This summer The Greatest Awards are ON TOUR creating more opportunities to reward the excellence of garden centre teams across more areas of garden centre businesses.

After the love and passion of The Greatest Catering Awards at The HTA Catering Conference, it's the turn of excellent plants teams to be in the spotlight for The Greatest Plant Retailing Awards which will be presented at 3:30pm on Tuesday 23rd June at The HTA National Plant Show.

The HTA National Plant Show, sponsored by Hortipak, at Stoneleigh Park on 23 and 24 June 2015. With over 100 companies exhibiting, is a great opportunity to view the best from UK growers.

Other key events happening through the event include:

New Plant Awards

At the heart of the show is the New Plant Area, host to the New Plant Awards, which showcase the very best in new plant introductions from UK plant suppliers. Sponsored by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the winners will be announced on the morning of Tuesday 23 June, and the Visitor Vote, sponsored by Floramedia, will close at 3pm on Wednesday 24 June, with the winner announced at 3.30pm.

Best Plant Display Award

Whilst the focus at the HTA National Plant Show may be on the plants themselves, it also provides a fantastic platform for exhibitors to demonstrate innovative displays that ultimately lead to increased plant sales. The Best Plant Display Awards, sponsored by Flowering Plants Ltd, highlights those displays that capture the imagination, provide clear information and attract attention. The winners of the Best Plant Display Award will be announced on the morning of Wednesday 24 June.

Talking Plants - Show Seminars

The National Plant Show seminars, sponsored by Barclaycard, provide an extra focus to the show. Focussing on plants, this year’s seminars speakers include Chris Collins, Kevin Waters and Tom Hart-Dyke.

Tuesday 23 June 2015

• 10.00 – 10.30 Chris Collins - Love the Plot You’ve Got 
  • ‘Love the Plot You’ve Got’ is a mission, an industry wide mission to get all those people who have yet  to  discover the true  value of their outdoor  space . Former Blue Peter gardener and horticulturist Chris Collins explains more.

• 15.00 – 15.30 Kevin Waters - How to increase sales through responding to trends?
  • The ability and willingness to change with the times has always been the success of the garden centre trade. Kevin Waters looks at why it is more important than ever that we respond to the trends and present our plant offer in a meaningful, inspiring way which is capable of kick-starting our customers into action

• 15.30 The Greatest Plant Retailing Awards
  • The Greatest Linked Sales Team of the Year
  • The Greatest Pot and Plant Sales Team – Top of the Pots - sponsored by Elho
  • The Greatest Plant Advice Team, including planteria signage and information
  • The Greatest Plant Supplier of the Year
  • The Greatest Plant Sales Team of the Year, sponsored by The HTA

Wednesday 24 June 2015

• 10-10.30 Tom Hart Dyke - Exploring the World of Plants
  • Modern day plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke presents an eclectic plant filled mix including:  What sparked his interest in the wonderful world of plants; his time in captivity at the hands of Colombian Guerrillas; botanical stories from the developing World Garden and to top it off – further plant hunting tales to the far flung corners of our green globe. 

• 13.00 Breakthrough Breast Cancer Rose Launch 
  • TV broadcaster Nicki Chapman will launch the ‘Breakthrough Rose’ from Nursery Fresh which will be raising funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

• 15:30 New Plant Award - Visitor Vote Awards presentation 

Market Place

The HTA National Plant Show will once again host a dedicated area for the British Plant Fair Marketplace, sponsored by Container Centralen. This will give visitors the opportunity to view shelf samples from many of the growers exhibiting at the show, and place a central order for any combination of shelves with a total minimum order of just two trolleys.

Breakthrough Rose Launch

This year’s show is delighted to be the host of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Rose Launch. Pop Idol judge and RHS Chelsea Flower Show host, Nicki Chapman, will launch the rose and talk about why this project is important to the garden industry and consumers. Peter Hull from Nursery Fresh will then give a brief overview of how they got involved with Breakthrough and talk about the rose and how it will raise money for the charity. The launch will be taking place in the seminar area on Wednesday 24 June at 1pm. The Breakthrough Breast Cancer Rose will be used to decorate the seminar area throughout the day. Visit Nursery Fresh on stand 110-111, and Breakthrough Breast Cancer on stand 17.

David Colegrave Foundation Orchid

The David Colegrave Foundation (DCF), the charity for people studying horticulture, is launching a new fundraising collection of Phalaenopsis Orchid at this year’s HTA National Plant Show. The charity worked with Garden Centre Fresh, which originally approached DCF with the initiative, as well as two young growers who have a passion for orchids to select the collection. The collection, which offers a distinctive fusion of summer colours and striking markings, will be sold into retailers this summer. Every orchid purchased will help to fund the DCF’s scholarships for students studying horticulture at colleges across the UK. Visit DCF on stand 168.

Visitors to The HTA National Plant Show can register online at www.nationalplantshow.co.uk – just click on the visitor tab. Alternatively garden centre and nursery staff staff can register at the show itself.

The Greatest Plant Retailing Awards Categories

• The Greatest Linked Sales Team of the Year
• The Greatest Pot and Plant Sales Team – Top of the Pots - sponsored by Elho
• The Greatest Plant Advice Team, including planteria signage and information
• The Greatest Plant Supplier of the Year
• The Greatest Plant Sales Team of the Year, sponsored by The HTA

Halfway through June and volume sales continue to run up on last year – 13% up to date according to EPoS data supplied by garden centres for GTN Bestsellers. Last week’s sales even surpassed volumes in the same week of 2013 when we had the previous record June sales after that really dismal April and May of that year.

Increases in plant sales are a major contribution to that volume increase. While judging for The Greatest Plant Retailing Awards, which will be announced and presented at the HTA National Plant Show on Tuesday next week, plant teams are revelling in high sales with so much still looking good – the general consensus is that the season is still two weeks behind and the hope is that sales will continue through well into July.

Continued high sales levels for the last two weeks of June should push year to date volumes back up to level with last year at the halfway point for 2015.

With SOLEX just around the corner, more good weather will be welcome to sell through more barbecues and garden furniture. Most centres are reporting good sales so far this year, but a sell-out as thoughts start to turn to Christmas preparation would be ideal!

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

• Garden Products – up 2%
• Veg-2-Gro Products – up 83%
• Growing Media – up 20%
• All items index – up 13%

The GTN Bestsellers Garden Products Top 50 chart is still being dominated by lighting lines although plant food for both outdoor and indoor use is showing up prominently in this week’s sales data.

