, includes an eleven page compilation of all the consumer research we could access related to the "New Gardeners" that have become active during lockdown and during this summer.

There's research and analysis from: HTA, You Gov, American Express, LV Insurance, RHS, Squires Garden Centres, Westland Horticulture, Evergreen Garden Care, Suttons, Flymo, National Gardens Scheme and GTN Bestsellers.

Plus comment on the "New Gardener" phenomenon from: Derek Bunker - Alton Garden Centre, Alan Roper - Blue Diamond, Will Blake - St Peters Garden Centre, Sam Bosworth - Bosworth’s Garden Centres, Kevin Turley - Lakeside Plant Centre, Roger Crookes & Nicola Pugh – Pughs Garden Centre, Dobbies Garden Centres, Boyd Douglas-Davies - British Garden Centres, Simon Bourne - Perrywood Garden Centres and Martin Cowell & Lynsey Crofts - Cowells Garden Centre.

Read the on-line page turner version above, or follow this link: GTN October 2020

Do you qualify for a free printed copy of GTN Magazine?  If you are an active member of the UK garden centre retailing industry, send your details to: karen@pottingshedpress.co.uk to see if you qualify and can be added to our mailing list.

Just in case we’d all forgotten, when it’s raining, cold and windy garden centre sales fall. Fact. After four weeks of balmy September weather, when sales soared way above previous year levels, storm Alice came along and brought garden centre sales back down to more normal levels for the time of year, all be it still 5% up on last year.  

In a normal year we’d be writing headlines about sales being 5% up, but it all seems like a bit of a disappointment after the rocking and rolling year we’ve had since garden centres re-opened.

Even Christmas sales failed to beat last year for the first week of October. Our GTN All Plants index was up by 8% on last year for the week, growing media continued to shine at 22% up and Veg-2-Gro increased by 23%. 

As more garden centres open their Christmas displays we wait with baited breath to see how sales continue during the rest of the month.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 40

• Garden Products Top 50 – down 12%
• Growing Media Top 50 – up 22%
• Wild Bird & Wildlife Care Top 50 – down 2%
• Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – up 23%
• Christmas Top 50 – down 27%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 40

• All Plants with Barcode index – up 8%
• All Items with Barcode index – up 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.

Since the introduction of Woodlodge’s water feature and fire pit collections, retailers have been quick to secure stock thanks to the show-stopping displays, competitive price points and curated designs which offer mass appeal to consumers wanting to add personalised accents to their garden spaces. Now, as the 2021 season approaches Woodlodge confirms that a number of new designs have been added, further enhancing these popular ranges.

Water Studio portfolio welcome new designs

Water Studio, with its distinctive branding, continues to build on Woodlodge’s tried-and-tested approach to plug-in-and-go water features. Each model features a pump and cable and is promoted as ‘easy to set up’ and ‘no maintenance’, including no direct water sourced required, making the water feature designs perfect for gardens of all shapes and sizes. To-date the range includes over 50 models, including a selection of different colour ways for ultimate choice, as well a number of indoor water feature options.

This year the collection will welcome new designs which are already pegged to be bestsellers.

First up will be the Lagoon range, which will include new larger sizes as well as the existing medium and ‘lite’ designs. Featuring a spherical slate ‘ball’ complemented with a bowl base, and utilising LED lighting, the Lagoon design pulls together a unique fire and water theme for the ultimate garden centerpiece. Sizes for the Lagoon water feature range from 40cm to 80cm (height) with prices starting from RRP £129.99 for the Lite design, with the new XL sizes priced at RRP £399.99.

Joining the Lagoon range will be the new Victoria Falls design, priced at RRP £199.99. Standing at 53cm tall, the feature is made up of rustic stones in pale golds and creams, for a more natural look reminiscent of the famous waterfall from which it takes its name. 

Drawing inspiration from history the new Reef design would not be out of place within the annals of ancient Greece. The four stacked water bowls are adorned in rustic stone, together standing at 52cm high and priced at RRP £149.99.

Elsewhere the new Aztec water feature draws inspiration from Mexican pyramids. Standing at 65 cm high the Aztec design will provide a simple yet eye-catching addition to any garden space, priced at RRP £149.99.

Let the home fires burn

Made from a strong cast iron, Woodlodge’s rustic fire pits, fireplaces and fire bowls have seen sales increase significantly throughout 2020 as the country looks for ways to increase the comfort and at-home socialising that has shaped our lives. Looking ahead to the 2021 season, Woodlodge has added nine stunning new designs that provide retailers with even more sales opportunities throughout the coming year.

The sleek but classical Seaton fireplace in black– priced at RRP 249.99 - offers four sides of heat emittance and stands at 112cm tall making it a striking central focus for relaxing in the garden with friends and family. 

Another classic design to be introduced is the new Lelant Fire Bowl. The cast iron black bowl is topped with a mesh lid for ultimate safety, whilst the smooth lines are juxtaposed with a diamond design which will be enhanced further once backlit by fire. Supported with an RRP of £149.99, the Lelant Fire Bowl is a great entry-level design.

Finally, a more industrial look can be achieved with the stunning new Helston Fire Pit.  The rust effect 60cm bowl sits upon black square legs for a simple look; one which will appeal to the millennial market as it provides stunning social media content during those cooler nights and summer garden parties, supported by a price tag of just RRP £79.99.

Talking about these new introductions Woodlodge’s Managing Director, Michael Wooldridge said: “Each of these new products has been specially developed to ensure that our collections offer something for all tastes and budgets. Both our Water Studio and firepit collections have witnessed incredible growth in the last 12 months and we want to build on this success by ensuring that our retail customers are armed with the right products to appeal to their own customer demographic. We also believe that enjoying the warmth of a fire or the soothing sound of a water feature should be available to every household, no matter the size of the garden. Smaller designs, compact usability and ‘plug and play’ designs mean that more consumers than ever before can benefit from our offering.”

To find out more about Woodlodge’s market-leading collections please visit www.woodlodge.co.uk

While Christmas sales were down on 2019 levels last week, plant sales were up by 8% continuing the great year on year increases from September. Maybe the HTA’s #millionplantingmoments had some effect, it certainly got good media coverage with Prince Charles and Peter Seabrook making headlines in national and social media.

Highlights of the week were:

• Pansy sales increased by 28% last week to send them to the Top of the GTN chart.
• Roses had a bumper week of sales, climbing 23 places to No 19.
• Planted Nerines also doubled their sales to re-enter at No 28.

