Weber, one of the leading names in the outdoor leisure market, has decided not to exhibit at SOLEX at the NEC Birmingham in July.The barbecue company has been ever present at SOLEX over the last few years and its stand has been one the biggest since the outdoor leisure show moved to the NEC. GTN Xtra noticed that a Weber stand was missing from the floorplan on the SOLEX website, so we contacted the company for an explanation. We were told that someone from Weber would provide a comment but nothing had been forthcoming by close of business on Friday. SOLEX organiser Phil Gibbs confirmed to GTN Xtra that Weber hadn’t booked a stand for this year’s show which takes place on July 5-7. “It’s disappointing that such a leading company like Weber won’t be attending SOLEX. “ Meanwhile, Weber has unveiled a number of exciting new products as part of its 2016 range. A groundbreaking WeberBriquette, 11 new barbecues and a host of innovative accessories will be hitting the shelves in the coming months, all designed to enhance the barbecuing experience.
 |
|
|
|
HTA Study Tour is a Dutch Sensation
The HTA Study Tour to Holland last week was a huge success with inspirational visits to Dutch garden centres and the unique Garden Retail Experience event...
The HTA Study Tour to Holland last week was a huge success with inspirational visits to Dutch garden centres and the unique Garden Retail Experience event.
A full report will appear in a special issue of GTN Xtra later this week including Expert Tours of the Retail Experience event, photo tours of dutch centres and the visits to Garden Connect and Edelman.
Winners at the Garden Retail Experience Gala Evening, organised by Tuinzaken - the Dutch equivalent of GTN, included Garden Connect - Innovation Award and CJ Wildbirdcare.
|
|
Above: Westland/GCA Rising Stars Class of 2015. Sophie Liebthal from Coolings (3rd from left) was the eventual winner.
There have been so many entries right up to the end of the deadline announced at GCA Conference that its been extended until midnight on Wednesday 24th February.
So if you have someone in your team who would benefit from the programme - someone who could be a manager of the future - then send your entry in promptly. The benefits of the programme are many - learning new skills, meeting like-minded people, seeing different garden centres - and most of all - helping build self-confidence. Send your completed entries to Pat Adams at GCA Pat Adams pat@gca.org.uk
If you didn't pick up an entry form at Conference in Brighton last month contact the GCA office as above or Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director at Westland Horticulture.
|
|
Briers were the sole UK Company exhibiting as part of the Garden Retail Experience in Holland last week, 17th-19th February 2016.
As Briers continue to grow within Europe, this Dutch partnership has allowed the company to immerse itself into the heart of the best that the Dutch garden retail market has to offer. Through creating engaging lifestyle displays and retail concepts, Briers has shown that the on-trend styling to our British designs has led to the beginning of a blossoming relationship with the world renowned Dutch garden retail market!!
We'd like to thank the team at Tuinzaken (the Dutch equivalent of GTN) and De Haan for their "green hospitality."
Closed garden centre site could be turned into housing
The site of the recently closed Ingatestone Garden Centre in Essex could be sold off to developers to provide 60 homes under the Brentwood Draft Local Plan. Last week GTN Xtra carried a story in which the owner claimed he could not afford to keep the doors open...
The site of the recently closed Ingatestone Garden Centre in Essex could be sold off to developers to provide 60 homes under the Brentwood Draft Local Plan.
The sizable plot of land, which has easy access to the A12, has been named by Brentwood Borough Council as a favourable place to build homes.
The garden centre is among more than 10 sites around the borough where 5,500 houses could be built over the next 15 years, according to the draft Local Development Plan that went out to public consultation recently.
Last week GTN Xtra carried a story reporting that the owner of Ingatestone Garden Centre, which ceased to trade suddenly after more than 75 years, could not afford to keep the doors open.
James Harding who closed the doors to the site in Roman Road suddenly and without warning on February 1, said the business was no longer financially viable.
Mr Harding, who took over the business in 2010, said: "To be completely honest the only thing to say is the garden centre has been losing money now for very long time.
“It's just got to the stage where we cannot afford to subsidise the business anymore."
The first signs that indicated the garden centre could have been in trouble was a simple note posted on the door of the centre on February 1 which read: 'Customer notice. The garden centre is now closed.'
But GTN Xtra learned this week that Ingatestone Garden Centre is part of the Brentwood Draft Local Plan, which outlines the area’s need for more housing and possible sites for new homes.
Mr Harding’s comments have led to a reaction from the garden trade.
One garden centre, which wished to remain anonymous, told GTN Xtra: “There is no problem with someone selling up and turning a business into housing if that’s what they want but why all the bullshit?
“Everyone knows that it could be a gold mine as a garden centre and was profitable before and would have been over the last few years with just a tiny bit of investment in stock and facilities. There are 60 houses going on the site, it probably values it as a building plot at £5-£10m.”
|
|
Colour and rotation are key ingredients
 Colour and stock rotation were the factors that helped Cowells’ Sam Clark become a finalist in the Westland Rising Stars at the GCA Conference last month...
 Colour, more colour, even more colour and stock rotation were the factors that helped Cowells’ Sam Clark become a finalist in the Westland Rising Stars at the GCA Conference last month.
Cowells’ planteria has been famous for leading the way with colour themed beds but Sam decided to add more colour themed bed ends, add colour links to Ronseal Garden Paints and then rotate the stock at least every fortnight.
The end result was a 20% increase in perennial sales during March and June, a continued 11% increase during the rest of the year and a 100% increase in Garden Paint sales.
“Product range and rotation has been increased leading to a much more vibrant and tempting shopping experience,” said a proud Sam during his nerve wracking presentation in Brighton.
|
|
Sales at garden centres bursting out all over
Garden centre sales in the second week of February saw a timely boost, up 7% on last year, according to EPoS data provided for GTN Bestsellers. Highlights were another good week for growing media sales and Veg-2-Grow plants, indicating plenty of gardening activity for the year ahead.
Garden centre sales in the second week of February saw a timely boost, up 7% on last year, according to EPoS data provided for GTN Bestsellers.
Highlights were another good week for growing media sales and Veg-2-Grow plants, indicating plenty of gardening activity for the year ahead.
The cold weather has also prompted a boost of winter related sales, not sledges and snow shovels but paraffin for greenhouse heaters which features in the Top 50 as the early bird gardeners get themselves ahead of the game.
As centre’s complete their turnaround from Christmas Shop back to Garden Centre for spring and summer GTN has joined the HTA Study Tour to Holland this week to find out what are the trends and new retailing concepts that can be implemented to encourage more sales.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...
