Kelkay Ltd has announced today the acquisition of Anchor Fast, marking a further exciting step in the development of AMES UK under the leadership of Managing Director Antony Harker.

Anchor Fast, an outdoor wooden furniture and garden structures company, has a 34,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility based in Doncaster and employs more than 20 people. The business is dedicated to crafting its range of FSC certified products for both retail and commercial markets.

“To say that it’s been a busy year for us would be an understatement. We’ve been working with the team at Anchor Fast for some time now and I’m pleased that we’ve reached a deal that mutually benefits Kelkay, Anchor Fast and importantly the customers who trade with us," " said Antony.

"We’ve been developing the details on this deal in harmony with our integration of the AMES UK organisation, so this acquisition represents another important step in our long-term category expansion plans.”

Anchor Fast and Kelkay are based close to each other, which will further support the business integration plan, and the intention is to distribute Kelkay and Anchor Fast products together as soon as this can be practically arranged. This means that retail customers will soon be able to combine their aggregate, paving, water feature and wooden outdoor product requirements into one order – simplifying the supply chain and in turn, cross-category deliveries.

“We plan to bring the Kelkay garden centre service approach to the sales, marketing and distribution of the wooden products category. A key attraction was the high level of manufacturing experience and design expertise in the team at Anchor Fast, all of who will be remaining with the business.

"The sales and marketing teams are already working collaboratively on plans for GLEE, where customers will be able to see our new wooden furniture and garden structures offer. Likewise, we’ll be showcasing the growing Kelkay and La Hacienda ranges, so we’re very optimistic about our customer’s reaction.”

Ongoing orders will remain unaffected and Kelkay have advised that until further notice orders can continue be placed with Anchor Fast as normal or contact your Kelkay Representative.

www.anchorfastproducts.co.uk

With the high summer heat set to continue and a hosepipe ban on the horizon, due to affect more than seven million people across the UK and Northern Ireland, gardeners are seeking out ways to keep their outdoor spaces looking healthy and their plants from perishing in the heat. Jason Pike, National Sales Manager at Bord na Móna UK, has the following advice on what products growers can use, if they need to conserve water this summer.

Jason Pike, National Sales Manager at Bord na Móna UK, says: “Conserving water should always be a high priority, but we certainly think about it more when a hosepipe ban is being threatened. Though watering is essential for ensuring healthy plant growth, there are several products growers can use in the Bord na Móna Growise range that will help keep plants hydrated, however sparingly they water.

"For those potting up plants in tubs, baskets or growing bags, use Bord na Móna Growise Water Retaining Gel Crystals (250g) as they absorb up to 400 times their own weight in water. Mix the crystals thoroughly through the compost and then plant up; water well and then repeat a few hours later. The crystals are proven to reduce the need for watering during hot spells from every other day to just once a week.

"Compost is also really important in hot weather and adding even a thin layer to bare soil will act as a barrier against soil moisture evaporation and reduce the plants' need for water. Use compost with a wetting agent, as it will help ensure easy and even wetting-up when watering. Bord na Móna Growise Multipurpose Compost and Bord na Móna Growise Pro 5 All Purpose Compost are ideal for use with both indoor and outdoor plants and also for sowing seeds, rooting cuttings and filling pots, hanging baskets and tubs.

"Mulch will also provide a vital barrier against soil moisture evaporation, and will help keep the soil cool. Bord na Móna Growise Chunky Chip Bark is a premium grade, natural bark that lasts much longer than regular barks. It is also highly decorative and will provide an attractive finish to beds and borders. It is also suitable for play areas.

"Finally, naturally occurring substances in seaweed such as Mannitol and Betaines are known to enable plants to cope better physiologically with less water, so use a fertiliser that contains seaweed such as Bord na Móna Growise Pro 5 All Purpose Fertiliser.”

Bathgate Horticulture are proud to introduce a premium quality, peat free, Organic Soil Association Approved compost!

This unique high performance growing medium, developed after extensive research and in conjunction with a leading professional grower, includes Envii Foundation, REMIN Volcanic Rock Dust and Oceans Bounty Natural Seaweed Extract.

Envii Foundation is a blend of naturally-occurring strains of bacteria and fungi. Acting as a probiotic for plants, it encourages the uptake of vital nutrients for growth, whilst generating the right metabolites needed for increased plant development and improved resistance to disease.

REMIN volcanic rock dust releases essential natural minerals and trace elements into the compost. It contains over 50 valuable micro and macro nutrients that enhance plant development and sustain growth, enabling early and balanced plant development in this natural Coir-based growing medium.

Finally, Oceans Bounty Natural Seaweed extracts are applied to give additional slow release minerals and beneficial plant nutrition. Seaweed is well known for improving overall plant health and increased growth and flavour in edibles.

Our Champions Blend Peat Free Compost can be used for a wide range of seasonal plants and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. It is ideal for plug plants, bedding and pot plants, hanging baskets, shrubs, and fruit and vegetable plants.