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 sales increased by 21% week on week in the GTN Bestsellers Epos data but fell 30% short of last year’s levels for the week. Some centres have started Christmas earlier, but as many are opening later than last year so we’ll have to wait for few weeks to get a better like-for-like comparison.

At the top of the GTN Christmas chart a Christmas chocolate line moves up to No 1 and eight other Christmas chocolate lines feature in the GTN Top 50.

Highlights of the week were:

• Lindt Teddy Bear 10g moves up one place to be the No 1 Bestselling Christmas line.
• Lindt Children's Advent Calendar moves up 5 places to No 10.
• Lindt Mini Snowman 5 Pack 50g climbed the most places up the chart moving from No 49 last week to No 26 this week.
• Koopman 10 Warm White Battery Operated Led Acrylic Star Lights were the highest new-entry for the week at No 9.

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 directors of Tong Garden Centre have applied for planning permission for the erection of a second store at the Acanthus Golf Centre, Tingley, in West Yorkshire.

Plans were submitted last week for Tingley Garden Centre, which will incorporate a 400 seater restaurant, a 1,000 square metre plant area, Grass Hoppers indoor and outdoor play and a 400m2 food hall alongside a large garden centre.

The scheme will incorporate the existing golf centre building as the hub for an adventure play area set in five acres for 8 to 14 year olds.

Should permission be granted, it is anticipated that the development will create over 200 jobs.

Tong Garden Centre's MD, Mark Farnsworth said: “Despite the challenges of having to close temporarily, the garden trade sector has proved resilient to the challenges that Covid-19 has presented, which gives us confidence for the future.

“We have made no secret of our ambitions to be a multi-site operation. We have been working on the Tingley opportunity for over two years, so we feel confident we can deliver a fabulous experience for our visitors. We have learnt many valuable lessons in the five years that we have been growing Tong Garden Centre and we think that Tingley Garden Centre and Adventure Playground will be a great addition to the community in South Leeds.

“If our application is successful, we hope to start developing Tingley Garden Centre in February or March next year, with a view to opening in March 2022."

Tong Garden Centre occupies a 19-acre site in Tong village. It is one of Yorkshire's biggest independent garden centres with 125,000 square feet of retail space and parking for up to 700 cars.

ARB & Grounds, a garden machinery business in Derby, has acquired the intellectual property of The Internet Gardener Ltd, meaning they now own the website www.internet gardener.co.uk. 

The site had been running since 2006 by a family owned business before going into liquidation at the end of 2019. The online retailer used to sell garden furniture online from various retailers, bringing in over £6 million in turnover in 2019. 

Nottingham based entrepreneur Elliott Davidson, 25, who owns ARB & Grounds Equipment Ltd, has already been making local headlines with his recent acquisition of Y Frame Discounts Ltd and is now working on this new venture. Elliott is also the founder and director of Contrast, an eCommerce digital marketing agency in Nottingham’s Creative Quarter. 

The young entrepreneur has road-mapped plans to bring the site back up and running and also ensure he brings the revenue levels back in his two-year business plan for Internet Gardener. Not only will Elliott be looking to build relationships with past suppliers, but also looking to expand the product range to include garden machinery and equipment. 

Elliott said: “I can’t wait to start building the site back up again and getting it back to its full former glory. I know that other similar UK businesses are doing over 20 million in the sector so there is plenty of room to grow this business further. 

“This was an opportunity I couldn’t miss and I have major plans for Internet Gardener. Being an owner of an eCommerce digital marketing agency and also another seven-figure eCommerce business has its perks, as I am able to take all of these past learnings, both successes and failures to help maximise our chances of moving forward.” 

Elliott is also preparing to document his journey and as such is launching a behind the scenes video series of scaling an eCommerce company from £0 to £1 million in ARR (Annual run rate) within 12 months. This series is going to be called “Building a Business”.

“Launching this video series means we are able to empathise with our clients more and publicly put our skills to the test! We’ll be able to look at problems differently that are out of scope to help our clients succeed; this is what will help us stand out as an eCommerce agency. I have also launched an online community called “Insider”, so if you are an eCommerce founder, operator or marketer you can apply to join here, where you will be able to further develop your eCommerce skills, network and business”. 

For more information or to keep up to date you can visit www.contrast.digital. 

HRH The Countess of Wessex GCVO visited the Food Hall at Squire’s Garden Centre on The Reeds Road in Frensham.

Her Royal Highness visited Squire’s to highlight Surrey Hills Enterprises ‘field to fork’ project which showcases local producers.

The visit emphasised the importance of local food production, the challenges and opportunities facing farmers and food producers, and the opportunity to meet a growing interest in supporting regional produce and buying locally and sustainably.

The Countess of Wessex met Sarah Squire, Chairman and Martin Breddy, Managing Director of Squire’s. Her Royal Highness then toured the Food Hall to see how quality local produce is sourced, displayed, and sold.

The Countess was introduced to staff members who had worked so diligently and remained committed and cheerful throughout the lockdown, providing food for the local community.

Her Royal Highness also met Simon Taylor of Surrey Hills Butchers and his team. They specialise in high quality, ethical, and locally sourced pasture fed meat from their butchers shop within the food hall.

Sarah Squire commented; “It was such a delight and an honour to welcome Her Royal Highness to our Food Hall at Squire’s, and to be able to highlight all the wonderful local produce that is available in the area. Thank you to Surrey Hills Enterprises for organising this fantastic ‘Field to Fork’ event.

We refurbished the Food Hall in March this year. The work was completed just before lockdown. For many local people this was their closest food shop. We hope it helped them during those difficult months. We certainly received a great deal of feedback to that effect. Being part of, and working with, the local community is core to our family philosophy, and we are always proud to support great local suppliers and producers. There are certainly an abundance of fantastic farmers and food producers within the Surrey Hills.”

Homebase has launched the UK’s first ‘Green Aisle’ in collaboration with Smart Energy GB, the campaign for a smarter Britain. The new space within Homebase’s stores showcases a range of energy efficient and environmentally friendly products to encourage and help shoppers to make more sustainable choices.

‘The Green Aisle’ has been introduced to meet shifting consumer demands as new research shows that almost three quarters (74%) of Britons are keen to make their homes greener. The aisles will initially be rolled out in five stores - Haringey, Selly Oak (Birmingham), Edinburgh, Leeds Moor Allerton, and Bridge End - with a further 132 stores featuring ‘Green Areas,’ stocking a smaller range of sustainable products, until the end of October. 