- Garden Products - up5%
- Veg-2-Gro - up 4%
- Growing Media - up 88%
- All Items Index - up 18%
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Impressive entrance displays at De Bosrand Tuincentrum, which opens fully in March 2016.
|
|
Representatives from the Royal Horticultural Society’s Affiliated Societies team, Britain’s largest network of gardening clubs and horticultural societies, will join a Flower Show Forum at Castle Gardens in Sherborne, Dorset on Thursday, March 17 from 2pm-4pm.
Chaired by Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group, the Flower Show Forum will offer gardening clubs, which are currently seeing a decline in entries to their garden competitions, a chance to share their concerns and devise a plan to rejuvenate these traditional shows.
With success stories of initiatives from around the UK, advice on resources from the Royal Horticultural Society and ideas to reignite interest and entries, the aim of the Flower Show Forum is to give gardening groups and societies the tools to help them organise ever more successful shows in the future.
Mike explains: “Last summer we were invited to some excellent garden club shows around Dorset and Somerset.
"When we learnt how hard organisers were having to work to put these shows on, we thought it would be useful to hold a forum to bring about change and entice more people to get involved and celebrate what they’ve grown in their gardens and allotments.
"On speaking to the RHS, we realised that this is an issue experienced on a national scale, therefore we hope that our forum will inspire other regions to bring their knowledge and expertise together to maintain Britain’s great tradition of local gardening competitions.”
After the forum has taken place a Facebook group will be created for the discussions and ideas to continue, encouraging green shoots to flourish among the gardening clubs.
Picture credit: Iwerne Minster Produce and Horticultural Association’s Summer Show.
|
|
Christmas grottos at Birchencliffe and Pennine, both Wyevale Garden Centres, have raised a record-breaking £10,656 for Kirkwood Hospice over the festive period, providing a welcome New-Year boost to the charity’s fundraising efforts.
Birchencliffe raised £5,116, while Pennine raised £5,540, with increased visitors to both centres driving a bumper community donation, above and beyond Christmas grotto donations from previous years.
Nicola Barber, Kirkwood Hospice Fundraiser, this week received giant cheques from Pennine and Huddersfield Garden Centre managers, with Hospice staff and volunteers in attendance.
Andrew Tyers, Garden Centre Manager at Birchencliffe, said: “We're thrilled that the annual Christmas Grotto has received such extensive support from the public – especially since this cause is close to so many people in the local community. A big thank you to everyone who donated and we’re hoping to raise even more funds for Kirkwood during Christmas 2016!”
Andrew Harper, Garden Centre Manager at Pennine, added: “It’s great to see locals pitch in to help members of the community who truly need our care and support. We hope these donations aid Kirkwood in continuing its important work, and make a positive difference to the lives of the patients and families supported by the Hospice.”
Nicola Barber said: “We’ve been humbled by the generosity of the public, and are extremely grateful for the support provided to us by Pennine and Birchencliffe Wyevale Garden Centres.
“We are delighted to accept these donations and look forward to investing the funds, to make sure that our patients, their families and friends receive the best possible care.
The grottos launched in November 2015 with the hugely popular annual Reindeer parade procession at Pennine and Birchencliffe. Hundreds of locals gathered to see Santa and his reindeer, with two lucky competition winners given the chance to ride in Santa’s sleigh.
Families visiting the Garden Centres at weekends in November and December had the opportunity to tell Santa what they’d like for Christmas, and also received a special Christmas gift.
All donations from the grottos help to provide care for people across Kirklees living with a life limiting illness, as well as providing support to their families and friends.
|
|
|
|
|
The Greatest Awards go back on tour in 2016
After the resounding success of The Greatest Awards ON TOUR in 2015, we are pleased to announce that in 2016 The Greatest Awards ON TOUR will be bigger and better than ever...
After the resounding success of The Greatest Awards ON TOUR in 2015, we are pleased to announce that in 2016 The Greatest Awards ON TOUR will be as follows: GTN’s The Greatest Catering Awards
At The HTA Catering Conference – The Belfry, 7-8 June
GTN’s The Greatest Plant Retailing Awards
At The HTA National Plant Show – Stoneleigh, 21-22 June
GTN’s The Greatest Garden Relief Day Fundraising Team Awards
At the GIMA Awards – 14 July GTN’s The Greatest Outdoor Living Awards
At spoga+gafa – Cologne, Germany, 5 September GTN’s The Greatest Garden Centre Awards
At HTA Futures – Heythrop Park, 12 October New for 2016 GTN’s The Greatest Marketing Awards
At The HTA Marketing Forum – 8 November Watch out for nomination and entry details in Garden Trade News and GTN Xtra. To book places at HTA events please e-mail: events@the-hta.org.uk
|
|
The UK’s top garden centre is aiming to raise £5,000 for cancer care charity Marie Curie through the sale of Gardman Daffodil-design bird feeder dishes. Garden Wise at Dumfries, which earned the title of Britain’s best garden centre by achieving the top score in the Garden Centre Association’s annual inspections, hopes to sell 2,500 feeders, with £2 from each sale going to the charity. Last year, sales of Gardman’s Poppy feeders at Garden Wise helped the Dumfries branch of Royal British Legion Scotland raise £7,000.  The 72cm-high painted cast iron feeders are suitable for all bird seed types, mealworm, peanut bites and suet treats and can also be used as water dishes. They feature a metal stake for positioning in flower borders or lawns. The SRP is £6.99.
|
|
Four weeks to go, 10 pounds still to loose
Pounds 4 Greenfingers update from Trevor Pfeiffer
 
Despite a week away on the HTA Study Tour, GTN's Trevor Pfeiffer is still on track to acheive his weight loss target by Garden Re-Leaf Day on March 18th...
Despite a week away on the HTA Study Tour, GTN's Trevor Pfeiffer is still on track to acheive his weight loss target by Garden Re-Leaf Day on March 18th.
Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day is set to take place on Friday 18th March 2016 - and already the fundraising has begun! Twitter has already started buzzing with those looking to lose weight after the festive period, and Greenfingers is inviting them to feel even better about themselves by raising money to help create more children's hospice gardens. The idea is that for each pound participants lose between now and Garden Re-Leaf Day, they can collect a pound from their sponsors, to be donated to Greenfingers after the 18th March. Linda Petrons, Head of Fundraising at Greenfingers, Debs Skilicorn, Director of Greenfingers and GTN's very own Trevor Pfeiffer are all bravely taking part and want to encourage others to step up to the challenge.
You can sponsor Trevor on his target to loose 1 stone between the GCA Conference and Garden Re-Leaf Day by clicking: https://www.justgiving.com/Trevor-Pfeiffer. "Immediately after conference I went down with a bout of man flu, so I was only able to get the diet up and running on Wednesday 3rd February. My start weight was registered as 15 stone 4 pounds  and Saturday 3rd February was the second day of my 5:2 Fast diet plan.