Star performers this week include:

• Gardman Solar Mini Ice Orb has moved to top spot.
• The highest climber is another Gardman lighting line – Black Nickel Solar Ice Orb has jumped 21 places to No 25.
• Smart Solar Portland Solar Lantern (pictured) is the highest new entry, moving straight to No 2.
• The highest re-entry is Growth Technology Orchid Myst (100 ml) at No 22.
• The popular Scotts Levington Tomorite (1 litre) is highly placed at No 3.

National gardening campaign Cultivation Street has attracted the support of Kew Gardens and The Princes Foundation for Building Community.

Major backers from the horticulture industry have also swung behind the contest with a string of UK garden centre giants lending their assistance.

The community gardening campaign - now in its third year - is sponsored by the Horticultural Trades Association with national media partner The Sunday People.

Launched by TV gardener David Domoney in 2013 and offering £20,000 of National Garden Gift Vouchers annually in prizes, Cultivation Street has attracted thousands of entries from across the country.

This year is set to be the most successful yet, with record numbers of entries and the heavyweight support of garden centre giants Dobbies, Squires, Haskins, Strikes, Notcutts, Frosts and Hillview.

Each of the centres is displaying prominent Cultivation Street signage, entry forms and offering advice and planting information alongside their usual service.

This year, Philip Turvil, Grow Wild programme manager at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, will be helping to judge the Pollination Street category – a new £500 award for the best community garden aimed at wildlife.  Philip said: “I’m delighted to be taking part in the judging for the Cultivation Street campaign – it’s a brilliant way of encouraging community gardening at all levels across the UK.

“I’m especially happy that the Grow Wild programme is backing Pollination Street – promoting wildlife at a local level is something we can all support.

“I know there’s a huge amount of creativity and enthusiasm out there and I’m looking forward to seeing the entries.”

Simon Sadinsky, Education Manager for The Prince’s Foundation for Building Community will judge the Sustainability & Community category for the gardening project most in tune with natural harmony and sustainability via recycling, sustainable planting and timeless skills like dry stone walling. 

He says, “Green spaces play an important role in bringing communities together and creating beautiful, harmonious places. We believe that engaging communities in creating sustainable open spaces can make a huge difference both to the environment and local residents, particularly in our urban areas.”

Founder David Domoney said: “The word ‘community’ is a hot topic these days. People say our communities are fractured. They even say we have become isolated.

But I believe gardening has the power to bring people together.  It’s a nurturing, uplifting pastime that forces us to step back from our busy, technology-filled lives and reconnect with nature and with each other.

We’re all about getting people back into their gardens and community spaces, working together and pooling their talents and enthusiasm for everyone’s benefit with the support of the horticulture industry.

So to have luminaries like Kew Gardens and The Princes Foundation for Building Community on board – as well as fantastic support from the UK’s best garden centres – is just amazing!

There’s still a lot of work to do. A Mori Poll for the RHS suggested one in four British front gardens are now paved over.

But if we can continue working together to encourage a life-long love of gardening, I believe there is a lot we can do to turn this around.”

Cultivation Street has already handed out £40,000 in National Garden Gift Vouchers to winners and runners-up across the UK over the past two years.

Since it 2015 launch in March in the Sunday People and across digital and social media, dozens of inspiring stories have already been featured.

While the main category aims to promote front gardens exclusively – entrants needing a minimum of three consecutive gardens to take part – there are five regional competitions and seven other general community gardening categories on offer.

They are designed to attract the widest amount of participation from community organisations, voluntary groups, schools and ordinary gardeners.

These range from Cultivation School – for the school that has involved pupils, teachers and parents in creating gardens and fostering a lifelong love of horticulture – to Transformation Street for the most dramatic turnaround.

At every level, participants are encouraged to support their local garden centres and, in turn, we’re asking garden retailers to offer advice, information and encouragement in any way they can.

Main sponsor Carol Paris, Director General of the Horticultural Trades Association, said: “We’re very fortunate to have been able to support Cultivation Street for three years running now – it’s been a marvellous and heart-warming journey for everyone involved.

“It’s fantastic this year to see the industry rallying around a high-profile media campaign that truly brings out the best in UK horticulture and encourages people to support this vital British business that provides so many jobs and so much enjoyment for people.”

Entries close on August 2.  For more information, including our terms and conditions, click here.

Introduced in 2014 to help bring plants back to the centre of Glee, the Green Heart brought together some of the biggest and most respected UK growers to showcase 2015 plant ranges. Incredibly well received the area has undergone some exciting changes ahead of the 2015 show.

Originally designed as a showcase of UK growers, the Green Heart has been expanded to now incorporate international growers. Over 60 growers are expected to use the area to launch 2016 ranges and latest varieties, as well as participate in a new programme of activity, designed to encourage further engagement with plants from all sectors of the garden retail industry.

Led by The Garden Works’ independent garden centre consultant, Kevin Waters, the Green Heart will benefit from an interactive and live element in 2015. 

Throughout the show Kevin will lead a number of guided tours around the Green Heart to demonstrate how cross merchandising can highlight a continual year-round association with the plant offer. In total 12 exciting promotional displays will be created to showcase how plants can take centre stage every month of the year, each developed with three key criteria in mind – inspire action by giving ideas; making buying easy; and ensure subsequent success for the customer.

Utilising plants from Green Heart exhibitors, plus products from the wider show, these promotional displays undoubtedly inspire garden retailers and help them to think of new ways to link departments and sales across the store.

Talking about his new role at Glee, Kevin Waters said: “I am very pleased to be part of the ongoing development of Glee’s Green Heart, and really hope that people will take advantage of the opportunity to get up close and personal with plants at the show. 

“The objective of the promotions we’ll be creating is to highlight the importance of plants, not only to our garden centres but also to the lives of our customers. We’ll be creating displays which appeal to all the senses and make gardening accessible to all, pulling material from all sectors of our centres including the gift area and even the restaurant. The aim is to show that plants are not restricted to ‘that cold bit outside where non-planty-types don’t venture!’” 

Themes already confirmed to feature in Kevin’s Green Heart displays and interactive content will include Summer Thrillers, Spillers and Fillers, HTA Plant of the Month, and Fragrance in the Garden. 

i2i’s Matthew Mein, Glee event director said: “We’re so pleased to be able to confirm Kevin’s involvement with the Green Heart. His passion, knowledge and experience of the garden centre market is second to none and without doubt his enthusiasm for building a bright future for garden retailers will shine through in his content.  I am excited to see what he has on offer!”

The Green Heart will once again be housed within the glass-roofed Atrium area directly outside the entrances to Glee’s new home with NEC halls 17 – 20 and incorporating Glee’s registration desks.  Considered to be the biggest greenhouse within the UK, it is within this space that growers and nurseries can create displays of everything from herbs and bedding plants, to trees, shrubs, alpines and even houseplants.  Each will also be given an identical ‘plot’ – which will feature benches and signage, kindly provided by Woodlodge.