Blue Diamond CEO Alan Roper say almost 20,000 positive comments were posted on social media less than 24 hours after the group had announced its acquisition of eight large destination sites from Wyevale Garden Centres. 

Blue Diamond group managing director Alan Roper said the comments were from a mixture of potential customers and Wyevale staff, “some of whom were asking us to please buy their centres”.

Blue Diamond posted the news that they would be acquiring Bicester, Cadbury, Cardiff, Endsleigh, Melbicks, Percy Throwers, Sanders and Weybridge at 5pm Wednesday. By 1pm on Thursday, around 20,000 comments had been received. “Money can’t buy this,” Roper told GTN Xtra.

The Wyevale set takes Blue Diamond’s portfolio to 29 centres. Together with five planned new-build centres in the pipeline, they are expected to help grow the group’s turnover by £120m, taking the group past its ambitious £200m target.

Peter Gibbons, who manages Blue Diamond’s social media strategy using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, said: “Makes you feel proud knowing that so many people hold us in such high regard!”

As our GTN Bestsellers graph above shows, overall sales volumes (a key measure of footfall) have now dropped below last year for all three weeks of July as the heat takes it’s toll of shopping in general.

People are spending more time in their gardens as a result and that must be why plant sales volumes are now up on last year for 14 weeks in a row.  Hooray for our plant sales teams who are doing a terrific job keeping their plants looking so good!

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year: week 29

• Garden Products Top 50 – static 0%
• Growing Media Top 50 – up 14%
• Veg 2 Gro Top 50 – down 7%
• Wild Bird Care Products Top 50 – down 18%
• All Plants index – up 10%
• All Items index – down 6%

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Plants from hot climes sold well last week as plants are still being bought for gardens and homes. 

Sales of zonal geraniums, Pelargoniums, dropped off suddenly this week, however, which is surprising as they look so good in the heat.  Perhaps people are just looking for something different?

• Portulaca, which is native to Brazil and Argentina, sold in enough volume to enter the Top 50 for the first time at No 40.
• Rudbeckia were the highest chart climber, up 25 places to No 35.
• Cyclamen have started to sell through already, back in at No 30.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Abid Mir says that the SOLEX 2018 Show was their most successful exhibition in its entire 28-year history, and following this success, his company AMIR have applied to increase their stand size by 50% for next year's exhibition.

This year’s success was primarily due to the launch of Royalcraft latest innovative Weather Proof and Stain Resistant Weather Shield Fabric for all its new 2019 garden furniture collections.

Garden Trade News had predicted customers would be impressed and all seemed to agree that this amazing new fabric was an exciting “Game Changer” for outdoor garden furniture.

Following overwhelming positive responses from customers in the two weeks since SOLEX, AMIR are delighted that for Summer 2019, Royalcraft garden furniture sets with its new Weather Shield Fabric will be available nationally at Garden centres and major UK multiple retail outlets.

AMIR also announced this week that the new Weather Shield Fabric will also be used and available on its 2019 range on Parasols, Gazebos, Furniture Covers and Storage Bags.

For further information, please contact the AMIR sales team.

A-MIR & CO. LTD. Mir House, Taylors Lane, Oldbury, West Midlands. B69 2BN

Tel: 0121 544 1999         
Email: office@a-mir.co.uk           
Website: www.a-mir.co.uk

Thieves smashed their way into QD Group’s Cherry Lane garden centre at Bradmore near Nottingham last Monday, using a stolen forklift truck to enter the office and steal the safe containing three days’ takings.

The raiders, who also used a small stolen 4X4 vehicle, caused £30,000 of damage to the building. CCTV footage (pictured) caught three masked men breaking into the centre at around 4.30am.

Andy Jeremy, head of commercial operations for the garden centre, told the Nottingham Post: "They bulldozed their way through and that has caused damage to the wall and the roof in the office. They have driven the vehicle into the building to remove the safe. They came in, attacked that part of the building, and left." He said the safe contained "thousands of pounds". The thieves used chains to try to remove the safe and when that failed, they drove the forklift truck into the office.

The centre and its cafe, restaurant and children's play area, has now reopened.

Police said the raiders stole the forklift truck and 4X4 vehicle (both since recovered) from a building next to the garden centre.

Dobbies has promoted chief operating officer Graeme Jenkins to chief executive officer following the departure of Nicholas Marshall...

Jenkins joined Dobbies as chief financial officer in 2016 after Midlothian Capital Partners and Hattington Capital acquired the group from Tesco.

Dobbies chairman Andrew Bracey said: “The Board is delighted to appoint Graeme as our CEO, having worked closely with him over the last two years. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Nicholas Marshall for his support and leadership during his time as CEO. The Board wish him well for the future.”

The new CEO said: “Dobbies is a great business with an incredibly talented team, and I am very pleased to be appointed as chief executive.  We have had a strong start to 2018 and I am confident that we will be able to grow the business successfully over the coming years.”

Vitax Limited has appointed a new managing director as it drives forward with its ambitious growth plans.