"On that plan I can eat normally on non-fast days but only a maximum of 600 calories on fast days. The start was particularly tough, feeling very hungry during the evening, but worthwhile as after two fast days I'd already lost 3 pounds in weight.
 "Last week as I was away on the HTA Study Tour to Holland I managed to fit in only one fast days so I'm really please I've lost a further pounds to stay below the 15 stone mark.
"That means I have at least another 8 pounds to loose between now and Garden Re-Leaf Day and with your help I'll raise even more money for Greenfingers.
"I'll keep you all updated with my progress in future issues of GTN Xtra. Thank you to all the people who have already sponsored me. I'm looking forward to raising more money for Greenfingers when I reach the target from all the kind people who've aslo said they would support me." If you are interested in taking part, here are a few pointers to help you get started: - If you find it hard to lose weight then don't go overboard - aim for a realistic target
- On the other hand, don't aim too low - challenge yourself and encourage sponsorship!
- Let others know you’re trimming down so you can rely on them to hold you to account. Post on social media, using the hashtag #Pounds4Greenfingers what you plan to do and why you are doing it. Why not post before and after photos too? You'll be surprised at just how much motivation it will give you knowing others are keeping an eye on your progress!
- Take up a short term gym membership, -. or join a local sports or slimming club - there are tonnes of support group options at this time of year so you needn't be alone!
How many pounds of lost weight can the UK gardening industry convert into £'s cash for Greenfingers by Garden Re-Leaf Day?
Garden Re-Leaf 2016 has already attracted eight top industry figures who will be staging 24 hour Plant-athons in garden centres beginning their Plant-athons on Thursday 17th and finishing on Friday the 18th. Poplars, Adrian Hall and Sunshine Garden Centres have all recently confirmed they will put on Garden Re-Leaf events in store.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
An exciting opportunity exists for an enthusiastic team player to join Bristol’s Largest Independent Garden Centre as our Shop Assistant Manager.
The Ideal Candidate will possess excellent people management skills, Great Communication Skills and be able to lead and organise your team whilst maintaining excellent customer service sales and service.
The role requires an outstanding merchandiser standards and have a proven track record in motivating teams to exceptional achievements.
In return, we provide a competitive salary, a friendly working environment, staff discount scheme, subsidised social events and a benefits package commensurate with a progressive company.
To apply, please download the application form by clicking here and submit the completed form to info@almondsbury.co.uk.
Please include your current CV and a covering letter explaining why you would be an excellent recruit for this role, including examples of how you could be an asset to our business.
For more information, please email info@almondsbury.co.uk
|
|
Plant Area Manager (Full time, including alternate weekends) West Horsley KT24 6AR Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centre’s 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. West Horsley, a traditional GCA garden centre and nursery with a strong horticultural background set deep in the beautiful Surrey countryside between Guildford and Leatherhead. An enthusiastic team who know their customers as well as their subject and who strive to make the centre a hub of the local community. An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our garden centre at West Horsley.
- You will be responsible for managing the outdoor plant department which has an extensive and well stocked plant area.
- You must have experience and/or horticultural qualifications and garden centre retail experience.
- You will be able to manage your department to achieve sales and profit targets whilst motivating your team to maximise all sales opportunities and inspiring them to offer the highest standards of customer service.
- You must have the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment, have a passion for plants, be highly motivated, commercially aware and able to create dynamic, inspirational displays.
Free parking on site.
To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk
|
|
Assistant Garden Centre Manager (ref:DS8060)
Location: South East England
Salary: £23,000 - £25,000
Date: 05 Feb
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Our client is a lovely plant focused garden centre based near the Buckinghamshire, Middlesex, Berkshire borders. They are currently looking for an Assistant Manager who is horticulturally trained and has experience in the plant / horticultural side of retailing.
The role
The role would suit a Plantarea Manager who is looking to further their career and take a step towards Garden Centre Management. As a Duty Manager you will be responsible for the centre including the café in the absence of the Centre Manager and will be responsible for up to 20 staff in peek periods.
The candidate
Our client is looking for a good Manager with great potential who is driven and keen to develop their retail career.
To apply for this role click here
|
|
Bedding Department Head (Full time, including alternate weekends) West Horsley KT24 6AR Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centre’s 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. West Horsley, a traditional GCA garden centre and nursery with a strong horticultural background set deep in the beautiful Surrey countryside between Guildford and Leatherhead. An enthusiastic team who know their customers as well as their subject and who strive to make the centre a hub of the local community. An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our forward-thinking family-owned company, which is committed to our staff, growing our business and setting high standards.
- You will be responsible for the bedding plant department at our West Horsley Garden Centre which has an extensive and well stocked plant area.
- You will have extensive knowledge and experience of working in a retail bedding department and/or a horticultural qualification.
- A passion for customer service and the ability to thrive in a fast paced environment are essential.
- You will be flexible, enthusiastic and highly motivated, commercially aware and have the ability to create dynamic displays.
Free parking on site.
To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk
|
|
Garden Centre Shop Manager (ref:DS8038)
Location: Berkshire
Salary: £20,000 - £26,000
Date: 01 Feb
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Our client is a garden centre group who are looking for candidates for their garden shop department. They are looking for customer facing retailers who have experiences in selling garden care products, seeds, garden tools etc. Someone who are a step above the average and can demonstrate strength in the following;
- Service - able to sell through service and demonstrate to the team how to do this.
- People - great at developing a team, leading by example and holding the team accountable.
- Process - able to get to grips quickly with process, understand them, follow to the letter and coach on them.
- Standards - able to live and breed leading standards, not accepting second best and challenging the team to deliver the best they can.
- Planning - someone who can plan and think what is needed to be achieved / delivered tomorrow, next week etc. not just living for the day.
- Task - someone who is happy to be hands on but not to do the work of the team for them.
They are open to the background and experience of the candidate but would like to see candidates coming from a volume Retail background, perhaps Supermarkets, DIY etc.
To apply for this role click here
|
|
Horticultural Content Team Leader \ Essex (ref:DS8007)
Location: Essex
Salary: Dependent on experience
Date: 25 Jan
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
The role
To provide horticultural leadership to the team. In particular copywriting and picture management for all our content creation activities, and in so doing creating and sustaining a position of leadership within our markets. To maximise the value of these assets for the benefit of both print and web sales. To deliver these services in accordance with our agreed business plans.
The key responsibilities for this role are:
- Subject Matter Expert: Provide horticultural expertise and guidance (plant naming, plant identification, plant descriptions, gardening and horticultural instructions, etc). Work closely with the wider company community (the FM Support Group team and other companies in the group) to improve the quality of plant content and data services etc.