Key names already confirmed for the Green Heart in 2015 include Darby Nursery, Whartons Nurseries, Morley Nurseries, New Leaf Plants, Channel Island Plants, Chamberlain Nurseries, Chapel Cottage Plants, Javado, Addenda, Northumberland Nurseries, Anglo Aquatic, Tamata, Gedney Bulb Company, Kilworth Conifers, Topbuxus and Laurica.

 To keep up-to-date on all the latest news log onto www.gleebirmingham.com.  For details on exhibiting at Glee, call 0203 033 2160. 

Roundup has announced the final winners of this year’s ‘Pimp up your Roundup’, a 3-month promotion that challenges independent retailers to get creative when displaying Roundup in store.  Now closed for 2015, the promotion ran from March to May with hoards of retailers submitting their photos of inventive Roundup displays to be in with a chance of winning a share of the £6000* prize.

The winners have now been announced from the May entries. Bridgford Garden Centre, in East Bridgford, won for its King of Weedkillers creation, and Tamar View Nurseries Garden Centre, Saltash, won for its great use of Roundup POS. The two May winners will both receive a Roundup Ready to Use 1L x 116 unit display as a reward for their creativity.

Gary Philpotts, Roundup Lawn and Garden UK business director, said: “The Pimp up Your Roundup promotion has been well received by retailers for 2015, with an increase in the number of entries by over 30%. Thanks to everyone who has taken part, and as we move more into the main gardening season, I’m confident these eye-catching displays will capture consumer attention and drive sales.”

To find out more about the ‘Pimp up your Roundup’ promotion and to read the terms and conditions, visit www.roundup-garden.com/pimpup or call 01483 410334.



Above: Tamar View's display, and top, Bridgford Garden Centre.

Having recently announced the purchase of the Outside In Designs Clocks brand, Smart Garden Products surprised their sales team by adding a full range of Lanterns to the concept.

Paris Natar explained: “The 5 battery-operated flickering candle lanterns we introduced last year sold through so well that the selection deserved expansion to cover more designs and price points. And then Outside In came along and we quickly realized there were several key similarities between Clocks and Lanterns from a merchandising perspective:

• Both can be used indoors or outdoors
• Both are Home Décor oriented
• Both make excellent gifts
• Physical pack sizes and price points are aligned

In short, because they complement each other so well, we decided to market both under the same brand umbrella, creating a shop-within-a-shop.

It all makes perfect sense to us and we can only hope that our retail partners agree!”

The new ranges can be seen on Smart’s website and the sales team has already started taking orders for delivery from September 1^st. 

Ball Colegrave’s Summer Showcase takes place between Monday 13th to Friday 31st July and this year’s displays are looking absolutely fantastic.

Visitors are in for a real treat as Ball Colegrave explores even more innovative new plant varieties and retail ideas in the relaxed and friendly surroundings of the Oxfordshire countryside.

Here is a taste of what there is to see;

• Over 200 new plants for 2016
• Daily presentations on new varieties, including handy culture tips
• Innovative colour-themed patio gardens
• An interactive retail plant zone  
• 700 experimental Annual and Perennial varieties
• A showcase of market leading basket and container plants
• Tomato trials and fruit tasting
• Patio vegetables
• Perennial gardens

This is a perfect opportunity to review your current plant range, identify new products for 2016 and view experimental lines being assessed for future introduction.

To book your visit, please CLICK HERE

To watch a short video about our Summer Showcase please CLICK HERE

Visits to www.thompson-morgan.com exceeded 6.5million between Jan-June 2015 with April proving the best ever month for the mail order giant, as 1.64 million users logged on to get their gardens dressed for the season ahead.

It has been a strong spring in general for garden retailers, but periods of bad weather did dampen sales for some and keep gardeners indoors.

While garden centre managers announced “the weather was not with them” for the key May bank holiday sales windows*, Thompson & Morgan E-commerce Manager Clare Dixey reported good levels of traffic and strong sales across both extended weekends.

She said: “As with all areas of retail, gardeners are increasingly realising the convenience of online ordering and the extra value to be had. The data shows our main platform proves weather proof in a bad season – people are going online to stock their gardens ready for summer rather than face the cold and rain at the garden centre in a slow spring.”

Not only does in house analysis of Google data show increasing numbers of gardeners moving online, a breakdown of web search data by the Thompson & Morgan E-commerce team reveals gardeners are also becoming more savvy with their online shopping, and increasingly know what they are looking for when they log on.

Comparing search term data supplied by Experian’ Hitwise for the 12 week period to 30 May 2015 against the same period in 2014, unique search terms relating to the seed and plant industry have more than trebled from 11,269 to 36,253, with noticeable shifts in the most popular search terms used by the gardening public.

Generic terms such as ‘plants’, ‘garden plants’ and ‘plants for sale’ have fallen in the rankings in favour of more specialist terms such as ‘plug plants’, ‘hanging basket plants’ and specific plant names.

‘Bedding plants’ now takes the top slot, but some of the biggest climbers include searches for ‘perennial plants’ and ‘evergreen shrubs’, showing a quick increase in interest for online hardy nursery stock. Thompson & Morgan had already identified this as an emerging trend with online shoppers, and in February this year launched a range of more than 500 varieties of mature trees, shrubs and perennials in large pot sizes to much success.

Other key trends are being identified. ‘Wisteria’ has now overtaken ‘clematis’ as the most sought after climber online, yet the term ‘climbing plants’ has also risen to no.12, hinting at a desire for more unusual climbers to dress walls, trellis and fencing. Thompson & Morgan sales of new climbing Fuchsia ‘Pink Fizz’, and the unusual Dregya ‘Wattakaka’ confirm this.

2015 looks to be the year of the potato. ‘Planting potatoes’ was the no.3 search term for the industry this spring – a massive jump up from 16 in 2014. ‘How to grow potatoes’ jumped from 21 to 13, while ‘growing potatoes’ entered the list at no.14 – previously not recorded in the top 100 search terms for 2014.

Beans seem to be another veg patch favourite this season. This spring ‘runner beans’ sat at no.15 in the search term listings having not made it in to the top 100 in 2014. Similarly, when it comes to fruit, strawberries are high on the grow-your own agenda in 2015. Unlisted in 2014, this summertime treat is now sitting confidently at no.19 and sales of Thompson & Morgan varieties support this.

In the flower garden, dahlias seem to be making a resurgence. In 2014 these old time favourites sat sluggishly at no.36. This year they have jumped to no.18 in the list of most popular search terms.