Products featured within ‘The Green Aisle’ include energy saving items such as insulation and draught excluders, as well as AAA+ rated white goods and environmentally friendly paint. While for the garden, the aisle will stock a range of water butts, hose pipes and extra absorbent compost, that means gardeners will not need to water their plants as often. The space will also feature details on how customers can arrange to have a smart meter installed by their energy provider. Smart meters enable consumers to better manage their energy consumption, but on a national scale; they also help to upgrade Britain’s energy system to one that can help tackle the climate crisis and meet our net zero target.

The launch builds upon Homebase’s recent Great British Green Up campaign, which saw the company champion biodiversity by encouraging people to ‘green up’ their outdoor spaces throughout the summer.

Chris O’Boyle, Trading Director, Homebase, said: “We know that more and more of our customers are looking to make environmentally friendly decisions as they embark on home and garden improvement projects. ‘The Green Aisle’ not only puts some of our most sustainable and eco-friendly products all in one place for those who know what they’re looking for, but will also provide advice and inspiration, supported by our expert teams, for people who need a hand turning their green ambitions into reality.

“Whether it’s something as simple as a draught excluder to sit at the bottom of a door, getting a smart meter installed or a bigger project such as installing new insulation, there are hundreds of ways – both big and small – that we can help people make a positive difference to their home.”

Robert Cheesewright from Smart Energy GB concluded: “We’re delighted to be working with Homebase to launch the first ever ‘Green Aisle’ in 137 stores nationwide.  The Government’s Green Homes Grant provides investment for us to make our homes more energy efficient.  But energy efficiency steps don’t always have to be expensive. Contacting your energy supplier to get a smart meter installed will also help you to do your bit for the environment. Each installation moves Britain closer to achieving a smart energy system that makes better use of renewable power and reduces our reliance on fossil fuels.”

‘The Green Aisle’ is available at Homebase stores in Haringey, Edinburgh, Bridgend, Birmingham and Leeds, with further dedicated energy efficient product space found at all other stores nationwide, from now until the end of October. The products featured on the ‘The Green Aisle’ are also available online at www.homebase.co.uk/the-green-aisle. To request a smart meter for your home, contact your energy supplier to book your installation.

The launch of this new Green Aisle follows recent high street store format innovations from Homebase including two new DECORATE by Homebasestores in Cheadle and Sutton, and the recently opened (25.09) Kitchens and Bathrooms Showroom, in Guildford.

Members of the Garden Centre Association got together recently at a virtual forum to discuss their plans and share their concerns for the festive period.

Matthew Bent from Bents Garden and Home, Louise Burks from The Gardens Group, Guy Topping from Barton Grange Garden Centre and Justin Williams from Fron Goch Garden Centre were panellists for the forum.

Mike Burks, GCA Chairman (pictured), explained: “It was great to have our members join us for a discussion on one of the most important times of the year for the garden centre industry.

“During what has already been an uncertain year, there was plenty of apprehension surrounding Christmas for garden centres, but I feel the virtual forum really eased people’s concerns and it was one of the most positive forums yet.”

Each panellist discussed their confidence surrounding having a successful Christmas this year and explained what a typical Christmas looks like for their centres, including the importance of events and grottoes.

They spoke about what they envisaged will be the biggest change to their centre’s Christmas offerings and how social distancing will work during the festive season as limiting numbers will be very different compared to earlier in the year.

Mike added: “There has been a lot of media coverage surrounding Christmas being cancelled this year, but if anything, it will be bigger and better than ever, as people are determined to make it that extra bit special after such troubling times. 

“Garden centres have had successful Christmases when there have been recessions in the past. Often this results in a late rush for purchases. In 2009, many saw the opposite effect with an early start and customers planning and spreading the cost, and it was interesting to hear people’s thoughts on what will be most likely to happen this year.”

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide. 

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, said: “It was marvellous to hear the positivity from all the panellists considering the huge challenges they face. There has been a good early start to sales but, aside from any tightening of rules and new restrictions, the panellists’ biggest concern seemed to be how they would be able to cope with demand. 

“One of the problems, with limited numbers allowed in centres so that customers feel safe, is how the usual busy periods, the peaks and troughs, can be levelled out and customer visits spread throughout the day and throughout the week. Promotions are being considered to persuade customers to visit at traditionally quieter days and times along with extended opening to spread the opportunity for customers to visit.”

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

Justin Williams, Managing Director of Fron Goch Garden Centre, said: “I very much enjoyed being a panellist on the recent GCA Christmas forum. Preparation for it made me focus on all the COVID consequences that could be ahead of us and what actions and preparation we should be taking at Fron Goch.

“Having the opportunity to discuss and hear what such established and experienced centres like Castle Gardens, Barton Grange and Bents are doing was invaluable. Especially so in the current environment where getting together is almost impossible. Networking like this is one of the best benefits of the GCA family.”

The world of garden rakes has welcomed a new ‘face’ in the shape of the Clear ‘N’ Collect team. This new concept in garden rakes has been designed to simplify the task of collecting garden debris whilst also minimising the need to bend. Additionally, the range is helping to reduce reliance on virgin plastic material, instead utilising recycled car dashboards and waste electrical goods to create a truly unique material which will spark conversation amongst end-users and within the retail environment. 

The UK-invented and manufactured Clear ‘N’ Collect Multi-Purpose Garden Rake comprises a large hinged rake with large internal ‘scoop’ so that leaves and garden debris can be raked and scooped in one swift and easy motion. This ability to complete three jobs (rake, collection and depositing) not only reduces worktime, but reduces the reliance on multiple products, whilst also minimising excessive bending and lifting, making it the perfect choice for all amateur and professional gardeners, and particularly those who suffer from ongoing back complaints. 

Since its launch in early 2019 the Clear ‘N’ Collect offering has already been stocked within 29 stockists, including Longacres and Squires, and is also supplied by Stax and Decco. Now, the team is looking to further expand this network of stockists as autumn tidy-ups and spring cleans become the order of the day for gardeners.

James Coneron, inventor of the Clear ‘N’ Collect said: “We’ve introduced our Multi-Purpose Garden Rake as we appreciate that many gardeners are looking for solutions that deliver results but are also kind to both body and planet. We’ve had a phenomenal response already, and are really keen to expand our offering within UK garden centres over the coming months as we strongly believe that our product really fits the needs of garden centres’ core customer demographic as well as the new  3million strong ‘gardening army’ that found pleasure in gardening during lockdown but still insist on products that deliver results and convenience.”  