Carl Welsh, who has been with the company for eight years, took over the reins at the beginning of the year from Daniel Wilkinson as he moved to become managing director of Hortifeeds International - a new commercial division within the Synchemicals Group.

Earlier this year Carl was instrumental in the expansion of Vitax’s production facilities and will now steer Vitax as it continues to adapt to the growing needs of its customers.

“Understanding our customers is essential and Carl’s experience of managing the complete supply chain and pressure points ensures he is best placed to take the business forward,” says Paul Gooding, Vitax’s chairman.

“Over the past couple of years we have needed to adapt as a business to meet the growing demand for our products. Carl has played a huge part in that change and with a new team in place we can already see potential areas for growth.”

Carl will head a new look team which includes Mark Butler, who was appointed national sales manager for Vitax last year, Bryan Cooper stepping up as key account manager and David Griffiths who has been promoted to marketing manager.

“It is an exciting time to take over the helm at Vitax as the recent expansion has seen an increase in sales and we are encouraged by the demand for our products,” says Carl Welsh, Vitax’s new managing director.

“The challenge is to harness that growth whilst continuing to deliver what customers want – high quality products and in-centre product marketing support.”

Pictured (left to right): Carl Welsh - Vitax's managing director with Mark Butler - national sales manager at Vitax.

Hilliers Garden Centres start work next week on a charity project, inspired by the TV show ‘DIY SOS’, to transform a garden.

Having decided they wanted to do something extra special for their charity partner, the Wessex Cancer Trust, they have chosen to do an ambitious makeover on a garden for one of the trust’s clients, the Burrell family. The video gives you some background.

Chelsea duo Sarah Eberle, Chelsea’s most decorated designer, and Mark Tomlinson from MJT Landscapes, were as excited as Hilliers when they heard about it and readily agreed to take on the challenge.

Volunteers have been recruited from the group’s successful Gardening Club, whose members have also been invited to make donations to help with the cost of materials needed to create a dream garden for the Burrell family.

To learn about the Burrells and how Wessex Cancer Trust have helped to support them, watch this video.

Since 2016, two-year-old Sebastian Burrell has been undergoing treatment at Royal Hospital London for a tumour behind his eyes. Wessex Cancer Trust have been supporting the family at their support centre in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire.

They love gardening and spending time outdoors together and had a lot of ideas for their garden when they first moved in, but they had inherited a challenge. With broken patio and walls, poor lawns and flower beds, it would take them some time to transform this into their dream garden with space to cook and eat, colourful plants, a herb garden and a play area for Sebastian.

However, between Sebastian’s hospital treatments, working, and the day to day of busy family life, they have not had the time to achieve it.

The Hillier and MJT landscapes teams will start work on the transformation on Monday 30 July 2018, while the family enjoy a holiday away with friends.

You can follow the garden transformation live on Hilliers’ website, Facebook and Twitter pages with daily updates up until the big reveal on 8 August.

Hilliers have expressed appreciation for donations from a number of partners and friends in the garden industry, including:

AFK Marketing Ltd

Arden Coffee Ltd – Beanworks

Blue Ribbon Plants Ltd

Bramblecrest

Bray Leino CX

Brinno & GLI Camera

Burton McCall

CBL

Churchill China UK Ltd

Contractors Plant Hire

Cousins Conservatories & Garden Rooms

Craghoppers Ltd

Crest Garden Ltd

DCUK – The Duck Company

Decco Mill

E.P Barrus

Enigma Home & Garden

Fair Oak Parish Council

Globus Group

Golden Grove Nursery

Gold Leaf Gardening Gloves

Harrington & Jessup

Haws Watering Cans

Hozelock

Jardinopia Ltd

Kent & Stowe

Keter UK

Lovania Nurseries Ltd

MJT Landscapes

Morley Nurseries Ltd

New Forest Plants Ltd

New Place Nurseries Ltd – Newey Group

Parlane International Ltd

Portico Designs Ltd

Quest Leisure Products

Raymond Brown (Brown Skips)

Sarah Eberle

Shallowmead Nursery

Showa Gloves

Smart Garden Products Ltd

Southampton Airport

Springvale Foods Ltd

STIHL

Taylors Bulbs

The Pot Company

Thompson & Morgan

VegTrug Ltd

Warrens

Westland Horticulture

Wildlife World

Willow Stone Garden Products

Zest 4 Leisure

Inspired by the likes of Zoe Ball and Greg James, Bents Garden & Home MD Matthew Bent set his own sporting goal – to complete the Lon Las Cymru challenge, riding 280 miles from Holyhead to Cardiff, in aid of St Rocco’s Hospice, the Centre’s 2018 Charity of the Year.

Matthew and five friends took to their mountain bikes and completed the 280 mile challenge over three days earlier this month.

Among those joining him were Scott Heesom, married to Matthew’s sister Helen; Andrew Morris, who is married to his youngest sister Katherine, and friends Wayne Pryce and Christian McKenzie and Pat Scharfegger.