One of the biggest winners in the search rankings is good old fashioned seed. The search ‘seeds’ remains at no.5 (same as 2014), despite battling against an extra 25,000 search terms relating to the seed and plant industry and an increasing online offering of mature and young plant material.

Clare added: “Despite seeing a strengthening demand for our expanding plant range it’s great to see gardeners remaining true to our core product and one we remain passionate about – nothing beats the simple pleasure of raising a plant from seed to maturity, it’s a timeless enjoyment that will remain at the heart of gardening no matter the platform on which gardeners choose to buy them.”

Fling the doors open to the garden and head outside!  Summer is here and what better way to spend your free time than being outside and enjoying the sunshine in your beautiful, flower-filled garden. July is the month when the blooms of the hydrangeas are at their extravagant peak and gardeners everywhere simply cannot believe their luck.  For this reason, Thejoyofplants.co.uk Garden Plant of the Month, with its abundance of blooms, has to be the hydrangea.

The hydrangea is a vigorous and hardy plant and is also extremely popular. 

There are numerous different varieties and colours ranging from white, pink, blue and purple. One of the best known is the delightful 'Annabelle’ (Snowball) variety, with its heart-shaped leaves and large, white, ball-shaped blooms (hence the name!). 

The ‘Paniculata’ Hydrangea, with its gracefully arched branches and clusters of cone-shaped blooms, is also a great garden favourite.  Many varieties, particularly the lace-cap and mopheads, have the fascinating, chameleon-like ability to change colour when adapting to different environments and soils and will often change colour in late summer. 

So, if you want to give your garden that natural, luxurious, extravagant feel, why don’t you fill your borders and terraces with white Annabelles and Paniculatas, or, if you would rather go for a playful and lively kaleidoscope of colour, try composing a combination of multicoloured hyrdrangeas in your borders and containers.

The name Hydrangea, roughly translated, means ‘water barrel’ and this alludes to the hydrangea’s cup-shaped flower and its need for plenty of water. You will know straight away when your plant needs water because it will go limp but it will also immediately spring back to life once its thirst is quashed.

Hydrangeas are even beautiful in Winter. Leave the flowers on the plant and when they are covered in a layer of frost, they become the sparkling jewels of the Winter garden.

For more  information visit www.flowercouncil.co.uk.

Taylors Bulbs have announced a £200k investment in a new packing line and a further £160k investment in a 1,400 tonne cold store facility both primarily for the supply of seed potatoes to the UK and Irish garden retail market.

The family owned bulb business based in Lincolnshire has been supplying seed potatoes to UK and Irish garden retailers since 2004 and this new packing line will increase capacity and speed of turnaround.

Adam Taylor, Director of Taylors Bulbs said: “The new line will initially be used for the packing of our UK grown daffodils but it has been purchased primarily for expansion of the seed potato business.  The new store was anticipated when we built the shed it is housed in so we were able to make use of pre-drilled steels to erect it pretty quickly.  The store will also be used for controlling conditions for bulb storage during the summer months as well as for harvest from our farming activities if required.”

The majority of the packing line has been manufactured in the UK with key parts coming from Denmark and Holland.

Taylors Bulbs will be launching their seed potato prices for Spring 2016 at the HTA Plant Show.

For any further information, please contact Adam Taylor, Director Taylors Bulbs on 01406 422266.

Forest Garden, the UK’s largest manufacturer and distributor of garden timber products, has expanded its offering to customers by opening what is thought to be the largest indoor product display in the UK garden and landscape sector, at its Worcestershire head office site.

The new, 5,000 sq ft showroom, built especially to display Forest’s product ranges to invited trade customers, features more than 50 garden timber products, including the latest in timber fencing, sheds, summerhouses, greenhouses, arbours, decking, grow-your-own accessories, planters and furniture.

Forest’s investment in the ground-breaking new showroom follows an exciting period of expansion for the company.  After purchasing M&M Timber in late 2013, in 2014 Forest announced investments in additional sawmill capacity, expanded timber treatment facilities, and additional manufacturing resources at its Worcestershire sites.  In December Forest then opened a new, 19,500 sq ft group head office close to its other Hartlebury locations.  The company also recently launched a new suite of informative videos for gardeners offering guidance on their garden timber projects; entitled ‘Forest Shows You How’.

Group Chief Executive of Forest Garden, Guy Grainger, confirmed the inspiration behind the new showroom:  “The size and variety of our comprehensive garden timber range means the products can be difficult to demonstrate effectively to trade buyers.  A stunning, centrally located product display and exhibition area has therefore long been something we wanted to set up, to inspire garden centre, DIY and builders merchant customers.  This new showroom now offers customers the chance to see our ranges side by side, as well as previewing some of our prototype ideas – with the chance to comment on them before launch!”

The new showroom also offers another advantage for Forest’s trade customers, as Guy explains: “Since opening our new, centrally located head office we have offered Forest customers and supply partners the opportunity to book our rooms for their own meeting and presentation purposes.  Now they can also use our showroom to give their trading teams ‘real life’ product, merchandising and technical training, which they in turn can share with their own customers.”

Forest Garden Ltd is the UK's largest manufacturer and distributor of garden timber products, employing over 500 people and delivering to over 3,000 UK garden centres, builders’ merchants and DIY stores each week in peak season.  In addition it operates an industry-leading home delivery service which delivers an impressive 180,000 orders per annum to homes around the UK, on behalf of its customers.  Forest Garden’s sister division, Forest Sawmills, operates from two sites, including the UK’s largest, specialist fencing sawmill, in Lockerbie, Scotland.

Trade customers interested in booking a visit to Forest’s product showroom are invited to call 0844 248 9801, email info@forestgarden.co.uk or enquire via Facebook.

The UK’s leading wheelbarrow manufacturer Haemmerlin, has partnered with distributor Ross Handling to be their low volume order supply partner in the UK.

Manufacturing in Walsall in the West Midlands since 1985, Haemmerlin is the UK market leader supplying the most extensive range of wheelbarrows, as well as sack trucks and construction and gardening equipment.

Already a leader in the new wheelbarrow market, Haemmerlin was looking to increase its share of the spare and replacement wheel market and identified Ross Handling as the perfect distribution partner to achieve this. Robin Dewe, Marketing Manager of Haemmerlin UK explained, “Haemmerlin is a trade manufacturer operating in a market where spares are not usually stocked by its customers to the end user. Ross Handling has provided a route to market, to support the end user in their needs for spare wheels.”

A Leicester based family-business for forty years, Ross Handling is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of castors and wheels, delivering to customers at home and abroad. Ross were recently awarded Small Business of the Year at the 2015 Leicester Business Awards in recognition for their growth and investment over the last 18 months.