Each Clear ‘N’ Collect rake is offered with a recommended retail price of £22.99 and is supported with dedicated point of sale which outlines the products USPs to consumers. Each display unit can house up to 20 rakes, providing retailers with a 40% profit margin within a footprint of just 0.4m², with further discounts available on volume orders. This small footprint makes the Clear ‘N’ Collect offering ideal for co-locating around the store to drive seasonal and gifting sales, or as an add-on sales opportunity when placed near gloves, or grow-your-own essentials for example.

A rake with a conscience

Not only does Clear ‘N’ Collect offer improved usability but it is also backed by a truly unique material story, one which the team believe will help it stand out from the crowd.

100% recyclable, each rake is made from an injection-moulded plastic, though this plastic is a little different! It is made from recycled car dashboards and waste electrical goods, both products which would otherwise be headed for landfill to be left to decompose over many years. 

This new recycled plastic is designed to match the quality of virgin plastic, which means consumers can trust in the integrity and strength of the product. They can also rest easy, knowing that each rake has helped to play its part in reducing harmful carbon emissions and the consumption of raw resources such as gas and oil.

Clear ‘N’ Collect’s co-founder, Sally Coneron added: “Consumers have been making more environmentally conscious choices in recent years, but the Covid-19 pandemic has seen this increase significantly, with sustainable materials topping the agenda for many. With our Multi-Purpose Garden Rake, we are able to contribute to the fight against single-use plastic reliance and offer consumers a product that benefits from unique material usage within a category which traditionally has sat, at best, on the periphery of this conversation.

“Additionally, there is a lot of research regarding the damage that leaf blowers are having on wildlife. Recent reports have highlighted that leaf blowers not only pollute with noise and fuel emissions, but they can also destroy natural habitats and even cause small animal and insects to be absorbed or blown, causing irreparable damage. As such consumers are moving away from this method. Until now the alternatives have been time and energy consuming, but again we have countered this with our ergonomic design which makes light work of clearing lawns, driveways and patios (not just blowing the debris elsewhere!), without damaging wildlife habitats.”

Did you know…..?

• Each Clear ‘N’ Collect Multi-Purpose Rake is made from an injection-moulded plastic made from end-of-life vehicles (auto shredder waste) and waste electrical goods, which are refined into high-quality engineering polymers (also known as recycled polypropylene) that match virgin material quality.  
• Recycling of polypropylene will reduce the consumption of raw resources such as oil and gas. It is estimated that around 8% of the oil used worldwide (around 400 million tons per year) is utilised in the traditional methods of plastic production.
• When producing recycled polypropylene as opposed to making virgin material from oil and gas, energy use can be reduced by as much as 88%.
• A full truck of recycled material (such as that used to make the Clear ‘N’ Collect Multi-Purpose Rake) has the equivalent CO₂ saving as making a lorry carbon neutral for an entire 40,000-mile journey! 

Find out more

To start stocking Clear ‘N’ Collect’s Multi-Purpose Garden Rake please email sales@clearncollect.com or call 07766073183. Full details, including instructional videos can be found at www.clearncollect.com or https://www.instagram.com/clearncollect/

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Rosebourne garden centres have added Stuart Whalley and Gill Ormrod to their team as they plan for further development of the the group.

Stuart Whalley has joined as Head of Buying and after leaving the HTA earlier this year Gill Ormrod will take up the role of Group Marketing Manager in November.

Carol Paris, Rosebourne CEO, told GTN Xtra: "We are really pleased to be welcoming Stuart and Gill on board as we get ready for expansion next year."

The wet and stormy weather may have put a hold on ‘normal’ gardening activity and purchasing but it didn’t seem to put a stop to sales of pots and houseplant feeds which all saw some large week on week increases.

Highlights of the week were:

• Woodlodge Wisteria Bee Pot 18cm was the highest new entry for the week at No 31.
• Woodlodge Small Pot Feet were the highest re-entry at No 6.
• Growth Technology Houseplant Focus Drip Feeders 38ml increased sales by 150% to re-enter at No 27.

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.

Following on from our story last week about visor sales in garden centres we received this picture of a pimped up visor from Lakeside Plant Centre in Telford.

Kevin Turley has added a set of Creative Products Bottle Lights to his visor to brighten his customers day.  "We have used it on our social medial platforms and received a great response and sales. In these uncertain times it is great to try and put a smile on people’s faces."

Last week we reported this about visor sales in garden centres:

Over the past few weeks the sales of decorative face masks in UK garden centres have steadily increased, but last week the Epos data supplied for GTN Bestsellers revealed that at face visor line had outsold the different face mask lines available.

Here's the top five "Healthcare" lines as analysed by GTN Bestsellers for the week ending 27th September 2020.

1. V-Mask V-Shield Lite Visor
2. History & Heraldry Decroative Face Masks
3. Global Journey Decporative Face Masks
4. Eco Chic Decorative Face Masks
5. Henderson Enterprises Face Masks
6. History & Heraldry Handy Sanitizer

The V-Sheild Lite Visor incorporates a "spectacle" frame which avoids the need for a headband.  They are being supplied to garden centres by V-Safe UK.  Contact Managing Director Marco Travaglia via: office@gsminternational.co.uk 

www.v-safe.net

contact@v-safe.net

The wild weather provided a boost for Wild Bird and Wildlife Care Products with a record eight different brands supplying products in the GTN Top 50 chart. RHS Wild Bird Care had four lines in the Top 50 for the first time and hedgehog care is obviously high on gardeners’ agenda with Hedgehog Bites moving up 14 places and a hedgehog house debuting in the Bestsellers chart too.

Highlights of the week were:

• RHS Suet Balls 60 Tub move up 15 places to be the No 1 Bestselling Wild Bird care line of the week in the GTN Bestsellers Epos data.
• Gardman Hedgehog Bites 650g move up 14 places to No 11.
• Wildlife World Igloo Hedgehog Home is a new entry at No 27.

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.

Darlac has appointed Luke Finnegan as Business Development Manager to help drive the company sales growth.

Luke has had a varied and successful career in sales and sales management, most recently as Regional Sales Director at Garden pride. At Garden Pride Luke oversaw a complete brand identity upgrade and introduced a highly successful business development plan which has propelled the company sales and perception within the garden trade.