- Plant Content (descriptive and parameters): Sanitise plant lists supplied by customers (correction of plant names, etc). Originate, amend, maintain and develop plant content (descriptive text and parameter information) within a database, according to the commercial needs of our customers, and determined as useful by the teams within the company. Bring together and maintain a team of freelancers (horticultural copywriting, parameters, general proof reading) who can support the delivery of plant content. Lead the creation of "standard" descriptive text and parameter information, which can be used by other UK teams.
- Plant Content (images): Carry out picture selections, as required by Projects and Creative Teams. Support the image needs of the Creative Team.
- Image Management: Manage the contract arrangements and documentation for 3rd party image use. Manage the Picture Rental Service, looking after the contract arrangements, documentation and invoicing.
- Marketing Copywriting: Write copy for marketing activities (B2B). Play an active role in the Marketing Team.
The candidate
We are looking for a self-motivated person, who is keen to contribute to the team effort, has a good memory for plant names and understands the horticultural world. Being generally well organised will also be important to us. Keen to learn about the company and its wide range of products and services, and equally keen to support our business activities by constantly developing their own personal knowledge and experience.
This is horticultural marketing at its best and we are looking for someone who is knowledgeable about plants (gardening) and has experience of marketing, with a talent for writing. This role will play an important part in the strategic development of the company in the years ahead. We are looking for an individual who will embrace the opportunities this role offers with energy and enthusiasm.
A formal qualification in horticulture is essential, together with a minimum of 5 years' experience in plant sales or production, garden retailing or similar. Experience of marketing and a talent for writing will make you an ideal candidate.
To apply for this role click here
|
|
Plant Area Sales Assistant (Full time, including alternate weekends) Twickenham TW2 5PA Squire’s is a family owned group of 15 garden centre’s 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. Squire’s oldest site with a new centre built in 1993, and is about to undergo a significant facelift. A garden centre that takes a very high turnover for its size, with a strong horticultural focus in plants and sundries, often winning GCA category awards, with the recent addition of new Pets & Aquatics and Craft areas. We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated individual who is quick and willing to learn and who sees customer service as their main priority. - The ideal candidate will be self-motivated and energetic, have a passion for plants and an eye for creating exciting detailed displays.
- Horticultural experience or equivalent qualifications desirable.
- The role will involve bending and lifting some heavy items therefore applicants must be physically fit.
Free parking on site.
To apply, please visit our website www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk
|
|
Plantarea Manager / Supervisory l Berkshire (ref:DS7973)
Location: Berkshire
Salary: Dependent on experience
Date: 12 Feb
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Our client is a wonderful independent garden centre and nursery set within the grounds of a rural estate. This lovely centre has a large plantarea and café, along with a garden shop that offers customers a range of quality gifts and garden sundries. They are currently looking for a superb Plants Person to assist their Nursery Manager in running the Plant Centre. They are open minded and will look at Supervisory to Management level candidates for the role.
The role
Will be to manage the plant centre on a day to day basis ensuring plant stock is in tip top condition and merchandised to a high standard. Buying of additional stock needed for the centre liaising with suppliers on delivery etc. Supervising staff and holding key holder responsibilities when senior managers are unavailable.
The candidate
For this role candidates must have:
- A proven track-record in the industry along with good management and supervisory skills.
- Excellent plant knowledge and a good background in horticultural retailing is a must for this role as they offer over 3 acres of quality plants from their own nursery as well as choice plants sourced from a variety of other suppliers.
- Salary will be competitive and depend on experience and what you can bring to the role.
To apply for this role click here
|
|
|
|
|
with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox. The best news service every weekend and all the breaking news as it happens.
Subscribe for free using this link: http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/7rulj2yio7x?a=6&p=49514304&t=20355005
|
|
Blue Diamond has appointed Patricia Alford-Burnett, the former CEO of The White Company, as a non-executive director. Patricia has served as the CEO of both public and privately owned companies. She is an experienced multi-channel retailer. Most recently she was CEO of The White Company for 6 years and prior to that served as CEO of ILLUM, aprestigious Danish department store operator, and UK fashion retailers Jaeger and Wallis. She is currently a retail consultant and adviser, mentoring CEOs and their senior teams. Patricia is an expert at building commercial brands, using coaching skills to motivate and develop teams to support growth. She embraces design, new technology and innovation. Chairman Simon Burke commented: “Patricia will bring many qualities to our Board, but I am particularly looking forward to the perspective she will bring on our female customer, along with her insights into brand, marketing, online, people and culture. “I am very happy to see a greater diversity in our Board and am confident that she will contribute significantly to the ongoing success of the company.”
|
|
Sales of garden products slow to pick up
Volumes for the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart are slightly ahead of the same week last year but are still slow to pick up this year. The highest climber is Brintons Patio Magic (2.5 litres)...
Volumes for the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart are slightly ahead of the same week last year but are still slow to pick up this year.
When you consider a snow shovel was the fifth bestselling item at the same time in 2015, you can see the weather is more favourable this winter. Garden lighting seems to popular, however, so there could be light at the end of the tunnel.
Here are the highlights of this week’s Garden Products chart:
- Smart Solar Stake & Wall Light with 8 LEDs is the highest new entry, jumping straight in to No 2 spot.
- Gardman Solar Stainless Steel Glass Marker Light is the highest re-entry at No 9.
- The highest climber is Brintons Patio Magic (2.5 litres), moving up 26 places to No 18.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Shallots and veg seeds selling well
Veg-2-Gro sales have grown slightly on the previous week with gardeners buying shallots and packets of seeds in good numbers ahead of the sowing season...
Veg-2-Gro sales have grown slightly on the previous week with gardeners buying shallots and packets of seeds in good numbers ahead of the sowing season.
Onion sets continue to dominate sales with the top 5 places being taken up by Taylors Bulb varieties.
This week’s Veg-2-Gro star performers are:
- Taylors French Shallots Longor are the highest climber, jumping 32 places to No 9.
- The highest re-entry is Taylors Shallots Yellow Moon at No 10.
- The highest new entry is Suttons Runner Bean Firestorm at No 24.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
|
|
Growing media sales have shot back up and are way ahead of the same week in 2015 (+88.4%) and 2014 (+121.4%).
This week’s star performers include:
- Westland The Gardener’s Seed & Potting Mix (50 litres) is the highest climber after entering the chart the previous week. It has jumped 23 places to No 17.
- Westland The Gardener’s Soil Conditioner (50 litres) is the highest new entry at No 23.
- The highest re-entry is Arthur Bowers Horticultural Sharp Sand (20kg) at No 31.
