The Greatest Awards are all about teams of people, for catering teams that excel in garden centres.  Last night during the inaugural HTA Conference Dinner at The Belfry Hotel in Sutton Coldfield the results of The Greatest Catering Awards were announced.  Co-presenter Trevor Pfeiffer said "from the many teams we met on our judging journeys it is clear that garden centre catering standards are being pushed higher and higher – with teamwork and the drive for excellent customer service giving our customers some of the best dining experiences in the UK.  Garden Centre catering is simply GREAT!"

The Greatest Garden Centre Catering Teams 2015

Finalists

• Bents
• Chessington
• Fron Goch
• Frosts Woburn Sands
• Haskins Roundstone
• Mains of Drum
• Planters at Tamworth
• Poppies
• Raemoir
• Scotsdales
• Squires Badshot Lea
• Timmermans
• Trentham, Blue Diamond
• Woodbank
• Woodside Plant Centre

Bronze Awards

• Team with less than 150 covers:  Timmermans
• Team with 150 to 300 covers:  Squires Badshot Lea
• Team with more than 300 covers:  Chessington and Frosts Woburn Sands

Silver Awards

• Team with less than 150 covers:  Woodbank
• Team with 150 to 300 covers:  Fron Goch
• Team with more than 300 covers:  Trentham, Blue Diamond

Gold Awards

• Team with less than 150 covers:   Woodside Plant Centre
• Team with 150 to 300 covers:  Mains of Drum
• Team with more than 300 covers:  Bents

Be passionate about food and employ passionate people – two of the key points to come from the first day of the HTA Catering Conference, sponsored by Vision Commercial Kitchens, being held at The Belfry in West Midlands.

With the overall increase in dining out in the UK only set to continue garden centre catering is in a prime position to benefit as long as the offer and the environment is right.

In the opening session, Chris Brown from Turpin Smale Consultancy illustrated how far garden centres have already come from cling filmed plates of cake to stunning inviting cakes displays helping people to buy with their eyes. He highlighted ambiance (quirky and weird is good), pop ups, special interest groups and technology as the key areas to focus on for the future.

Delegates heard from independent garden centres (Felicity Down from Cleeve Nursery and Tim Greenway from Highfield Garden World) and groups (Alan Roper from Blue Diamond and Jason Danciger from Wyevale Garden Centres). Despite the differences in the scale of operation, there were definite similarities in approach in terms of providing a passionate offer, great ambiance and individual character.

Garden centres are working hard to attract new audiences and there were plenty of examples of this peppered throughout the day from the soft play barn development at Hilltop Garden Centre was spoken about by Boyd Douglas-Davies to the regular programme of evening music events held at The Dutch Nursery, as described by Richard Henn.

This was also picked up in the panel session, which highlighted the importance of bringing new people in from dog walkers to cyclists. Creating dog friendly areas was a particularly hot topic. Bents having opened a pet café in their pet department complete with separate counters for hounds and humans! Ideally situated on the edge of their site right next to a footpath it is a great way of driving extra traffic and providing something different.

The interactive workshop sessions on managing people, costs and the environment provided delegates with further opportunities to hear from and contribute to discussion on key areas relating to running a garden centre-catering offer.

Food critic and MasterChef judge Charles Campion closed day one of the conference by providing his not too serious ‘rules to dine by’ which included ‘never eat anything bigger than your head’ and ‘you cannot have anything better than what you want’ and ‘whenever you see crossed chives you are in trouble’.

The inaugural HTA Catering Conference dinner, with wine kindly sponsored by Quinton Edwards, saw the presentation of The Greatest Catering Awards and an after dinner talk from chef, food entrepreneur and sustainable living expert James Strawbridge. Working closely with his father Dick on many initiatives James had great empathy for family businesses and highlighted many of the challenges that this brings. Now running The Posh Pasty Company and involved in new product development James encouraged all to keep ahead of the game by keeping an eye on what is happening in the wider food area and read food magazines.

They serve over 200 afternoon teas per month serving delicious home baked cakes and deserts specially made for afternoon teas, they are better than the Ritz in deepest Essex at Perrywood.

The Greatest Afternoon Tea Experience Team

Finalists

• Brigg
• Fron Goch
• Frosts Woburn Sands
• Mains of Drum
• Perrywood
• Poppies
• Raemoir
• Scotsdales
• Squires Badshot Lea
• Timmermans
• Trentham, Blue Diamond
• Woodside Plant Centre

Bronze Award

• Woodside Plant Centre

Silver Award

• Trentham, Blue Diamond
• Frosts Woburn Sands
• Poppies

Gold

• Perrywood

To win Gold in The Greatest Awards you have to be doing something really special – that’s just what we found with the Chef Team at Timmermans.