He will report to Sales Manager, Chris Owen, and is looking forward to the challenge ahead. He says, “I am delighted to become part of the Darlac team. It is a company which shows ambition, drive and potential and I want to bring success to the business and our trade customers. Darlac has a fantastic product range, puts the customer first and every gardener should get to know the great value tools”

Not that Luke will have much spare time but, when he does, being a DJ is top of the list and he plays in many clubs & bars as well as hosting club nights in the South. He also enjoys a bike ride and the occasional swim! He is also a BBQ King and is proud to say he is the cook of the house!

Commenting on the appointment, Darlac Sales Manager Chris Owen said: “I am really pleased Luke decided to join us as he shares our ethos on service and value. He brings fantastic experience to the company and I am looking forward to introducing him to our partners as we continue the story of the growth of Darlac.”

Following a unanimous vote at its last meeting the HTA’s Ornamentals Management Committee (OMC), the main sector group for UK growers, is pleased to announce the appointments of Richard Hopkins, MD of Fargro, and David Higginson, MD of New Leaf Plants. 

Established over 75 years ago Fargro is a leading supplier of specialist horticultural products, energy, machinery, finance services and consultancy to commercial growers throughout the UK. Richard is also the Chair of the West Sussex Growers’ Association, which represents horticultural producers in the region with a combined turnover in excess of £1bn. 

David Higginson grew up on his parent’s successful tomato and cucumber nursery in the Vale of Evesham during the 70s and 80s and following 10 years in the corporate world of banking, he joined New Leaf Plants as Sales and finance manager. In 2014 he purchased New Leaf and has overseen turnover growth from £300k to over £3m culminating in being voted “Grower of the Year” in 2019. David is passionate about our industry and the benefits it brings, not only to the environment but to consumers. 

The HTA has also strengthened its relationship with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB). Ruth Ashfield, Sector Strategy Director for Horticulture, will attend future OMC meetings to ensure a constructive two-way dialogue. 

Martin Emmett, chair of the OMC, commented: “I’m delighted to welcome Richard and David to the Committee. Their passion, knowledge and experience for our sector extends the representation of UK ornamental plant production on the Committee and our collaboration with the AHDB ensures that the R&D needs of our sector will be regularly discussed. I look forward to working with each of them.”

Wow! What a start to our monitoring of garden centre Christmas sales. The first GTN Bestsellers Christmas chart of the season shows sales volumes up by 71% on last year. And not all of the centres we get data from have started selling Christmas yet!

Chocolates and personalised decorations dominate at the top of the chart again but there are noticeable increases for tree decorations in the early chart and sales of money wallets.  Quite possibly grandparents are buying early to send Christmas off to family in case they can’t get to see them due to Covid-19 restrictions.

• History & Heraldry Personalised Christmas Elf is the early pacesetter as the new line that may get to No 1 at No 3 in this week’s chart.
• Sage Décor’s Silver Poinsettia & Berry Pick is the highest new entry at No 9.
• Euro Wrap Santa Money Wallets, pack of 4, climbed 20 places up the GTN Christmas chart to No 28.

See the full GTN Bestsellers analysis and charts in the GTN Bestsellers printed newsletter each week.  To subscribe for only £145 a year use this link.

We predicted September to be 20% up but with continued high levels of gardening activity and Christmas starting with a bang the month ended up 31% on last year.  That means September garden centre trading in 2020, according to the Epos data analysed by GTN Bestsellers every week, matched garden centre volume sales in June when normally September sales would be between 70% and 75% of June.

There’s no sign at the moment that core gardening activity is dropping off. The GTN Bestsellers chart indexes for Growing Media, Veg-2-Gro and All Plants were significantly up on last year for the last week of September at 109%, 63% and 57% respectively.

Where Christmas has already opened in centres it has started selling like never before for the end of September. This week we produce the first GTN Bestsellers Christmas chart and it shows that sales are up 71% on the same week last year.

That all bodes well for a strong end to the year, but do you expect sales to be lower than last year in the run up to Christmas when events are not taking place due to Covid-19 restrictions? Do let us know: trevor@pottingshedpress.co.uk

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 39

• Garden Products Top 50 – up 2%
• Growing Media Top 50 – up 109%
•  Wild Bird Care Top 50 – up 16%
• Veg-2-Gro Top 50 – up 63%

GTN Bestsellers All Sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 39

• All Plants with Barcode index – up 57%
• All Items with Barcode index – up 35%

See the full GTN Bestsellers analysis and charts in the GTN Bestsellers printed newsletter each week.  To subscribe for only £145 a year use this link.

GCA and GIMA members concluded during a recent webinar that garden centres will need to work in partnership with suppliers to minimise future supply chain disruption.

During the joint virtual forum, members of both associations discussed measures put in place to ensure a smooth continuity of stock availability during the autumn season and into 2021.

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive explained: “Our latest forum allowed members to discuss the important issues currently facing our industry, after a particularly uncertain time.

“They debated the knock-on effect on their businesses due to the current trading conditions, as a result of COVID-19, as well as supply chain continuity, the pre-season attitude and whether they are anticipating a similar demand for gardening/leisure products next year. 

“The effect of Christmas performance on attitude and timing of the 2021 season was also discussed, as well as the impact of COVID-19 on product development and their expectations regarding innovations for 2021. Are they currently sourcing new products and suppliers, or sticking with this year’s supply base?

“Like our previous sessions, it was noted once again, that communication between retailers and suppliers will be key going forward. However, this time the equally important message was that retailers will need to work in partnership with their chosen suppliers to maximise sales opportunities and minimise supply chain disruption and ensure stock availability. 

“Unfortunately, there is no ‘one-size-fits all’ for suppliers and retailers in regard to pre-season and forward ordering. With almost daily government announcements bringing in new rules or restrictions, garden centres, in particular, find themselves prioritising the ‘here and now’ just to keep trading safely. However, there is a desire to work together with suppliers and manufacturers to ensure continuity of supply for the spring 2021 season. Retailers and suppliers need to discuss on a case by case basis.”

The panellists on behalf of the GCA were Mike Burks, The Garden’s Group Managing Director and GCA Chairman and GCA Midlands Chairman, William Blake, who is also the Director of St Peter’s Garden Centre.

Representing GIMA was Nigel Thompson, Head of Sales at Sipcam, John Grayson, Hozelock Commercial Director and David Nicholson, UK Sales Manager at Elho.