- Arthur Bowers Multipurpose Compost (50 litres) stays on the top spot.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
|
|
Forest Garden is a company that is well renowned for providing market-leading garden timber products, but it also takes pride in offering its staff the opportunity to develop a long term career, and to become part of the company’s future development.
As a result, Forest is home to several members of staff which have been helping it to carve out its niche for the last 30 or so years.These special members of staff were recently celebrated with a Long Service Award ceremony.
Whilst Forest does recognise long service individually over time this Long Service Award ceremony was introduced to formally recognise and celebrate these achievements together as a company.
The first ceremony was attended by members of staff from across all of Forest’s departments, with 18 members of staff being awarded for their long service.
Together these staff had clocked up almost 500 years of employment at Forest, including four team members who have been at Forest since before 1986.
Each long service recipient was gifted a specially engraved crystal plaque, and gift voucher, all presented by Forest Garden’s chief executive, Guy Grainger.
Guy Grainger said: “It was an honour to be able to acknowledge and reward such dedicated and important members of our team.
"I believe that these Long Service Awards are testament to how Forest Garden functions as a business, in that it provides a platform for personal and professional growth, whilst offering staff an unrivalled support network.
"On behalf of myself and the wider company, I’d like to extend our thanks to those that have been such a key part of our business for so long, and we look forward to awarding even more dedicated members of staff in the coming years.”
|
|
Staff at Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford are celebrating this month after being awarded with a certificate of registration for the Environmental Management System – ISO 14001.
Wyevale Nurseries operates an Environmental Management System, which complies with the requirements of the ISO 14001 for the production and supply of container grown nursery stock for the garden centre and amenity markets.
Steve Reed, Container Division Production Director at Wyevale Nurseries, said: “We are delighted that we have once again been awarded with an Environmental Management System – ISO 14001.
“We want to be environmentally responsible and ISO 14001 is very important as it is a European Standard. Customers in both markets are constantly asking us about our environmental management – it is a key factor in our business.
“We set a range of targets to reach before the end of July 2016 such as recycling more water – 20,000 cubic metres, improving space utilisation in our lorries and reducing our plant waste. We will also be monitoring the quantity of agrochemicals used on-site.
“To add to this we also had 160 solar panels fitted, 120 at our head office site and 40 at our Transplants Division. This is a 40kWp size system and we are using the power generated to run our office equipment, irrigation pumps and heating. Any excess unused power is being sent to the National Grid. The expected annual generation is 37,160.00 kWh.”
ISO 14001 is an internationally accredited standard that outlines how to put an effective environmental management system in place within organisations.
It is designed to help businesses remain commercially successful without overlooking environmental responsibilities and impacts. It can also help businesses to grow sustainably while reducing the environmental impact of this growth.
Wyevale Nurseries is one of the largest family-run wholesale nurseries in the UK. It was established in 1930 by Harry Williamson, a horticulturist and entrepreneur. It became the company it is today under the leadership of his son, Peter, who sadly passed away in 2011.
The Williamsons’ saw the opportunity to sell their product to an undeveloped retail market, creating one of the first garden centres, followed by a chain. In 1987, the retail side needed to expand and the 19 garden centres were sold as a PLC.
The family then turned its focus to Wyevale Nurseries Ltd. It continues to be a family-run business with ownership and joint chairmanship currently being held by the third generation, Heather and Simeon Williamson, with plans for the fourth generation to takeover in the future.
Wyevale Nurseries has a significant product range and is regularly introducing new plants. It offers a large variety of trees, shrubs, hedging, herbaceous and specimen plants to garden centres, landscape contractors, local authorities, foresters and landowners.
|
|
West Midlands MEP Anthea McIntyre delivered the keynote speech on Wednesday at a national conference on plant health organised by the Horticultural Trades Association.
She gave delegates information about how European legislation is developed and amended, the scope of a planned new regime for combatting plant disease, and the potential impact on the industry if Britain left the EU.
The Conservative MEP, who sits on the European Parliament's Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, is herself a small-scale grower. She is currently piloting a new package of EU legislation to tackle deadly plant pests by stopping them arriving from abroad.
She explained to the conference at Sand Hutton, near York, that lengthy and detailed three-way negotiations between the EU's Parliament, Commission and Council had been necessary to broker an agreement to curb the influx of microscopic pests that can devastate plant species.
She said: "It was a question of achieving a balance. On the one hand protecting our phytosanitary security - which is hugely important for us in Britain - and on the other hand facilitating trade and minimising the administrative burden and the associated cost of excessive red tape. I think that having a British MEP at the centre of negotiations has meant we have the best possible outcome for the UK."
Miss McIntyre said if Britain voted to leave the EU in the forthcoming referendum it was likely we would then negotiate a deal to continue trading with the EU.
"That means we would find ourselves having to comply with the same rules and regulations as now in order to be part of that market - but without membership we would no longer be able to influence and shape the legislation to our liking," she said.
|
|
The charity devoted to the protection of all invertebrates, Buglife, has teamed up with Buttacup, as a partnership, to work together to encourage bug populations and prevent extinction.
Buglife, also known as The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, will receive a donation from Buttacup sales, which will go towards helping their fantastic charitable work to save Britain’s rarest small animals, everything from bees to beetles, worms to woodlice and Horrid ground-weaver spiders to jellyfish.
Commented Paul Hetherington, Director of Communications at Buglife: ‘Buglife are delighted to announce our endorsement and association with the Buttacup range. These ingenious devices will help slow the flow of water particularly in built up areas potentially reducing the risk of flooding and also providing self-watering planting space that can be used to create an oasis of food and shelter for the small things that run the planet, making a real contribution to saving our bees, butterflies and other vital bugs.’
There are more than 40,000 invertebrate species in the UK, and many of these are under threat as never before. Invertebrates are vitally important to a healthy planet. Humans and other life forms could not survive without them. Invertebrates underpin life on earth and if they become extinct the world’s ecosystems would collapse.
It is expected that further promotional offers will be organised and a new version of the Buttacup, produced in bright yellow, to attract bees, is in development. It is also planned that advice will be offered to gardeners to encourage the propagation, purchase and planting of suitable fauna and flowering plants which attract bugs and provide a suitable environment for habitation and sustenance.
With both organisations having a sustainable ethos, as part of the arrangement, Buglife is selling Buttacup products on their website and will also be representing Buttacup to some of the larger retail organisations, to introduce the innovative Buttacup garden planter to some of the major stores and resellers.
Commented Bjorn Wood, founder of Buttacup: ‘It’s great to be teaming up with such a fantastic organisation that is increasing biodiversity and working to create new habitats for these essential bugs and something we love to support.’