The Greatest Garden Centre Chef Team

Finalists

• Chessington
• Fron Goch
• Frosts Woburn Sands
• Mains of Drum
• Planters at Tamworth
• Poppies
• Raemoir
• Squires Badshot Lea
• Timmermans
• Twenty Pence
• Woodside Plant Centre

Bronze Award

• Mains of Drum
• Squires Badshot Lea

Silver Award

• Chessington

Gold Award

• Timmermans

Pictures from the judging visits and background to the winners will be published in future issues of GTN and GTN Xtra.

Below: Chessington with their Silver Award

The most smiley, most helpful Front of House team the judges met, they anticipate customers needs and all speak Welsh as well as English are at Fron Goch!

The Greatest Garden Centre Front of House Team

Finalists

• Barton Grange
• Fron Goch
• Mains of Drum
• Planters at Tamworth
• Poppies
• Raemoir
• Scotsdales
• Squires Badshot Lea
• Trentham, Blue Diamond
• Wheatcroft's
• Woodbank
• Woodside Plant Centre

Bronze Award

• Trentham, Blue Diamond
• Woodbank

Silver Award

• Barton Grange

Gold Award

• Fron Goch

Pictures from the judging visits and background to the winners will be published in future issues of GTN and GTN Xtra.

Below: Barton Grange with their Silver Award

A Special Gold Award was presented to another team the judges met on their travels.  The head office Food & Beverage team at Wyevale Garden Centres is pulling up trees at the moment, making really positive changes to the turnover of every site they touch and creating not one but three exceptional catering brands that would rival any major high street catering brand.

The Greatest Garden Centre Catering Teams

Special Gold Award

• Wyevale Food & Beverage Head Office Team

While we visited all of the centres for The Greatest Catering Awards, the experts asked them “Who is your greatest catering supplier of this year?"  41 centres were asked and 41 different suppliers were nominated. 

Almost all of the votes were for a special local supplier. And the majority of the votes were for the local butcher who supplies the garden centre catering team so we asked Tim Godwin of Fosseway Garden Centre to receive the award from guest speaker James Strawbridge on behalf of all the local butchers who are The Greatest Catering Supplier of the Year.

The Greatest Catering Supplier of the Year

Gold Award

• Our local butcher

GTN Bestsellers can confirm it has been a record breaking May.  Volume of sales from the GTN Bestsellers Epos data are up 8% on last May and reached the highest level since GTN Bestsellers started analysing data in 2007.  

Feedback from centres is that turnover in May could be up by as much as 15%, making May a mouth-watering month in a year that is proving great for gardening.  

All we need is for June sales to match levels achieved in June 2013 and the GTN Bestsellers all products sales index will be up year-on-year at the half-year end.

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

• Garden Products – up 21%
• Veg-2-Gro Products – up 85%
• Growing Media – up 20%
• All items index – up 19%

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

Garden Centre Manager - South East England-Group Garden Centre (ref:BP7317)

Location: South East England
Salary: 35-40K per annum
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

The Company :

• My client is a small garden centre group based in the south east of England.
• They are a local feeling garden centre with multiple sites spread across Kent and East Sussex.
• This business is completely focussed on customer experience, building loyalty and repeating business.

The Role :

• I am seeking a special garden retailer to lead the team at the groups largest centre, this candidates will be ambitious, driven and have a measurable track record of influencing growth.
• The successful candidate will take control of the day to day operations of the site and also will help to plan the strategic direction of the centre's future.

The Person:

• This role needs to have a real difference maker in the position, someone who can come to work and from day one change things for the better.
• The business has a clear strategy and it will be your job to elevate the centre to the next level.
• I am looking for a general manager with experience in site management of a large retail site.
• You will have previous garden centre manager experience as the business see this as key to this recruitment. 

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

Estimator - Landscape Sector (ref:DS7407)

Location: West Yorkshire
Salary: 16-21k
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is a well-established landscape and grounds maintenance company who are seeking an office based landscape Estimator. The role of Estimator is to manage the whole tender process to include preparation of accurate and competitive costs for submission to potential clients. 