Ross Handling Director Louise Horne commented, “We are delighted to have formed this partnership with Haemmerlin. We pride ourselves on offering our customers an extensive portfolio of high quality products and to have Haemmerlin products in stock and ready for next day delivery means we are able to meet the wide demand for replacement and spare Haemmerlin wheelbarrow wheels.”

Wyevale Garden Centres supported a Garden Party at The Alnwick Garden, hosted by the Duchess of Northumberland, in her role as Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland.

This event was held to recognise the valuable contribution that volunteers and carers make to the local community.

On behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, the Duchess presented The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) to three organisations for their outstanding contribution to voluntary work.

Wyevale Garden Centres donated 300 £10 gift vouchers to spend in its Heighley Gate garden centre.

Chris Brannigan, Regional Operations Director, who attended on behalf of Wyevale Garden Centres, commented: “It was an honour to attend this event and meet some of the many volunteers and carers who play such a vital role within the local community.

"These people make a real difference to the lives of so many and it was lovely to see a day of recognition for them.

"On behalf of Wyevale Garden Centres, I was delighted to give something back and look forward to supporting this event in future years.”

The Greatest Garden Centre Team Awards Categories

• The Greatest Garden Care Retail Team of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Centre Customer Service Team of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Centre Training Team or Initiative of the Year, sponsored by MorePeople
• The Greatest Garden Centre Merchandising Team of the Year
• The Greatest Gardening Supplier of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Centre of the Year (Public Vote), sponsored by National Garden Gift Vouchers

As usual The Greatest Awards team of experts will be out and about meeting nominated teams, gathering information and taking photos of their work so that the Gold, Silver and Bronze Greatest Awards winners can be chosen.

Plus your team have the chance to become The Greatest Garden Centre Team of 2015 by involving your customers in the public voting later this summer.  The Greatest Garden Centre Teams, small, medium and large will be the teams that have the best relationships with their customers and generate the most votes (taking size of centre into account) and in the event of a tie, the centre with the most complimentary comments form their customers.  To take part in the public vote please e-mail trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call The Greatest Awards on 01733 775700 to request an in store voting pack.

As this issue of GTN Xtra goes to press the expert judges are meeting to decide the winners of The Greatest Plant Retailing Team Awards in advance of The National Plant Show.  Make sure your Outdoor Leisure, Garden Care and Garden Centre teams are nominated for visits later in July and August.

The Greatest Awards would like to thank sponsors, Elho, National Garden Gift Vouchers, MorePeople and The HTA plus the event organisers at The HTA Catering Conference, National Plant Show, GIMA Awards and HTA Futures for agreeing to be presentation venues for The Greatest Awards ON TOUR 2015.  The date and venue for The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Awards will be announced in a future issue of GTN Xtra. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available for product and service suppliers seeking to gain the highest possible exposure between now and November this year.  Please contact mandy.atkin@tgcmc.co.uk for details.

Plant Area Manager | Destination Garden Centre | Large Group (ref:BP7450)

Location: Staffordshire
Salary: £20,000 to £25,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Plant Area Manager

The Business

My client is a large garden centre group with stores based throughout the United Kingdom. The business has a reputation for quality and destination garden centres. This is a business which invests in its people and provides the opportunity to further a career in garden retail.

The Role

The role is part of the centres senior leadership team alongside the restaurant manager and deputy manager. It could suit a candidate who is currently a manager at a small centre and looking to step up or a candidate in a larger centre looking to join a group for progression. 
Day to day the role will involve the leadership and motivation of your team to provide the highest standard of customer service, plant care and merchandising.

The Person

I am looking for a superb plantsman with a real knack for retail.
Horticulture experience could be gained from practical experience or from an academic qualification but candidates will be expected to lead a horticulture focussed team with good knowledge. Retail experience must be good and you must have demonstrable management ability in a retail environment. This could have been developed in a role outside of horticulture but must be recent.

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further contact Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Horticulture Manager | Essex | Established Centre (ref:BP7398)

Location: Essex
Salary: £17,000 to £20,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Horticulture Manager 

The Company

This client is a well-established and forward thinking industry name. A large garden centre group that has focussed on improving retail practices and standards to be the best in the industry. They look for the best people from the retail and the horticulture sectors and train them through their in house training programmes to develop strong teams throughout their centres.

The Role

The role is part of the centres senior leadership team alongside the restaurant manager and deputy manager. It could suit a candidate who is currently a manager at a small centre and looking to step up or a candidate in a larger centre looking to join a group for progression. 
Day to day the role will involve the leadership and motivation of your team to provide the highest standard of customer service, plant care and merchandising.

The Person

I am looking for a superb plantsman with a real knack for retail. 
Horticulture experience could be gained from practical experience or from an academic qualification but candidates will be expected to lead a horticulture focussed team with good knowledge. Retail experience must be good and you must have demonstrable management ability in a retail environment. This could have been developed in a role outside of horticulture but must be recent.

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further call Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Landscape Project Manager (ref:DS7460)

Location: East of England
Salary: £25,000 to £30,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

The Business

Our client is a leading Grounds Maintenance and Soft Landscaping Contractor based in East Anglia who carry out a wide range of commercial and domestic contracts throughout this region.

The Role

They are currently seeking to recruit a Soft Landscaping Projects Manager to oversee commercial landscaping projects throughout the Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire area. 

Reporting to the Landscape Director 

The ideal candidate will currently be employed in a similar role or be seeking to take their next step into a more senior management role.

Responsibilities will include :
Installation of projects to strict deadlines and budgets
Assisting in development and bidding for new works, including estimating
Liaison with clients, main contractors and designers
Implementation and management of health & safety and quality procedures
Supervision of Landscaping Teams
Maintaining contract files

The Person

The successful candidate should hold a relevant horticultural or landscape qualification 
A full driving license is essential.
They should also have significant experience in managing commercial landscaping contacts, estimating and developing business in this sector. 
Be a superb communicator and capable of delivering excellent customer service 

Salary range: £25,000 - £30,000 - dependent on experience and more for an exceptional candidate

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further contact Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929013910

Contracts Manager | Soft Landscape Construction | South (ref:DS7459)

Location: South East England
Salary: £34,000 to £35,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

The Business

Our client is a leading Grounds Maintenance and Soft Landscaping Contractor based in East Anglia who carry out a wide range of commercial contracts throughout the UK.

The Role

They are currently seeking to recruit a Soft Landscaping Contracts Manager to oversee commercial landscaping projects throughout the South East and East Anglia area. 
Reporting to the Regional Manager and Operations Director 
The ideal candidate will currently be employed in a similar role or be seeking to take their next step into a more senior management role.