For further information please visit the Buglife website at www.buglife.org.uk or for details of the Buttacup range, please visit www.buttacup.co.uk
|
|
 Following another strong year of Added Value products sales growth in 2015, leading plant producers, Allensmore Nurseries have announced the appointment of two new members to their creative team.
Victoria Atkinson, a degree level trained horticulturalist, garden designer and florist, will lead the Allensmore creative team, assisted by another new appointee, Stacey Gibson, who has wide experience in garden design, garden centre plant retailing and also has a degree in fine arts. Victoria and Stacey will be responsible for the creative development of Allensmore’s extensive range of Added Value products which currently includes planted containers, hanging baskets, Christmas wreaths and hand crafted seasonal decorations. Allensmore’s MD, Mark Taylor, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Victoria and Stacey to our team. Their creativity, flair and experience will bring new and exciting ranges of beautiful Added Value products to our customers.”
|
|
APL Avenue at BBC Gardeners’ World Live winners announced
Last year, the APL launched a competition in conjunction with BBC Gardeners’ World Live to give the opportunity for Contractors and Designers to feature five gardens, which are inspirational, aspirational and relatable, at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2016...
Last year, the APL launched a competition in conjunction with BBC Gardeners’ World Live to give the opportunity for Contractors and Designers to feature five gardens, which are inspirational, aspirational and relatable, at BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2016.
The five front or back gardens will feature on the APL Avenue, giving the public the opportunity to witness first-hand what can be achieved in a small space.
To ensure top-quality design and construction each garden will receive a contribution towards the build. Marshalls have also sponsored the APL competition, supplying products from their domestic range.
Landscapers are asked to produce a breakdown of costings to share with the public to give a greater understanding of the costs of a garden build.
The five finalists for the competition are:
- Big Fish Landscape (Hereford) designer Olivia Kirk
- The Gardenmakers (Warwickshire) designer Claudia de Yong
- Genesis Landscapes (Cambridgeshire) designers Jean Wardrop and Alexandra Stevenson
- MJM Landscapes (Lancashire)
- Stone and Leaf (Essex)
The finalists were selected from APL members. All the submissions were very strong and the panel had a difficult job selecting them. The judges were Adam Frost (Adam Frost Landscapes), Joe Swift (Gardeners' World), Lucy Hall (BBC Gardeners' World Magazine) and Andrew Fisher Tomlin (Fisher Tomlin and Bowyer).
For more information on the finalists and their initial garden designs, click here
|
|
Pictures from The Greatest Christmas Gold-winning Teams
Garden centre teams excelled with their Christmas displays in 2015. Below we reveal galleries from the gold-winning teams. The galleries are sponsored by Kaemingk...
See full result and gallery
Brookside Garden Centre were winners of both The Greatest Christmas Garden Team and The Greatest Grotto Team...
The Greatest Garden Centre Team 2015Finalists: - Dunbar Garden Centre
- Keelham Farm Shop Thornton
- Langlands Leeds
- Langlands Sheffield
- Perrywood Garden Centre
- Pughs Radyr
- The Old Railway Line Garden Centre
Bronze: Waresley Park Garden Centre Silver: Fresh @ Burcot Garden Centre Silver: Perrywood Garden Centre Gold: Brookside Garden Centre
The Greatest Grotto Team 2015 Finalists: - Arcadia Garden Centre
- Baytree Garden Centre
- Brigg Garden Centre
- Cherry Hill Garden & Landscape Centre
- Gouldings Garden Centre
- Keelham Farm Shop Thornton
- Millbrook Gravesend
- Newbank Radcliffe
- Silica Lodge Garden Centre
- Whitehall Lacock
- Wyevale Worlds End
Regional Winners: - South West: Chaplins Superstore
- North West: Gordale Garden & Home Centre
- North East: Woodbank Garden Centre
- Wales: Pughs Radyr
- Northern Ireland: Hillside Garden Centre
- Scotland: Hetland Garden Centre
Bronze: Chessington Garden Centre Silver: Ruxley Manor Garden Centre Gold: Brookside Garden Centre, Kent
Gallery of pictures below sponsored by Kaemingk...
|
|
Haskins West End
Haskins West End picked up the gold award in The Greatest Festive Plants Team category...
See full result and gallery
Haskins West End picked up the gold award in The Greatest Festive Plants Team category.
The Greatest Festive Plants Team 2015
Finalists: - Burston Garden Centre
- Cowells Garden Centre
- Gordale Garden & Home Centre
- Langlands Shiptonthorpe
- Millbrook Gravesend
- Munros Nurseries
- Newbank Halifax
- Pughs Radyr
- Snowdonia Nurseries & Garden Centre
- Van Hage Great Amwell
- Wyevale Gosforth
- Wyevale Swansea
Regional Winners: - London: Aylett Nurseries
- East: Perrywood Garden Centre
- Northern Ireland: Creative Gardens Donaghadee
- Midlands: St Peters Worcester
- Scotland: Simpsons Garden Centre
Bronze: Bents Garden & Home Silver: Barton Grange Garden Centre Gold: Haskins West End
A gallery of pictures (below) from the gold award winners is sponsored by Kaemingk...
See full result and gallery
The Greatest Christmas Sizzle, awarded to acknowledge the efforts of garden centres selling barbecues to customers for cooking their Christmas turkey, was won by Hillmount Garden Centre.
The Greatest Christmas Sizzle Team 2015
Finalists: - Langlands Shiptonthorpe
- Mere Park Garden Centre
- Sunshine Garden Centre
- Van Hage Great Amwell
- Van Hage Peterborough
Bronze: The Old Railway Line Garden Centre Bronze: Langlands Shiptonthorpe Silver: Fairways Garden Centre Gold: Hillmount Garden Centre
A gallery of pictures (below) from the gold award winners is sponsored by Kaemingk...
Mains of Drum
Mains of Drum were winners of The Greatest Festive Catering Team...
See full result and gallery
Mains of Drum were winners of The Greatest Festive Catering Team with Bents Garden & Home picking up the silver award.
The Greatest Festive Catering Team 2014 Finalists: - Burford Garden Company
- Frosts Woburn Sands
- Haskins Snowhill
- Haskins West End
- Hilltop Garden Store
- Perrywood Garden Centre
- Scotsdales Fordham
- Simpsons Garden Centre
- Torwood Garden Centre
- Wyevale Fairoak
- Wyevale Swansea
Regional Winners: - Midlands: Jacksons Nurseries & Tea Rooms
- South: Squires Badshot Lea
- North: Woodbank Garden Centre
- South West: Whitehall Lacock
- Northern Ireland: Hillmount Garden Centre
Bronze: Fron Goch Garden Centre Bronze: Haskins Roundstone Silver: Bents Garden & Home Gold: Mains of Drum Garden Centre
A gallery of pictures (below) from the gold award winners is sponsored by Kaemingk...
|
|
It was a hotly contested affair in The Greatest Christmas Supplier category - voted for by retailers – and the final outcome was very close but Premier Decorations just pipped Kaemingk to the gold award.