Vicky Nuttall, GIMA Director, said: “There was a strong message from the suppliers involved in the forum about importance of pre-season in ensuring continuity of supply for 2021. With a reported extra two million new gardeners emerging from the lockdown everyone is anticipating continued interest in gardening in 2021.

“Covid-19 has created so many unknowns and uncertainties for next year, as well as other global forces affecting the whole of the supply chain, meaning suppliers are having to forecast even further ahead than usual.  Pre-season ordering and early commitment to stock is now more important than ever for next year.”

The virtual forums will continue to take place during the next six to 12 months and a range of topics will be discussed. Sessions are free and exclusive to members of both trade associations.

Registration details for the next event will be sent to GCA and GIMA members shortly.

Blue Diamond have reported profits before tax of £6.3m for the six months to June 2020.  That covers the period when all but one of their centres were closed for seven weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and all restaurant closed for half of the time.

Total sales declined by 5% and the profit before tax was 12% down year on year excluding the profit made on the sale of freehold properties in 2019.

Chairman Simon Burke explained in his statement that additional bank facilities have not needed to be used: “ Cash has been conserved to the point where net cash flow was actually strongly positive in the period, and debt at 30 June represented just 0.8 times EBITDA, a gearing of 16.5%. These figures need to be seen in the context of a significant increase in creditors as many cash payments were delayed, a VAT deferral of £3m and the postponement of other liabilities including bonuses. Some of this cash will therefore have flowed back out since the period end, or will do so later, but it is good news that we have not needed to use the additional bank facilities we negotiated back in March.”

The board are recommending an interim dividend payment of 2p per share in line with 2019.

Simon Burke concludes his report by looking ahead: “I believe that garden centres will be one of the winners from this crisis, benefiting from a further decline in the attractiveness of high streets and large shopping centres, and people’s reinvigorated focus on their homes and gardens as a result of the pandemic. Blue Diamond’s broad, high quality ranges with so much exclusive product position us well to take advantage of these trends, as we have already seen in our continuing outperformance of industry figures.

"We also now have an operational online business that we can develop in coming years. It is still unclear what kind of world will emerge from the pandemic, but I am optimistic that Blue Diamond can continue to thrive in it.”

See the full interim report at: https://www.bluediamond.gg/sites/default/files/uploads/R%2BA_Interim%202020_FINAL.pdf

The garden décor category is set to undergo a big transformation for 2021 with the launch of Woodlodge’s exciting new Honey & Wild range – a carefully curated portfolio with huge potential to drive sales thanks to its unique collection of fun, quirky garden products that are guaranteed to enhance any garden.

Honey & Wild represents a significant expansion of Woodlodge’s garden décor line-up and follows the company’s acquisition of Adobe Wholesale and The Garden Foundry in July, two established businesses at the leading edge of innovation in outdoor decoration. Both companies were renowned for offering novel, unique and exclusive garden décor products with a reputation for igniting sales with the breadth of their contemporary and traditional lines. Now, after significant development work by Woodlodge’s Product Development Manager Martin Kingston and Category Development Manager Tara Truman, Woodlodge is revealing the full extent of its bolstered offering for 2021 which has come together under the fresh new Honey & Wild brand.

Michael Wooldridge, Managing Director at Woodlodge, said: “The market for garden décor was on the up long before Covid-19 and with much of the population now spending more time at home, outdoor decoration that brings cheer to people’s faces is only set to soar in popularity. Honey & Wild is a cutting-edge collection of the highest quality merchandise that fuses art with practicality but above all retains a sense of fun, creating widespread appeal across all consumer demographics and acting as a powerful sales driver during key gifting periods such as Easter, Mother’s Day and Christmas. We are confident that this imaginative, innovative new brand will drive footfall to garden décor categories in 2021 and help retailers to increase basket spend as consumers seek to inject on-trend character and style into outdoor spaces.”

A first look at highlights of Honey & Wild’s garden décor range for 2021

A reflection of success: garden mirrors

In a move that encapsulates the trend for extending interior décor to the great outdoors, decorative mirrors are no longer the preserve of bathrooms and bedrooms. Honey & Wild features an extensive range of garden mirrors – from contemporary heart-shaped designs to classic cathedral-inspired arches and shuttered vintage styles from a bygone era. Garden designers at flower shows are increasingly using mirrors to make compact gardens appear bigger – a concept that’s growing in popularity with consumers who are turning to outdoor mirrors to harness the beauty of reflection, especially where garden designs incorporate ponds and water, and for adding character to courtyard, walled and patio areas.

The stakes are high!

Ornamental Pot Stakes are the ultimate drivers of impulse sales and elegant, decorative designs in Woodlodge’s new Honey & Wild collection offer RRPs that start from just £5.99 – perfect for helping to up basket spend as consumers browse stores. In addition to intricately coloured butterflies, the 2021 collection includes dragonflies and floral designs encompassing roses, daisies and tulips. Shoppers with a penchant for garden art are catered for as well, with heart-shaped stakes and dancing, fairy-like characters that add a touch of magic to containerised displays. Butterfly and dragonfly pot hangers ensure that no container is anything less than a work of art.

Shining a light on outdoor living

With the pandemic ongoing and households set to spend more time at home relaxing and dining alfresco in 2021, the addition of solar powered lanterns empowers consumers to transform gardens into a sparkling nocturnal wonderland with ease. Featuring an array of designs influenced by Moroccan, Indian and Middle Eastern cultures, as well as lattice and heart-shaped styles, the eco-friendly solar-powered lanterns will inspire shoppers to add a new dimension to their gardens, whether placed on table tops or hung from trees.

Stock floral chickens for egg-static sales figures

The arrival of funky floral chickens will be poultry in motion for garden retailers! These fun, decorative characters are the ultimate driver of impulse sales in the ‘animals and farmyard’ garden ornaments category of Honey & Wild. Vibrantly coloured with eye-catching floral artwork, their intense hues can be seen from afar, driving footfall to displays of ornaments and holding high appeal as giftware, too. Quirky cockerels, pigs, ducks, owls, rabbits, goats and sheep complete a line-up with the potential to generate year-round sales to consumers of all ages, with the ability to inject humour and rich tones into gardens regardless of the season.

Capitalising on growth in wildlife gardening

Wildlife gardening is an area of monumental growth. Research by the HTA found that Brits spend £297million on bird food each year. Injecting fun into feeding is at the heart of Honey & Wild with its Owl & Jay Bird feeders; quirky, adorable feathered characters that appear not only on bird feeder bowls but adorn garden balancers, too. With the RSPB advocating year-round bird feeding, Blue and Grey Jay feeding bowls combine practicality with garden art, fueling sales throughout the calendar.