Responsibilities will include :
Installation of projects to strict deadlines and budgets
Assisting in development and bidding for new works, including estimating
Liaison with clients, main contractors and designers
Implementation and management of health & safety and quality procedures
Supervision of Landscaping Teams
Maintaining contract files

The Person

The successful candidate should hold a relevant horticultural or landscape qualification 
A full driving license is essential.
They should also have significant experience in managing commercial landscaping contacts, estimating and developing business in this sector. 

Salary range: £30,000 - £35,000 - dependent on experience

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further contact Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929013910

Young tomato plants are the biggest movers in the sales of young veg plants, according to this week’s GTN Bestsellers Veg-2-Gro chart.

Star performers include:

• Quantil Tomato Totem (8cm) is the highest climber, jumping 45 places to No 2.
• The highest re-entry is Quantil Tomato Tumbling Tom Yellow (8.5cm) at No 9.
• Farplants Heritage Tomato Tigerella is also a re-entry, returning to the Top 50 at No 44.
• This week’s highest new entry is Quantil Courgette Summer Ball (8.5cm) at No 37.

Vital Earth Farm Manure (50 litres) is the star performer in the Growing Media chart, claiming the highest climber accolade and jumping 20 places to No 18.  

Other star growing media performers this week include:

• GroWise Landscape Mini Chip Bark (100 litres) is the highest re-entry at No 24.
• GroWise Multipurpose Compost (20 litres) is another product returning to the Top 50 after doubling its sales from the previous week.
• Arthur Bowers John Innes No 3 (25 litres) is also a re-entry following an impressive sales week.
• Scotts Levington Multipurpose + John Innes (56 litres) retains the top spot for another week.

John Barthorpe, Sales Manager for UK & Ireland at Bolsius UK Ltd, died this week after a period of illness.

Even during the time he was unwell, John continued to run the UK business in his usual quiet, unassuming and efficiently successful style.

John joined the company in 2012 and was instrumental in markedly growing the business in the giftware, housewares, catering and garden markets. He will be sorely missed by his colleagues, business partners and customers.

Alain Grillo, International Sales Manager, will assume interim responsibility for UK operations.

As Mr Fothergill's continues to increase its range of seed-related products aimed at bringing more newcomers into growing and gardening, it has announced the launch of its new GroTray range for the 2016 season. It follows on the success of the GroBox and GroMat collections introduced for the 2015 retail year.

The GroTray is a compact propagation system which only needs watering once prior to germination, and comprises a growing tray, compost disc, vegetable seed and a propagation bag.  The six varieties include two tomatoes, a chilli pepper, sweet pepper, courgette and cucumber.

Once the compost disc has been rehydrated, the seeds sown and sealed in the bag, there is no need to water again until the seeds have sprouted.  The bag creates a micro-climate in which condensation formed within falls back on to the compost.

Mr Fothergill's David Turner believes that in addition to appealing to new gardeners and encouraging youngsters to take an interest in growing from seed, GroTrays are ideal for impulse sales and as gifts for gardening friends. 

For more information on how Mr Fothergill's expanding range of gardening ideas, please telephone 01638 554111, log on at www.mr-fothergills-trade.com or e-mail info@mr-fothergills.co.uk

Leading figure in the UK DIY and garden market, Peter Stone is to leave his current role as home improvement sector director of the British Home Enhancement Trade Association to take up a new position as sales and marketing director of Centurion Europe, the distributor and merchandising expert.  

The appointment will commence in September 2015.  Centurion, which now offers over 25,000 ‘essential’ DIY, garden and housewares products has created this new role as part of its strategy to drive its several brands forward into the independent, multiple and export markets. 

The role also includes responsibility for the company’s Spectrum brand of industrial through to retail health and safety signage.

Peter Stone has been part of a very dynamic team at BHETA which has driven forward an array of added value member services focussing on sales opportunities such as the series of very successful Meet The Buyer days with top retailers across the market. 

He was previously sales and marketing director of Eliza Tinsley, the chain and rope company and has over 30 years experience in the DIY, hardware and garden industries with sales and marketing roles at NT Door/Window Fittings (Newman Tonks Group), Worcester Parsons (McKechnie Group), Jenks and Cattell (Garden Tools/Equipment) as well as sales management positions at Abru (ladders) and Murphy Chemical (Garden Chemicals)..

Commenting on the move to Centurion Europe, Peter said: “I have had a very exciting few years working as part of the BHETA team - together I believe we have made it the cutting edge and highly relevant trade and retail body that it now is.  Centurion Europe is a fantastic opportunity, however. 

"It is is already a successful UK and European company and is entering markets across the world.  Having established its supply credentials, it is now looking to build its brands across the board and continue a very ambitious sales and marketing programme in general.  Becoming a world player is a significant step requiring serious marketing support both strategic and tactical and for me this is an opportunity too good to resist.”

Centurion Europe’s managing director Paul Kantecki said: “Businesses which started their lives in wholesale are not always known for marketing and customer support, but we are setting out on an ambitious journey involving a serious commitment to brands, to ensuring that our retailers can sell through effectively and to fantastic merchandising. 

"We are planning major campaigns at home and abroad and I am delighted that Peter is joining the team to spearhead our plans.”

Centurion Europe was founded in 1984 and employs close to a 100 staff.  It prides itself on excellent stock availability and delivery within 48 hours.

Following the success of its inaugural advertising campaign, the UK arm of the US adhesive brand, Gorilla Glue, is returning to TV for the second phase of a heavyweight campaign across a breadth of channels, including Dave, Sky Sports and Discovery.

Using the iconic 'Gorilla' character once more, the first phase saw a combination of 20 and 30 second adverts airing from February for an initial three months and this second phase will be live for the month of June.  The above the line campaign will also be under-pinned with a strategic digital advertising campaign across national titles.

European Sales Director, Simon Damp said: "Taking Gorilla to the small screen last year was a bold move but one that paid dividends for the brand and the objective of increasing brand penetration has worked.  The overarching goal of increasing brand awareness through this medium was also achieved and we look forward to bolstering this campaign with more upcoming marketing activity."

With a buoyant adhesive and sealant market being seen across the UK, coupled with the increase in the homeowner DIY market, Gorilla Glue will also be further enhancing its range with new and innovative products in the coming months.

Simon Damp added: "The Gorilla Glue brand has become synonymous with fixing the toughest jobs on planet earth and it is this strength and durability the range of products possess that has ensured the brand is now a must have in any toolbox.  I am really pleased with the way Gorilla Glue has grown and look forward to seeing the results of the next wave of advertising with the new commercials."