The Greatest Christmas Supplier 2015 Finalists: - Allensmore
- Ascalon
- Florasilk
- SnowTime
- Konstsmide
- Swift Imports
- Wax Lyrical
Bronze: Festive Decorations Silver: Kaemingk Gold: Premier Decorations
Bents and Le Friquet
Golds in The Greatest Pet Christmas Team category have been won by Bents Garden & Home and Le Friquet Garden Centre...
See full result and gallery
Golds in The Greatest Pet Christmas Team category have been won by Bents Garden & Home and Le Friquet Garden Centre.
The Greatest Pet Christmas Team 2015
Finalists: - Baytree Garden Centre
- Cherry Hill Garden & Landscape Centre
- The Old Railway Line
Bronze: Raemoir Garden Centre Silver: Planters Tamworth Silver: Torwood Garden Centre Gold: Bents Garden & Home Gold: Le Friquet Garden Centre
A gallery of pictures (below) from the gold award winners is sponsored by Kaemingk...
See gallery of pictures
Silverbirch won gold in small garden centre category of The Greatest Christmas Display Team...
The gallery of pictures (below) is sponsored by Kaemingk...
See gallery of pictures
Old Railway Line Garden Centre won gold in mid-sized garden centre category of The Greatest Christmas Display Team...
The gallery of pictures (below) is sponsored by Kaemingk...
See gallery of pictures
Barton Grange Garden Centre won gold in large garden centre category of The Greatest Christmas Display Team...
The gallery of pictures (below) is sponsored by Kaemingk...
See gallery of pictures
Le Friquet won gold in group garden centre category of The Greatest Christmas Display Team...
The gallery of pictures (below) is sponsored by Kaemingk...
|
|
|
|
Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips. The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra printed newsletter.
As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2014 as well as 2015 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 01733 775700, e-mail karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.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 Veg-2-Gro Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this 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 delivered via the post 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 £120m.
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.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call 01733 775700.
Buy your subscription today and start receiveing the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.
|
|
|
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
|
|
Wyevale Garden Centres has announced that its Food & Beverage (‘F&B’) concepts – Garden Kitchen Restaurant, Coffee Ground and Botanic Kitchen – have won Gold for the DBA's Design Effectiveness Awards, Travel & Leisure category.
Gold winners are recognised as having an “outstanding example of design effectiveness” and are awarded to projects “that have provided compelling and significant evidence of exceptional design effectiveness results”.
These awards, run by the industry’s prestigious Design Business Association, showcase the very best partnerships between businesses and agencies; the very best innovation and the very best application of design. The DBA's Design Effectiveness Awards rewarded Kiwi & Pom and WGC for their collaboration on creating an exceptional and fresh unified brand identity across WGC’s F&B concepts.
The competitive three-stage judging process involves the assessment of submissions across sixteen categories with 61 awards. The judges for the 2016 awards included Global Design Directors, Chief Marketing Officers, Heads of User Experience and Heads of Creative and Brand departments across leading and global brands such as Diageo, PepsiCo, United Biscuits, British Airways, Nestle, Waitrose and The Coca-Cola Company.
Wyevale Garden Centre’s hospitality investment, with over 40 refurbishments across the 153 centres and many more planned, has directly contributed to improved financial performance and an excellent customer experience. Before taking on Kiwi & Pom, design consultancy, WGC had a lack of co-ordination across its F&B offer. To address this issue WGC adopted a three-pronged development strategy: renovation (Garden Kitchen), innovation (Coffee Ground) and expansion (Botanic Kitchen).
The initial trial sites for Garden Kitchen and Coffee Ground were launched in 2014, whereas Botanic Kitchen’s trial site was launched at the beginning of 2015. The collaboration aimed to design three F&B concepts that compliment but are distinguishable from one another and that are strongly tied to WGC’s garden centre identity. The project improved counter layout, highlighted the theatre of food and coffee as well as rejuvenating the environment, which is directly helping profits at WGC grow. As a result of this project, colleague morale soared underpinned by an increase in both footfall and sales as well as a much improved customer experience.
Colin Hughes, Retail Operations Director at WGC, said: “We are delighted with this win! It is another illustration of WGC’s commitment to providing excellence in customer service and a unique shopping and dining experience across our garden centres. We are very proud of our colleagues and teams in Centres for their support of this transformation and pleased with the results of our collaboration with the leading design consultancy, Kiwi & Pom.”
Additionally, in 2015, Coffee Ground won the Menu Innovation and Development Awards (MIDAS) for the best New Restaurant Concept of the year as well as the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards. The HTA and Garden Trade News also recognised WGC’s Food & Beverage head office team as the ‘Greatest Garden Centre Team’ of 2015.
|
|
Catering sales kick off the New Year
Garden centres across the country reported good sales in catering during January, according to the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade report...
 Garden centres across the country reported good sales in catering during January, according to the Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade report.
Catering sales kick started the year at 16.48% up with Food Hall/Farm Shop sales close behind at 16.04% up. Clothing was also a good seller at 16.09% up.
Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, explained: “Our member garden centres were full of customers enjoying their food whether in their food halls and farm shops, as well as restaurants throughout January, which is good to see. As well as stopping off to buy produce and for a bite to eat, shoppers also picked up plenty of houseplants as this was best performing traditional category during the month with sales up 11.09%.
“January was a very wet month so it is not surprising to see other more traditional categories not performing as well as hoped. Outdoor plant sales were at -9.19%, seeds and bulbs were -18.99% and garden sundries at -2.68%.”
Furniture and barbecue sales were up 8.14% compared to the same month last year.
Iain added: “Gifts and Christmas items continued to perform well during the month as people took advantage of the January sales in order to stock up for next year or to simply just grab something at a bargain price. Gift sales were up 4.55% and Christmas sales were up 9.75%.”
Sales in pets and aquatics departments were -2.87% and hard landscaping sales were at -5.5%.
For the month of January the overall garden centre performance and Year to Date change was 5.79%.
 Julian Winfield (left), who is the Chief Executive of Haskins Garden Centre and also the GCA’s new Chairman, said: “Not that many years ago garden centres were quiet after Christmas, but now thanks to our restaurants our customers keep coming in even when the weather is not good. This helps keep our customers interested in what we have to offer.
“All the non-gardening departments have done reasonably well, some discounted old ranges but also in new product such as garden furniture. Those garden centres that quickly cleared up Christmas in early January look ready for spring sales.”
The BoT results are the only official GCA trading figures to be released.