Before setting off, Matthew said:  “It has been eight years since we last tackled a serious distance on our bikes, so the 280 miles from Holyhead to Cardiff will be a challenge, especially as we have chosen to go the hard way; through the Snowdonian Hills and Brecon Beacons, using off-road tracks.  A real challenge for us occasional cyclists so we would be grateful for any donations and support!”

St Rocco’s was one of three charities nominated by colleagues at Bents Garden & Home and, after a period of in store voting it was chosen by customers as the Centre’s 2018 dedicated cause, with all money raised throughout the year helping the hospice.

The Lon Las Cymru team set up their own Just Giving page here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lonlascymru280 and had raised more than £3,600 as this issue of GTN Xtra closed.

Cornwall County Council has given the thumbs up to a new coffee shop and retail space at Newquay Garden Centre.

Proprietor of the Quintrell Downs centre, Marc Dummett, hopes to fund the development through the E.U. Leader Programme, which supports projects that help businesses develop in rural areas.

Planning specialists Malcolm Scott Consultants prepared a site development plan, business case and planning application for the 8,956 sq ft development. In addition to the extension of the existing coffee shop, which will overlook landscaped grounds adjoining the site, the centre will convert 5,264 of commercial glasshouse to retail space.

Marc said: “This is a fantastic result for us. We were aiming to be ready for next Spring and we were amazed at how quickly planning consent was granted.”

Chris Primett of MSC said: “This extension will make a huge difference to the centre, creating much more footfall and increasing visit-length. We were confident the application would be approved as it was a sound business case, but we were given the green light in just seven weeks, which means Marc can accelerate his plans accordingly.”

Daphne 'Perfume Princess’,  grown by Wyevale Nurseries and bred by New Zealand-based Mark Jury, was named Best New Ornamental Plant Variety in the recent Horticulture Week Business Awards. 

'Perfume Princess’,  licensed by Anthony Tesselar, has larger blooms and flowers up to eight weeks earlier than Daphne odora, continuing to bloom longer that all other daphnes.  It has a distinctive citrussy perfume and is relatively quick to grow.

Wyevale Nurseries sales and marketing director Adam Dunnett  said ‘Perfume Princess’s  multiple breaks formed a full looking shrub that flowered reliably for re-sale in its second year.

Colin Randel’s 50 years in horticulture were recognised last week by the gift of an engraved garden fork and spade from his employers, Thompson & Morgan.

Colin has worked for the Suffolk-based seed firm for the past 18 years and is their product manager and potato expert.

Presenting the tools at T&M’s press day at RHS Garden Hyde Hall, veteran garden writer and broadcaster Peter Seabrook said: “Colin is a real treasure; his knowledge and experience in the world of vegetable growing is remarkable. Whenever I come up with a query on vegetables he is, and has been for many years, my first port of call….Long may he continue to serve vegetable-growing gardeners at home and abroad.”

As a young boy, Colin would help in his grandmother’s garden, planting potatoes and runner beans. He left school at 16 and has been working in horticulture in one form or another since. He learned the basics with the head gardener of the Parker-Bowles estate, Donnington Castle House in Berkshire. As an apprentice, he took day release to the local agricultural college to add to his practical horticultural knowledge. Over the next 26 years, Colin worked developing seed lines at several companies in Berkshire, Devon and Suffolk before moving to Thompson & Morgan in Ipswich in 2000 to develop the company’s seed potato business.

Thompson & Morgan’s commercial director, Chris Wright, said: “Colin has been part of the fabric of Thompson & Morgan for 18 years now and he has developed and launched many new and exclusive vegetable lines to UK gardeners. We’re very lucky to have benefited from his incredible fount of knowledge over the years and so we were keen to celebrate his half century in horticulture with this presentation.”

One of the highlights of Colin’s career was his invitation in 1995 to join the RHS Garden Wisley vegetable trials committee. He enjoyed working with other vegetable specialists on this prestigious board for 23 years, acting as chair for eight years from 2006.

Colin said: “I was most surprised when Peter made his presentation. Of course I know how long I’ve been working in horticulture – time does fly when you do a job that you’re passionate about – but I wasn’t expecting to have this milestone recognised with so many kind words and congratulations!”

We're in the middle of a heatwave and saving tap water is becoming increasingly important. Any rain that falls is precious, so why not encourage customers to catch it while they can?

Elho’s Pure Raindrop water barrel (SRP £245) is an award-winning design that looks great, while for eco-conscious consumers on a budget, the Green Basics rain barrel (SRP £119) is an attractive good value option. For in-store displays, plant up the integrated planter on top of the Rain Barrel to show off this practical and environmentally friendly way to add colour to any garden. 

Many Elho pots and planters, including the funky Loft Urban collection (SRPs from £4.79 to £85), come with a built-in water reservoir. If you overwater, or there's a heavy summer downpour, surplus water is saved in the base of the pot for plants to absorb when they need it. The overflow pipe makes sure that plants won't drown when it finally does rain.