2014 alone saw the company launch a total of three new products into the growing sector: Gorilla Super Glue Gel (RRP £6.99), White Gorilla Tape (RRP £10.49) and Gorilla Clear Repair Tape (RRP £6.99) which won gold in the DIY category at the 'National New Product Awards' at the Totally DIY and Totally Tools Show 2014.

For more information visit: http://uk.gorillaglue.com/

The Shop and Display Equipment Association has published a new guide to the shopfitting and display industry – the SDEA Retail Display Directory 2015/2016. 

Brimming with new ideas, creative concepts and innovative retail display solutions, buyers can select from over 100 leading designers, manufacturers and suppliers of specialist retail display products and services.   Normally priced at £10, a free copy is available to the first 50 readers who call 01883 348911 or email directory@sdea.co.uk mentioning this publication.

Literally thousands of products and services designed specifically for retail can be sourced within this comprehensive guide. 

From the smallest hook to an entire store fitout, you will discover an enormous collection of shopfittings, display, PoS, lighting, signage and visual merchandising. 

Organised into convenient sections, the Retail Display Directory leads you quickly and easily to specialist suppliers by company, product, trade name, location, service or retail trade.

The exclusively commissioned editorial guides you through some of the latest and greatest retail store launches near and far. 

From a minimalist shoe store in London where jelly shoes are showcased within a gallery inspired interior, to a small yet perfectly formed fashion store in China and an art deco supermarket in France, this book explores some incredibly exciting environments that will really get you thinking.

SDEA is a not for profit industry body supporting European retail display suppliers and offering sourcing advice to buyers and specifiers through its Directory, website (www.shopdisplay.org) and helpline.

Missing air weapons and pellet guns from a large-scale burglary at a garden centre near Truro could pose a serious risk to the public.

Police in Truro want to recover the outstanding weapons, having already recovered a huge haul following the burglary at the Fishing and Shooting shop at Carnon Downs Garden Centre last month.

However, seven air rifles and 11 BB pistols, including replica hand pistols, are among items that remain at large.

Inspector Mark Richards, from Truro police, said while all the weapons were "ordinarily" perfectly legal and "non-lethal" in the wrong hands they were potentially dangerous.

"We are concerned not just at the fact that this is a burglary but that this is a burglary where some potentially dangerous weapons could be used in potentially dangerous circumstances," he said.

"Some of them are replicas of proper hand guns and in the wrong hands, at the wrong time in the wrong circumstance, they could frighten the hell out of somebody and potentially put the individual who is holding them in a very dangerous predicament."

Approximately £30,000 worth of property was stolen from the shop overnight on May 25.

Mr Richards said: "It's got to be obvious to anyone who has bought any of these weapons that they have been stolen because I have no doubt that they are going to be slightly damaged perhaps and certainly sold in very dubious circumstances.

"For that reason we would urge anybody who has any knowledge of where they are or been offered for sale or has got any to come forward.

"We are interested in recovering the weapons rather than necessarily looking to prosecute someone who has innocently come into possession of one of them now."

Hand pistols were made illegal in 1996 following the school shooting at Dunblane. Any replicas produced in public or used in criminal activity would prompt an armed police response and there is at least a risk that those officers may have no choice but to use "lethal force", the inspector said.

Mr Richards added: "I have seen fewer more dangerous weapons taken in similar situations but I have never seen a haul of weapons of that size."

Detective Constable Matthew Cobb added: "We would like to reassure the public that the items are air and BB weapons, although they can be dangerous if not handled properly. We believe they may have been sold throughout Cornwall."

A 34-year-old man was arrested in Redruth on suspicion of burglary and has been released on bail until August 18.

Anyone with information or who has been offered them for sale is asked to contact DC Matthew Cobb on 101 quoting crime reference CR/036509/15.

Alternatively people can pass on information to Crimestoppers anonymously via the online form on Crimestoppers-uk.org or call on 0800 555 111.

Pictured: Weapons stolen from a burglary at Carnon Downs garden centre police in Truro would still like to recover.

Four Communications LTD (Four) has been announced by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) as its new sponsorship consultants. The appointment was made after a competitive pitch process involving three other agencies.

Four will be providing advice on the RHS’s current sponsorship proposition, identifying sponsors that are a best fit with the organisation’s brand and aspirations with a view to developing fresh and ambitious commercial partnership and reviewing the existing approach for current properties.

Manuel Mascarenhas, Head of Corporate Partnerships said: “The appointment of Four Communications signals a significant gear shift in our approach to identifying and working with commercial partners.

"We are well-known for the Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by M&G Investments and our challenge over the next few years is to create equally captivating partnership opportunities for our other assets – Hampton Court Flower Show; Tatton Park Flower Show; Britain in Bloom; and Campaign for School Gardening.

"Sponsors are already showing an interest in these properties, with Four’s help we hope to develop some strong and ambitious partnerships.” 

Rachel Clarke, Director of Sponsorship at Four Communications said: “Four has over 20 years’ experience of supporting high profile cultural intuitions to develop the strategies and approaches needed to secure meaningful and valuable commercial partnerships. We are excited to be working with the RHS to develop the next phase of its commercial portfolio.”

For more information about the appointment contact Alex Russell, Associate Director at Four, on 44 (0)20 3697 4302 or alex.russell@fourcommunications.com

The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Awards Categories

• The Greatest BBQ Sales Team of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Decoration and Lighting Sales Team of the Year
• The Greatest Inspiration for New Gardeners Team – Love The Plot You’ve Got Award
• The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Supplier of the Year
• The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Sales Team of the Year

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

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

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

Access is by subscription only.  For £145.00 per year you and your team can have access to the most 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 last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Products Bestsellers chart for last 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.

The Garden Centre Association’s Barometer of Trade (BoT) results have revealed that garden centres across the country saw catering sales rise during May. Compared to the same time last year (2014) sales in catering departments were up 14.46%.

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, explained: “It’s great news that catering sales were on the up during May. Garden centres have so much more to offer than just plants these days and people often make a family day out of visiting their local centre as there’s something for everyone.

“They can browse the plants, pick up gifts and clothes, let the kids play in the play area and have a hearty lunch or dinner.”

The second best performer for the month was outdoor plants, which was 13.96% up.

Simon Bourne, Garden Centre Manager at Perrywood Garden Centre and Nurseries Ltd in Essex, said: “May was a really great month for us and was in fact our best ever month in the garden centre and in the coffee shop. Sales were up 18% for the garden centre on last year and up 24% in the coffee shop. Plant sales in May were fantastic and were up 21% on last year.