Personal Specification :

• The role of Estimator requires a self-motivated individual who is capable of using their own initiative to prioritise a busy workload and with the ability to contribute as part of a team.
• Must be able to work under pressure, have the ability to plan ahead, achieve given deadlines and have an eye for detail.
• Previous experience in horticulture operations is essential & estimating experience is preferable.
• IT literacy and the ability to use various software packages, spreadsheets and estimating software is essential, although specific training will be given. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal are essential.
• Must also have excellent literacy and numeracy skills.

Responsibilities:

• To assess and process new tenders and enter onto the log in system.
• Have the ability to identify materials and subcontract requirements and collate accurate information for suppliers and/or subcontractors to price.
• Must be able to interpret drawings and accurately take off measures to produce bills of quantities.
• To calculate all pricing works during tender activities.
• To lead and/or support bid negotiations with existing or potential clients.
• To ensure accuracy, competitiveness and compliance of contracts.
• To prepare tenders and supporting documents as appropriate and manage and monitor all responses.
• Must have the ability to liaise with clients, site agents and architects and portray a high level of technical and horticultural knowledge; will also be required to attend meetings and site visits in order to develop and maintain good working relationships.
• To be pro-active in monitoring the ongoing effectiveness of the tender process.
• To ensure regular and accurate management reporting.
• To prepare detailed information and have the ability to hand-over all relevant information on secured contracts to the appropriate Contract/Regional Manager.
• To provide support to the Operations teams, particularly during the early stages of the contract.
• Must promote a Company image that is both professional and efficient at all times.
• Must hold a current full driving licence.
• Any other duties as required.

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

Shop Supervisor - Garden Centre Chain - Oxfordshire (ref:BP7355)

Location: Oxfordshire
Salary: 18 to 20K per annum
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

The Company:

This business is an established and well known garden centre group based in the UK. The business has a reputation for quality for all aspects of their business but are particularly well known for their excellence in horticulture. 

The Role:

• I am looking for a talented retailer to join the team of a busy centre based site.
• The garden centre is just off the high street and draws a fast based and impulse buying clientele.
• The role will be responsible for leading and managing the indoor team of the garden centre and also managing the overall retail standards of the site.
• You will have responsibility for ensuring that guidelines on merchandising and layout are followed and that the store is making the most of its retail area.

The Person:

• The right candidate will be a confident retailer with at least 3 years’ experience in a retail environment. I am looking for someone who is driven, ambitious and looking to develop in a large business that looks to promote from within.
• Candidates will have a good level of academic achievement but personality and attitude will be the main drivers for success.
• I.T. Skills will be important in progressing and monitoring sales figures and advanced EPOS metrics. 

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

Grower Supervisor (ref:HQ00007363)

Location: Lincolnshire
Salary: 28 to 25k per annum
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is a well-established and progressive nursery stock grower who are looking for a Grower Supervisor to head up their potting team.

Since the business has undertaken strategic acquisitions in recent years they have geared up to build on their already successful model core lines. We expect to see further diversification into other product lines and so  can see that this is a business and career which can grow with you. There is a strong customer base and the company is rightly proud of its reputation for high-quality products and excellent customer service.

Reporting to the Head Grower you will direct and give instruction on spray regimes, manage the potting unit on a day to day basis, manage potting schedules etc. and it will be up to the Grower Supervisor to see that these are all carried out.

Other duties include general husbandry of all plant stock, supervision of staff and ensuring all stock on site is kept to a high standard.

For this role we are looking for an experienced commercial grower with excellent staff supervision knowledge.

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

It has been the best May for garden product sales, according to the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 data. The make-up of the Top 50 Bestsellers over the past five years has changed significantly with garden decoration items, including solar lights, playing a much bigger role.

Star performers this week include:

• Gardman Solar Mini Ice Orbs had a bumper sales week to jump back to top spot above Scotts Levington Tomorite.
• Gardman Solar Black Nickel Glass Marker Lights were the highest re-enty at No 22.
• Gardman Solar Copper Glass Marker Lights were the highest climber, up 22 places to No 25.

Growing media sales continue at a high pace as 2015 becomes a record year for gardening activity.  

Many garden centres are reporting high levels of plant sales, particularly perennials and veg plants, as our Veg-2-Gro chart shows. Therefore it should not be a surprise that Growing Media volumes are reaching record breaking levels.

Star growing media performers this week include:

• Scotts Levington Ericaceous Compost 20 litres is the highest chart re-entry.
• Arthur Bowers New Horizon Multi Purpose 60 litres moves up 16 places to No 17.
• Westland Jack’s Magic All Purpose Compost 60 litres moves up to No 4.
• Quantil Carrot Baby Round is the highest re-entry at No 30.

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.