The Green Basics Watering Can in Living Black (SRP £14.99) is made of 100% post-consumer waste material – about a dozen old detergent bottles.

The houseplant market is booming, so it makes sense to continue promoting indoor plants and accessories during the summer. A lot of houseplants need more water during the warmer months, which can be particularly problematic if customers are going away for a few days. Present them with the solution of an Aqua Care watering system (pictured, SRP £8.09 per pair), which ensures indoor plants get the right amount of water whatever the weather.

Haskins garden centres raised raising more than £16,500 last year for its nominated local and national charities.

 *  Ferndown raised £4,548.03 for Dorset Mind

 *  West End raised £2,563.26 for Countess Mountbatten Hospice

 *  Roundstone raised £1,531.50 for Sussex Heart Charity

 *  Snowhill raised £3,363.86 for Alzheimer's Society

 *  The group raised £4,497 for Greenfingers

Haskins organised centre raffles to raise funds for Greenfingers, as well as staff cake sales and donating all of its 5p sales from carrier bags. Haskins employees raised funds and awareness for their centre's chosen charity by hosting events throughout the year as well as participating in individual charitable challenges – for example, Ferndown manager Simon Hallam's participation in the Brighton Marathon last year, which raised £250.

Lisa Looker, Haskins brand director, said: “We're so pleased with our charity totals and are very grateful to our loyal customers for getting involved with fundraising activities across our centres."

Haskins' nominated charities for 2018 are Autism Wessex (Ferndown), Silk Bow Foundation (West End), Wadars Animal Rescue (Roundstone) and Alzheimer's Society (Snowhill). The group will continue to support Greenfingers.

Left to right: Dee Swinton (marketing manager at Dorset Mind), Simon Hallam, Pauline Oxford (customer services assistant team leader at Ferndown) and Sara Skinner (customer services team leader at Ferndown)

Notcutts have secured planning consent for a major redevelopment and upgrade of their Woodbridge garden centre.

The development will see a number of significant improvements designed to make the Woodbridge Notcutts garden centre one of the best horticultural and leisure experiences in the east of England. It will include:

• A new restaurant with 260 indoor and outdoor covers – increasing from 100 currently. There will also be a new purpose built kitchen and counterflow system to support menu additions and the overall customer experience
• A near doubling of internal retail space and the introduction of a new twin-bay planteria canopy
• New customer toilets
• Enhanced landscaping throughout and a new entrance directly into the canopy
• Additional parking
• New storage and goods-in facilities
• The addition of a new concessions village with capacity for several commercial partners
• Full rebranding with the new Notcutts brand identity

CEO Nick Burrows said: “We are delighted to have received consent for this major redevelopment of our Woodbridge garden centre. This is where it all began for Notcutts. Not only was the Woodbridge garden centre a first for Notcutts when it opened in 1958 it was also a significant and pioneering move for garden centres in the UK. It started a trend and model subsequently followed by many others.”

Caroline Notcutt recently opened a year round show garden at the Woodbridge garden centre in the company of many local community figures.  “Our show gardens are now becoming a feature in all our garden centres,” said Caroline.  “They are all part of our strategy to give our customers an ever wider visitor experience – another reason to stay longer and visit more often.  The show garden is just the beginning and with our exciting new development plans for our Woodbridge garden centre we intend to become the prominent gardening, hospitality and leisure destination in the east of England.  A true cornerstone of our community bringing both pride and a boost to the local economy.”

Pictured: The Notcutts senior management team (left to right) - Julian Herbert (CFO/Company Secretary), Caroline Notcutt (Vice Chairman), Nick Burrows (CEO), Nicky Dulieu (Chairman), Bryan Laxton (Non-Executive Director)

Overall sales volumes continue to drop week on week but plant supports and plant feeds are still lines that are growing sales through the long hot summer.

• Smart Garden 1.5m Gro-Stakes increased in sales volumes by 350% to re-enter at No 35.
• Maxicrop Original Organic, 1 litre, was a new entry at No 41 after a 90% increase.
• Evergreen Levington Tomorite, 1litre + 30% Free, holds onto the No 1 Bestselling Garden Product title for another week.
• Vitax Nippon Fly & Wasp Killer Aerosol, 300ml, was the highest new entry of the week, in at No 25.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

While growing media sales tail off for the summer the lines with big increases last week came from houseplants, container gardening, soil conditioning and John Innes composts for re-potting.

• Growth Technology Cactus Focus Repotting Mix, 2 litres, increase sales by almost 130% to move up 29 places to a record high of No 8.
• Westland GroSure Easy Container, 25 litres, was the highest re-entry at No 31 after more than doubling sales volumes.
• Evergreen Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Compost, 20 litres, jumped 15 places to No 29 with a 43% increase.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Wild Bird Feed lines increased sales as the heatwave continued. "The birds in our own garden are certainly eating all the feed that we are putting out for them faster than normal." says GTN Bestsellers analyst Trevor Pfeiffer.