Of course, the above is just a snapshot of Woodlodge’s new Honey & Wild range, which also encompasses the latest on-trend wall pot planters, arty garden stakes, extensive line-up of outdoor lanterns, garden balancers, wildlife-inspired wall art, cast iron ornaments, garden arches, ornamental plant supports, humorous wooden signs, doorstops, garden globes and novelty outdoor décor. The Honey & Wild range will be available from early 2021 and bespoke display solutions are available for each product range.

To find out more about Woodlodge’s new Honey & Wild range for 2021, visit www.woodlodge.co.uk

Wyndley Garden Centre in Solihull could become a retirement village with restaurant and gym if a planning application submitted to Solihull Council is approved.

The application has been made by Cinnamon Care who are currently overseeing a development at the former Eastcote Garden Centre, on the outskirts of Barston, which closed in 2015.

Haskins Garden Centre in Snowhill, Crawley, has opened its doors to customers following a 12-month refurbishment costing £15m.

The new centre boasts a retail space of 11,813 sq.m., including an outdoor plant area and 440-seat restaurant complete with a newly installed pizza oven. Additional space has also been created to accommodate 170 restaurant guests on an outdoor patio.

Up to 70 new jobs have been created to accommodate the centre's expansion. Car parking has increased to 346 spaces.  See GTN Xtra's photo tour of the new centre below.

Chief executive Julian Winfield said the Snowhill team worked tirelessly to ensure the centre was able to remain open for the majority of the project, with minimal disruption.

“We can't wait to receive our customers' feedback on our new and improved facilities,” he added. “Over the years, we have built a loyal customer following and we are proud to be able to give back to them in this way with our new expanded centre.”

Haskins acquired the Snowhill site in 2003, inheriting a number of ageing buildings.

Haskins also has centres in Ferndown in Dorset, West End in Southampton and Roundstone in West Sussex. The family business recently acquired Forest Lodge Garden Centre, Bird World and Garden Style in Farnham.

Pictured (left to right): Julian Winfield, Jamie Haskins, Ally Haskins (married to Jamie) and Warren Haskins, the group's chairman. 

The opening event was attended by the current GCA Chairman Mike Burks and three past Chairs; Warren Haskins, Sue Allen and Julian Winfield.

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 this week are here

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

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird and Wildlife Care chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Christmas Products 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 highly-prized PATS Telford 2020 New Product Awards have been revealed following a special judging day involving a panel of independent pet retailers.

Entries to the awards poured in after it was announced they would go ahead despite September’s show being cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

An impressive total of more than 140 products were entered across seven different categories of the awards, sponsored by pbwnews.

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

All of the entries are posted on the PATS website, giving pet stores the opportunity to see and understand the new products available and to make informed choices about what they may wish to order for the crucial months ahead.

“It was great to see that our exhibitors took this opportunity to showcase their new products in this way,” said PATS organiser Gordon Thomas, of Impact Exhibitions and Events. “It proves the value and importance of the PATS Awards, and we know that winning is viewed as a big achievement within the pet industry.

“I’d like to thank our sponsors pbwnews for helping to make the judging day such a success, and our panel of independent retailers for taking the time to attend and judge the winners. Social distancing and other measures were in place. The judges said it was vital to be able to see, touch and feel the entries before making their final decisions.”

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

CAT FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Winner: Cat LickiMat Slomo from Sharples Pet

It was a unanimous decision from the judges, who agreed this product is sturdy and of high quality. It’s so good that one judge uses it for her own dog.

DOG ACCESSORY AND TOYS

Winner: Ultra Fetch Stick by Chuckit (from Pedigree Wholesale) 

The judges loved this product’s sturdiness and value-for-money ­and they liked the fact that it floats. They said everything about it is good.

DOG FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Winner: Eco-Friendly Premium RaCore 80/10/10 Raw Frozen Dog Food from Wilsons Pet Food 

The judges liked the green credentials of this product, and felt it also has a good price point.

Highly Commended: True Instinct from Natures Menu

DOG TREATS AND PRODUCTS

Winner: No Hide The Feast Limited Edition Chew by Earth Animal (from Pedigree Wholesale)

This was a closely contested and well-supported category. The judges decided the winner was No Hide Chew, billed as ‘the healthy alternative to raw hide’. They liked the price point (from £3.99) as well as the ingredients (turkey, pumpkin and cranberry), and felt the chews would last well. 

Highly Commended: Paddock Farm Ostrich Metatarsus Bone from Antos

GROOMING PRODUCTS

Winner: HOWND Spa Banana Facial and Natural Tear Stain Treatment from HOWND

The judges said the product had a pleasant smell and would be good to use on dogs at home as a face wash. They also liked the fact it’s paraben-free.

PET CARE PRODUCTS

Winner: Country’s Best Minavital from Versele Laga

This enriched mineral mix for poultry impressed the judges, who agreed it was an easy and effective way of giving chickens multi-vitamins. With the chicken sector growing rapidly, this value-for-money product should be a big seller.

SMALL ANIMAL AND BIRD PRODUCTS

Winner: Pet Remedy Small Mammal Calming Treat from Pet Remedy

The judges liked the product and the fact that it actually had a small animal picture on the packaging. One judge vouched for the calming product, having used it themselves and finding it to be really effective.

Retailers can now vote for what they think should be Best in Show from the winners listed above. Go to www.patshow.co.uk/buyers-best-in-show-new-product-award#/ All votes will have the chance of winning M&S vouchers worth £100. Voting closes at midnight on October 13, 2020. 

All items entered for the New Product Awards were donated to PATS’ chosen charity Dogs for Good, who train assistance dogs for adults and children with physical disabilities, to use as competition prizes at their many events.

The charity’s Corporate Partnerships Manager, Cathryn Simpson, said: “Dogs for Good really do value the kind generosity of PATS and the pet industry in general for supporting the charity in this way, especially during these challenging times.”

Before building work started

A chain of pet and garden stores has shown its commitment to high-street retailing by relocating one of its shops into the centre of a Norfolk town.

Myhill’s Pet and Garden has outgrown its current site in Attleborough and has started work on a much bigger building in the high street. It hopes to open the 6,500 square feet store next spring.