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.
|
|
Snack dispensers ideal for garden centres, says firm
Cranberry Enterprise, one of the UK’s leading specialist manufacturers of dried fruit and nut snacks, is to launch its own “Twist & Taste” dispenser system to the UK market. According to the company, the new self-serve dispensers are suitable for garden centres...
Cranberry Enterprise, one of the UK’s leading specialist manufacturers of dried fruit and nut snacks, is to launch its own “Twist & Taste” dispenser system to the UK market.
The new innovation is aimed at those who want a fresh tasting and healthy grab-and-go option. It will also give customers the chance to create their own unique flavours and combinations, from the 48 different products available, including a number of new exciting snacks not available in the Cranberry pre-packed range, such as: - Bush Pepper & Sea Salted Cashews
- Cherry Turkish Delight
- Cinnamon Dusted Milk Chocolate Coated Almonds
- Yoghurt Apricots
- Crystalized Papaya
The new self-serve dispensers are suitable for garden centres, service stations, airport lounges, hospitals, retailers, cinemas and gyms, as well as pubs and hotel bars. It offers exciting new retail opportunities tapping into significant consumer demand in the growing dried fruit and nut market, which is worth an estimated £531m per annum.* Vibrant and eye catching, the new Twist & Taste dispensers will come with fully resealable bags or cups with the price pre-set by container size rather than weight. Each dispenser is single use, thereby guaranteeing the freshness and same great taste and quality that has made Cranberry the leading specialist manufacturer of dried fruit and nut snacks. As a result of the sealed system, the first time the nuts or fruit are touched is when the consumer eats them. Once emptied a dispenser is simply removed, recycled and replaced. This lowers any contamination risk and removes the need for cleaning. With plans for 500 racks of dispensers over the next 5 years, Cranberry is confident that there will be huge demand from customers for this new product. Cranberry Enterprise Director, Trevor Stroud, comments: “Making great food, that is healthy and delicious, whilst making it even easier for busy customers to enjoy food on the move is a major driving force behind the Cranberry brand, and this new development delivers on both fronts. “By serving the grab-and-go market we are confident consumers will embrace the unique possibilities of combining our nutritious snacks, giving them more choice than is possible with pre-packed bags. Vendors will be able to benefit by creating a real point of difference, capitalizing on impulse purchases in the food to go market which as a whole for 2015 was valued at £20.2 billion.** “Cranberry initially began its journey as a pick’n’mix stall for dried fruit & nuts in London in 1995. Since then the company has dramatically expanded and evolved, but hasn’t deserted its roots, and our dispense system is living proof of that.” The new product dispensers are available now throughout the UK. For further information visit www.cranberrydispense.com
|
|
Casual Dining 2016 opens in London next week
 The casual dining sector is big business in the UK and next week it’s set to get even bigger, when Casual Dining returns to the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on 24-25 February.
The casual dining sector is big business in the UK and next week it’s set to get even bigger, when Casual Dining returns to the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on 24-25 February.
The multi-award winning two day trade show is expected to attract over four thousand key buyers and decision makers from many of the country’s biggest casual dining pub groups and restaurant chains, hotels, contract caterers, and independent operators. Over 170 leading industry suppliers – showcasing an innovative choice of food and drink, equipment, table top, POS technology and services, will be there to meet them.
“The Casual Dining show is the two days a year when our sector gets together. It’s an essential forum for sharing new ideas, innovations and insights,” says Simon Kossoff, co-founder and chairman of Carluccio’s, who’ll be in conversation with CGA Peach’s Peter Martin at 11am in the Keynote Theatre on opening day.
Topics under discussion include the future of Carluccio’s, opening overseas, authenticity, social responsibility, maximising seasonal returns and whether appearing on TV is ever a good thing or not.
Other opening day speakers (in order of appearance) include Horizon’s Peter Backman; David McDowall, MD of bars at BrewDog; Mark McCulloch, founder and group CEO of WE ARE Spectacular; Kate Nicholls, chief executive of the ALMR; Mark McQuater, chief executive of Revolution Bars Group; and Keith Bird, chief operating officer at Gourmet Burger Kitchen.
“Casual Dining is a hotbed of innovation…the most focused, most relevant, the best show of the year,” says GBK’s Keith Bird.
The Sustainable Restaurant Association Panel (at 1.15pm) will see Joseph Evans, finance director at Oakman Inns & Restaurants, Harry Cragoe, owner of the Gallivant hotel, and chair Mark Linehan, MD of The SRA, add their insights to the hot topic of ‘fair pay’ in the hospitality industry.
Improving staff retention, engagement and empowerment is the key focus of The Training in Pubs Panel (at 3.30pm). Chaired by Anthony Pender, chairman of The BII and MD of Yummy Pub Co, the session will feature James Nye, MD of Anglian Country Inns, and Joycelyn Neve, MD of The Seafood Pub Company.
The second day’s seminar line-up is equally impressive – kicking off at 10.15am with the exclusive unveiling of the results of CGA Peach’s Business Leaders’ Survey. CGA Peach director Jamie Campbell will discuss this year’s findings, including the key challenges, business risks and investment opportunities facing the sector for 2016 and beyond.
He’ll be followed by one of those leaders – Steve Richards, CEO of Casual Dining Group, who’ll take to the stage at 11am. He’ll be revealing some key insights of his own, including how CDG (formerly Tragus) have evolved and improved key brands like Bella Italia and Café Rouge. Speaking ahead of his session, Richards says Casual Dining offers “a chance to debate and consider the big issues driving change in the casual dining market – perfect”.
Other second day highlights include exclusive ‘in conversation’ sessions with Luke Johnson, chairman of private equity firm Risk Capital Partners (talking to Paul Charity, managing director of Propel Info) and David Campbell, chief executive of Wagamama, reflecting on the evolution of the brand with CGA Peach’s Peter Martin. Plus, there’ll be Keynotes from Martin Morales, founder of Ceviche, and Paul Pavli, operations director of Punch Taverns.
“Casual Dining gives all operators a chance to hear from peers on what they are working on, what’s going well and not so well. It’s also a great place to sample trends, so you can make sure you are on track with your own developments,” says Pavli. In his visitor feedback last year, he called the show “a must attend event”.
New for 2016, visitors can now plan their visit in advance via the online Show Guide, which includes full seminar details and exhibitor listings. It’s available to view at www.casualdiningshow.co.uk/showguide.
Casual Dining is free to attend for pre-registered trade visitors and relevant press representatives only. To register for a free pass, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk and quote priority code PR1 (alternatively, use direct link: www.eventdata.co.uk/Visitor/CasualDining.aspx?TrackingCode=PR1).
|
|
|
|