Are you promoting wild bird feed and bird baths at the moment?  Suet feeds are seeing high percentage increases.

• Gardman Supreme Fat Snax, pack of 50, are the highest re-entry, back in at No 11.
• Tom Chambers Insect Suet Logs increased sales by 156% and re-entered at No 17.
• Jacobi Jayne Rowena's Hedgehog Mix 500g sales jumped by 160% to come back in the Top 50 at No 45.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Autumn planting seed potatoes started to sell through in significant voilumes last week, with three varieties in the Top 10 veg.

• Taylors Autumn Planting Seed Potatoes Maris Peer is the most popular, moving up 20 places to No 2.
• Quantil Bean Runner Dwarf Patio Hestia Strips are the highest chart climber, up 27 places to No 13.
• Thompson & Morgan Radish Scarlet Globe are the highest new entry for the week.  In at No 43.

To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Online registration for Glee (10–12 September, NEC Birmingham) is now live, enabling buyers and retailers to book their free ticket to the garden and outdoor living industry’s leading showcase.  Registering online will save you the £20 on-the-day door charge.

Bringing together more than 550 brands from across eight core product sectors, Glee is a hotspot for cross industry networking as well as the best opportunity to source the latest products.

A rich educational and inspirational programme of content completes Glee’s offering.

Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director, said: “Whilst on the website why not also view the wealth of wider information that is available, helping you to plan your trip around the show. With so much content packed into a three-day schedule it’s worth familiarising yourself with everything before coming on-site to ensure you maximise every moment at the show. It’s also worth considering joining one of our new Discovery Tours, which will help highlight the ‘must-see’ parts of the show.”

Click here to secure your free ticket. To secure a space on the Discovery Tours, click here 

Stand Out from the Crowd is the theme for this year’s HTA Marketing Forum which takes place on 17 October 2018 at Horticulture House in Oxfordshire.

This one-day event, sponsored by Evergreen Garden Care, is aimed at all those delivering marketing and public relations in the garden industry and provides top tips and expert knowledge to help achieve marketing cut through.

The event brings together speakers from inside and outside the industry covering a range of topics including social media, vlogging, visual merchandising and Facebook advertising. Along with ‘how to’ sessions there will be a number of case studies from across the industry with exemplar businesses sharing the secrets of their success.

Visual merchandiser Sarah Manning will look at key displays and visual merchandising principles, along with top product presentation tips focusing on Christmas and houseplants.

Social media platform algorithm changes are making it increasingly difficult for businesses to gain brand awareness. Which makes it hard to bring in new customers. Simone Bonnett, from The Social Managers, will demonstrate how to engage and activate an audience.

Jo Dales, Marketing Manager from the award-winning Tong Garden Centre near Bradford, provides some insight to the secrets of their success from working with local charities and the community to putting Tong back on the map as a destination garden centre for all the family.

There will be a marketing Q&A by, YouTube creator and Hornby Whitefoot PR Account Manager, Robbie Cumming. He will be answering questions relating to producing content for social media. With over 10 years’ experience on YouTube, he will discuss how to make them engaging and on a tight budget.

David Denny, HTA insights and marketing manager, will be talking through how to use promotions effectively. He will also be explaining the benefits of taking part in National children’s gardening week and National Garden Gift Voucher photography competition.

The HTA Marketing team will demonstrate how to use Facebook advertising effectively. Using the Garden Gifting campaigns as an example they will explore the ways that Facebook is a great way to reach out to new customers.

For more information, updates on speakers and to book your place, click here.

Roger Crookes is retiring as an inspector for the Garden Centre Association this week after 11 years in the role.

He became a GCA inspector in 2007 after a career in garden centres around the UK since 1977.

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “I’d like to thank Roger for all his hard work and commitment to his role. There are many highlights from his 11 years with the GCA as an inspector. We’re now also beginning the task to look for a replacement for Roger and we would love to speak to anyone interested in the post from all areas of the industry. Those wishing to find out more about the role, should contact me via email at the GCA so they can ensure we get full details sent out to them.

 “We wish to continue the good work carried out by Roger along with our team of inspectors, helping to ensure consistency and raising standards throughout our membership. We view this very much as an opportunity to ensure that we have an on-going solid team of inspectors who have insight into the market and new retailing ideas to help our members develop and face the challenges of the future in a positive way.”

In 1980, Roger began his ongoing involvement with the GCA when working in member centres. He was on the receiving end of his first GCA inspection, in its earliest format, in that year and he says it was a key moment in his career.

Roger explained: “I remember feeling frustrated that we hadn’t got some of the ‘retail details’ finished in time for the inspector, but that everything he said made sense and I felt motivated to keep on improving … nearly 40 years on I am still working on that!

 “I am still amazed that members have allowed me to go into their garden centres for the past 11 years and assess all that they are achieving, I am very lucky to have been in the role. It has been good to see the whole inspection process become even more accessible to shop floor staff – with the development of the regional summer feedback events and the pre-season roadshows, which are packed with ideas and inspiration for staff to see and develop in their own unique way back in their centres.