“As always the weather drives our sales and the higher than average rain fall and lower temperatures has actually helped this time around. The rain has fallen in short sharp spells that have kept plants looking fresh but dry spells in between have allowed gardeners to get out and do things.

“The lower temperatures have meant that people haven’t headed to the coast/park/pub beer garden and although it has been colder we have had quite a bit of sunshine which has been perfect for spending a day doing work in the garden.

“The Chelsea week always gives us a lift and this year was very strong and the week after that was half term which again was exceptionally busy. There seems to be confidence from customers to spend more this season with larger plants as well as leisure lines selling well.”

During the month sales of houseplants were up 13.55% and furniture and barbecues did well at 10.3% up.

Katie Eckley, Manager at The Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Wales, said: “May was very good for us, the weather was bright enough to keep bringing people out, although those few late chilly evenings were a bit worrying.

“Overall we were 16% up on last year. The restaurant is still seeing growth at 10% up for May. It had a very busy half term with our ‘Wild Wednesday’ event running, bringing in over 100 children and the famous Hay Festival runs for 10 days bringing in lots of tourists, keeping the place full of families.

“Outdoor living is doing extremely well for us, it was over 80% up for May compared to last year. We just hope we can keep it up as suppliers stock levels are getting low now. Outdoor plants had a cracking month at 15% up, we are very happy with this level of growth for a department that we haven’t made any bigger, just worked it harder and turned stock over quickly.

“Houseplants are doing well for the year so far but May was about on par with last year.”

Garden centres also reported a rise of 9.54% in pets and aquatics departments.

Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre’s new Elm Tree restaurant (pictured above) saw positive growth in its first full month of trading since opening in April.

Managing Director, Mike Lind, said: “Catering Sales for May were up 48.6% on 2014, with good performances in both hot and cold food sales from the new deli island and open-kitchen carvery. Hot drinks sales performed exceptionally well with our new coffee lounge sales confirming that if you offer good quality tea and coffee customers will visit.”

Food hall/farm shop sales were up 8.18%. Clothing sales were 9.08% up compared to the same time last year.

The BoT results are the only official GCA trading figures to be released.

There are almost two million in people in the UK who are suffering sight loss. Or to put it another way, there are almost two million potential garden centre customers who are suffering sight loss. Are those two million people welcome in your café? asks Garden Centre and Catering Consultant Doug Stewart.

How do we show them that they are important to us?

Costas have laid down the gauntlet with their braille menu…

With 8% of the population following a vegetarian lifestyle, 16% of the population following a gluten free lifestyle and two million people who are suffering sight loss, it is the way we show our support for, and how we cater for, these customers that will set us apart.

Doug can be contacted through his website, www.waringstewartassociates.co.uk

For the third year running, The Apple Tree Farm Shop at Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil has been awarded Gold in the Taste of the West Hospitality and Retail Awards 2015.

The Apple Tree Farm Shop, which is part of The Gardens Group, stood out in the Farm Shop category for its commitment to local-sourcing, from major brands to small artisan producers, the seasonality of its fresh produce and its friendly staff providing a faultless service.

With a rustic ambience, attentive staff and spotless shelves, displays and baskets, judges heaped praise upon The Apple Tree Farm Shop, with comments like; “This is just what you want a farm shop to be. It is stacked almost to the rafters with attractive and mouth-watering local food with friendly and helpful staff.”

Cath Collins, farm shop and restaurant area manager, comments: “It is a real pleasure to see the farm shop win Gold in Taste of the West once again.

"Our ethos is very much about supporting local producers and shining the spotlight on what is made in this area, from fantastic bread, cheese, cider, preserves and more, to a diverse range of seasonal,  free-from and specialist products.

"I am also very proud of the team who work extremely hard to get to grips with each and every product, understanding the processes involved and ingredients used so they can offer advice and recommendations to our customers.”

The Taste of the West Hospitality and Retail Awards provide an opportunity for businesses in the West Country to gain recognition for supporting and promoting local producers.

Chris Brown, of Turpin Smale, highlighted bird watching as an area of interest for cafés and restuarants to focus on for attracting customers in his presentation at the HTA Catering Conference.

One of our Gold Award winners in The Greatest Catering awards, The Birdhouse Tea Room at Woodside Plant Centre in Jedburgh, has been making the most of the opportunity for years.

“The Jacobi Jayne window plant feeder hanger is our bestselling line in the shop,” said owner Emma Emmerson.

“That and the window feeder are constant sellers as a result of people enjoying watching the birds feed at the window of the tea shop.”

Now that’s a gold-plated bestsellers tip that could be employed in most garden centre coffee shops.

Garden centre visitors have an increasing appetite for honey after one producer revealed that the outlets were its top selling stores. 

Haughton Honey supplies a range of delis, independent shops and garden centres across the North West and Midlands regions.

But its customers who sell the biggest batches by far are the garden centres, with peak season being from April to October, said bee farmer Cris Reeves who runs the Cheshire-based brand.

Garden centre customers include Walter Smith Fine Food at Bridgemere Garden World near Nantwich in Cheshire, reputedly the largest garden centre in Europe.

“Many garden centres have extensive food areas now and we’ve discovered that visitors seem to have a real appetite for honey,” said Cris (pictured).

“I guess it’s a product that fits in well with the whole ethos of the outdoors, the garden, nature and the environment.

“Honey is also a very versatile and popular product.  It’s not just for putting a buzz in your breakfast by spreading on toast. It has a whole bunch of culinary uses… from sweetening desserts to introducing a special stickiness into certain recipes. It’s also a natural sugar substitute, and hay fever sufferers swear by it as a natural remedy to ease the unpleasant symptoms they suffer.

“We’ve been delighted by how well received Haughton Honey has been since we launched last year and are looking forward to expanding our trade customers as word spreads about our honey.”

Featuring traces of dandelion, chestnut, lime, blackberry, clover and other wildflowers, Haughton Honey is cold extracted to protect the natural enzymes and proteins that make English honey so tasty.

Five pence from the sale of each jar of Haughton Honey is donated to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to help protect bumblebees, and preserve and restore their habitats.

Made by English bees and bottled by Haughton Honey, which is based at Radmore Farm, Haughton, in Cheshire, the brand is probably the most unadulterated honey that you can buy, added Cris.

It is vegetarian friendly, is 100% natural and pure, and is the sweet essential for everyone’s kitchen cupboard.

Cris, who has been a bee farmer for more than ten years, owns 300hives. He is supplementing his supply of honey from apiaries all run by experienced bee-farmers, andnow has more than 1,600 hives in the cooperative, stretching across the North West and the Midlands, including Cheshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire.

For more details visit www.haughtonhoney.com