“Myhill’s feels it is making a commitment to both high-street shopping and Norfolk’s market towns despite the increase in online shopping and the current coronavirus situation,” said director Roy Hagan. “We feel the new store will be a positive contribution to retaining customers within Attleborough as a benefit for the whole town.”

Myhill’s Pet and Garden is Norfolk’s oldest chain of pet and garden shops, opening its first branch in Wymondham in 1936. As well as its stores in Attleborough and Wymondham, it has branches at Dereham, Diss, Swaffham and Watton.

The company has been actively looking for larger premises in Attleborough for the past few years.

“We discovered a development site behind the town’s old post office,” added Roy. “The company took a calculated gamble of buying the site despite the fact it had planning permission for 10 flats.” 

“We believed the town would be better served if the site was developed for retail purposes rather than residential. We went ahead with the purchase around 18 months ago in the belief that permission for a new retail store could hopefully be gained.”

Plans were drawn up in the summer of 2019 and after some delays, partly due to covid-19 restrictions, permission was finally granted in July this year.

Since then progress has been rapid with local companies working hard to ensure the project remains on schedule for its spring 2021 launch.

All existing staff will transfer to the new shop, which will also create an extra four permanent positions.

Access to bulkier items such as pet food and compost had always been a problem at the old shop but will be made easier at the new store with the introduction of customer collection parking bays. Myhill’s will also continue to offer its local delivery service.

Building work starts

Mars Petcare is set to entice more shoppers to the petcare category this Christmas by introducing a selection of new products to its seasonal range from October.

Spanning three of its best loved brands – Pedigree, Sheba and Dreamies - Mars Petcare is supporting the launches with TV advertising for Pedigree and Dreamies; its biggest seasonal campaign to date.

For the first time, festive main meals from Pedigree and Sheba will be available for pets to enjoy. This launch follows the release of Mars Petcare’s first annual category report – The Rising Power of Pets in Pandemic Britain – which explored the surge in owners referring to themselves as their pets’ parents. With a quarter of pet owners explicitly admitting that they celebrate Christmas with their pets, this opens up an opportunity for retailers to offer a festive meal solution in the pet food aisle. 

The range will also be bolstered with new treats including Dreamies Salmon & Turkey Mix, Pedigree Schmacko Turkey and Pedigree Rodeo Turkey. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, pet treats experienced significant growth with value sales surging year on year. Dreamies saw an astonishing 12.9% growth whilst Pedigree treats grew an equally impressive 11.8% from the week of the UK’s first Covid case in February to the partial lifting of lockdown 12 weeks later. Against this backdrop, Christmas will be the perfect time to keep momentum going and encourage pet parents to keep treating their cats or dogs.  

Arthur Renault, marketing portfolio director at Mars Petcare, comments: “After this year’s events, we can’t be sure what Christmas 2020 holds, but we know owners want to mark seasonal occasions with their pets, whether that be including them in gift giving or having a special meal for them to enjoy. Our Pedigree and Sheba main meals, inspired by festive flavours, have been designed for pets and their owners to come together and share a moment of happiness.

“In addition to this, we’re also bringing back past favourites with stockings and gift boxes for owners to spoil their pets properly this Christmas.”

Pedigree was the best-selling Christmas pet stocking last year, while the Dreamies Gift Box was the most sold cat Christmas product in the market. Both brands will have stockings available, complete with new treats.

The festive range will be supported by nationwide TV campaigns for Dreamies and Pedigree – in excess of £1m - and running throughout November and December. Driving mass awareness of the brands’ festive offerings, the activity aims to help retailers attract new shoppers to the category at a time when more people than ever will be looking to treat their pets. 

To offer variety, the main meals from Pedigree and Sheba both come in packs of 12 with two flavours – Sheba Turkey and Chicken; and Pedigree Turkey and Chicken. The full product range is available to order now.

Eco-friendly pet products company Beco targeted plastic litter in the longest river in England when it took part in a national campaign, The Great British September Clean.

A crack team of Beco litter-pickers donned protective gear and high-viz jackets to clear up a stretch of the River Thames on Hammersmith Embankment, west London last week and removed sacksful of discarded debris at the end of the expedition.

It was the first time the company had taken part in the campaign, which is run in conjunction with the independent charity, Keep Britain Tidy.

“Before“ and “after“ pictures of the wharf revealed just how much rubbish, including plastic bottles, beers cans, surgical masks, tin cans, punctured footballs, polystyrene cups, empty cigarette packets, discarded coconuts and items of old clothing, had blighted the area.

Due to social distancing and lockdown restrictions, six members of the Beco workforce took part, and they were ably supported by a canine crew of helpers, who proved especially skilled at sniffing out items for removal.

Stretching 215 miles, the Thames is the longest river in England, and the second-longest in the UK, after the River Severn. Its beaches, or embankments, in the capital are especially vulnerable as litter hot-spots due to the density of London’s 9.3 million population and local tides and currents.

'Before' and 'after': The rubbish-strewn wharf (left) before Beco's litter-pickers cleaned up (right).

Beco founder George Bramble brought along his five-year-old black Labrador, Tarka, to help out, Beco director Robert Shaw was supported by his fox red Labrador, Hubie, and marketing coordinator Toby Freeman recruited his spaniel Rufus to the cause.

Rob, (pictured right), brandishing a rubbish sack, said: “We decided as a team we wanted to do our bit for the Great British September Clean and everyone at Beco was keen to join in.

“We headed over to Hammersmith to pick up plastic and litter from the banks of the Thames with the help of our highly enthusiastic canine support crew.

“When we got there, the place really was a sight for sore eyes. But when we’d finished and took a look at the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures, we were really pleased to have made a difference.“

The scourge of plastic pollution in our oceans and litter, including dog poop littering, has long been a key environmental issue of concern for Beco’s George Bramble and everyone at the company.

“In the past year, we sold Beco toys made from around 1.7 million upcycled plastic bottles. That’s 1.7 million items of plastic litter recycled, not heading for our oceans, not poisoning marine life,” said Bramble.

“We're doing this because we really care about the environment. Since 2009, we’ve been pushing plastic-alternative pet products made from bamboo. At first, people just didn’t appreciate why a non-plastic pet bowl was the better option. Now things have changed.

“Since Sir David Attenborough’s influential documentary series ‘Blue Planet II’ aired in 2017 highlighting the extreme issues of plastic in our oceans, consumer sentiment has changed.”

All the rubbish Beco collected from the Thames during the day was collected on site and disposed of by the environment department of the local authority, Hammersmith and Fulham Council.