 “I plan to continue my work as a freelance consultant within the UK garden retail trade and also supporting school gardening projects, with some exciting projects already lined up nearer to my home in South Wales. Hopefully I can continue to be of some service to GCA members in the years to come, I just need to focus more of my time on other projects for the next few years.”

The main purpose of the role of inspector is to visit member’s sites to assess standards and give feedback.

Iain added: “Our ideal candidate to replace Roger would need to visit member centres during the spring inspection window and be able to give objective and honest feedback on what they find. They will need to produce reports and provide ideas for improving standards, as well as make presentations at our annual conference and regional meetings. It is a very interesting and unique role for anyone in the industry.”

For further information about the role of inspector at the GCA, please call 01244 952170, visit the website, log on to Facebook or Twitter 

Wyevale Garden Centres, the UK’s biggest garden centre operator, today announces the sale of a portfolio of eight garden centres to Blue Diamond.

The centres comprise Bicester, Cadbury, Cardiff, Endsleigh, Melbicks, Percy Throwers, Sanders and Weybridge.

Roger Mclaughlan, Chief Executive of WGC, said: “We are pleased to have agreed the sale of eight of our largest centres to Blue Diamond, one of the UK’s biggest and most experienced garden centre operators. We would like to thank our great colleagues at these centres, who have been central to our turnaround in the past few years, and wish them well for the next stage of their business’s growth and development under Blue Diamond’s ownership.”

Alan Roper, Managing Director of Blue Diamond, said: “We are delighted to be acquiring these fantastic centres. Over the next three years we plan to invest £16million to remodel and transform them into destination centres modelled around our Redfields Garden & Living Centre in Hampshire, and our Blue Diamond Garden and Home store near Nottingham. We look forward to working with our new colleagues across the centres and welcoming them into the Blue Diamond family.”

In separate transactions, WGC has also agreed the sale of two further centres in Alfold and Binfield, to Q Developments and Spitfire Bespoke Homes respectively, as well as the sale of a parcel of excess land adjacent to its Beaconsfield centre to Oakford Homes. All three sites are likely to be redeveloped for residential use.

Anthony Jones, Chief Financial Officer of WGC, said: “These centres were previously identified for potential redevelopment as part of the company’s active portfolio management strategy. We continue to explore all opportunities on non-core centres as part of the ongoing sale process. We are very grateful for the dedication and commitment of the teams at these centres.”

Discussions on the sale to Blue Diamond and the individual centre sales started before the appointment of Christie & Co to explore offers for all or part of the remaining WGC business and that process is continuing. WGC has received a significant number of offers for all or part of the remaining WGC business from national, regional and financial operators as well as local entrepreneurs.

Justin King, Vice Chairman of Terra Firma and Head of Portfolio Businesses and Chairman of Wyevale Garden Centres said: “Terra Firma is delighted that Wyevale Garden Centres has agreed the sale of ten centres including a portfolio of eight to Blue Diamond.”

Following the launch in May of a formal sale process for Wyevale Garden Centres through Christie & Co, Terra Firma has received a significant number of offers for all or part of the remaining Wyevale Garden Centres business from national, regional and financial operators as well as local entrepreneurs. We are currently evaluating these offers.

Cowells, Fron Goch, Tong and Bents won the Centres of the Year awards at the GCA North East and North West Awards presentation held at Barton Grange last week.

Garden Centres of the Year were Cowells (above) in the North East and Fron Goch (below) for the North West.

The Destination Centres of the Year Awards were won by Tong (above) in the North East and Bents (below) in the North West.

After the awards presentation by GCA Inspector Michael Cole, the delegates were given a guided tour of the Flower Bowl which is nearing completion, ready for a soft opening later next week, and then a fish and chip supper on a cruise along the Lancaster canal.  GCA Chairman Mike Lind presented the certificates.

North East and North West GCA 2018 Full Results

Garden Centre of the Year

North East

1. Cowells
2. Klondyke Garforth
3. Klondyke Stokesley

North West

1. Fron Goch
2. Klondyke Lady Green
3. Klondyke Wilmslow

Destination Garden Centre of the Year

North East

1. Tong
2. Wyevale Heighley Gate
3. Wyevale Pennine

North West

1. Bents
2. Barton Grange
3. Gordale

Customer Service

North East

1. Cowells
2. Klondyke Northallerton
3. Klondyke Stokesley

North West

1. Bents
2. Barton Grange
3. Gordale

Ruxley Rose Finalists

Cowells

Bents

Barton Grange

Best Garden Products Retailer – GIMA Award

North East – Garden Centres

1. Cowells
2. Klondyke Garforth
3. Klondyke Beverley

North East – Destination Garden Centres

1. Tong
2. Wyevale Heighley Gate
3. Wyevale Pennine

North West – Garden Centres

1. Fron Goch
2. Klondyke Daleside
3. Klondyke Wilmslow

North West – Destination Garden Centres

1. Bents
2. Barton Grange
3. Gordale

Best Outdoor Living Retailer

North East – Garden Centres

1. Klondyke Garforth
2. Klondyke Stokesley
3. Langlands Leeds

North East – Destination Garden Centres

1. Tong
2. Wyevale Heighley Gate
3. Langlands Shiptonthorpe

North West – Garden Centres

1. Klondyke Wilmslow
2. Fron Goch
3. Klondyke High Legh

North West – Destination Garden Centres

1. Barton Grange

2= Hayes Garden World

2= Bents

Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer

North East – Garden Centres

1. Klondyke Stokesley
2. RHS Harlow Carr
3. Klondyke Garforth

North East – Destination Garden Centres

1. Tong
2. Wyevale Heighley Gate
3. Wyevale Pennine

North West – Garden Centres

1. Klondyke Lady Green
2. Klondyke High Legh
3. Fron Goch

North West – Destination Garden Centres

1. Bents
2. Barton Grange
3. Gordale

Best Garden Centre Restaurant – The ifse Award for Catering Excellence

North East – Garden Centres

1= Klondyke Garforth

1= Klondyke Beverley

3.Klondyke Northallerton

North East – Destination Garden Centres

1. Tong
2. Wyevale Heighley Gate
3. Wyevale Pennine

North West – Garden Centres

1. Fron Goch
2. Klondyke Lady Green
3. Klondyke Brookside

North West – Destination Garden Centres

1. Bents
2. Barton Grange
3. Burleydam

Environment and Community Award

North East

1= Klondyke Stokesley

1= Cowells

North West

1. Bents

Commercial Innovation and Creativity – The Barton Grange Trophy

North East

1. Cowells

North West

1. Bents

Most Improved Centre – The Dick Allen Award

North East

1. Whiteleys
2. RHS Harlow Carr
3. Klondyke Garforth

North West

1. Klondyke Brookside
2. Klondyke Astbury Meadows
3. Klondyke Burnside

Best Independent Garden Centre

Talking about the Buyers Power List, Glee’s Event Director, Matthew Mein said: “The Buyers Power List has fast become an integral part of Glee, and the results of this year’s awards are already highly anticipated. The shortlist showcases the hard work and commitment that each retail buyer or team has undertaken in the last 12 months, and we’re so pleased to be able to provide a platform on which this dedication can be celebrated and rewarded. I look forward to revealing the winners at Glee 2018.”

AMES, established in 1774, has a group turnover exceeding $550million and owns market leading brands in USA, Canada and Australasia. They operate in ten distinct product categories all focussed on home garden consumers and manufacture their product in dedicated facilities in USA, Canada, China and Australia.

Having identified UK and Ireland as a strategic development opportunity, they recently acquired La Hacienda and Kelkay in the UK to add to their existing True Temper business in Dublin.

Simon Hupfeld, CEO AMES says, “The market opportunity in the UK and Ireland has been a focus for us for some time and we wanted to make sure we made the right acquisitions to give us a strong platform for future growth. Kelkay and La Hacienda are both strong, successful businesses and bringing them together under the global organisation of AMES brings further opportunities.”

AMES plans to continue their expansion in the UK and Ireland with launches into new product categories where they already have global expertise and manufacturing strengths. Nor are they ruling out further acquisitions in the UK to help them reach their goals.

Simon explains, “The AMES vision is to be the first and best choice – for our customers and our employees as well as suppliers, shareholders and the wider community. I really believe that our plans for the UK will bring further opportunity, especially for retail customers, who will benefit from access to our growing range of products as we expand into new categories.”

AMES already operates globally in hand tools, garden tools, wheelbarrows, hoses & watering equipment, pots & containers and now can add fire pits and outdoor heating, water features, paving and aggregates to the portfolio.

Antony Harker, Managing Director AMES UK is driving the UK and Ireland strategy which is designed to capitalise on the cooperative efforts of the three local group businesses and introduce the enormous opportunities from the buying strengths and category experience of the global AMES group.

He commented, “It’s a time of great opportunity for the business, customers and our employees. The global strength of AMES, their significant buying power and their product design and development experience will benefit the whole UK market. You can expect to see the first signs of this in the next few weeks as we reveal our plans for 2019.”

For more information on The AMES Companies go to http://global.ames.com

To find out more about Kelkay  go to www.kelkay.com or e-mail the general enquiries office on salesenquiries@kelkay.co.uk or call to speak to us on 01405 869333

Kelkay The Old Airfield, Heck & Pollington Lane, Pollington, East Yorkshire, DN14 0BA

To find out more about La Hacienda go to www.lahacienda.co.uk or call to speak to us on 01285 762060

La Hacienda Ltd., Hangar 27, Site C, Aston Down Airfield, Stroud, GL6 8HR

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

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

As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2016 as well as 2017 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 Garden Plants Bestsellers chart for this week are here

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

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care 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 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.