We are loving early spring sales according to EPOS data analysis by GTN Bestsellers. Six weeks into the year, total sales volumes are running at almost 11% up on last year and plant sales are racing ahead at 43%.

Planted bulbs are selling extremely well along with the instant colour hits of Primula and Hellebores. 

As we saw at GCA Award winning Bents Garden & Home this week covered planterias are looking really attractive at the moment, no wonder customers and garden centre tills are Loving Spring.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 6):

• Garden Products - up 2%
• Growing Media - up 28%
• Veg-2-Gro - up 13%
• Wild Bird Care - down 34%
• All Plants Index - up 56%
• All Items Index - up 14%

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

Home & garden pest control specialist STV is believed to be first to market with newly approved bait formulations for control of mice and rats, its in-house production teams working double shifts since the New Year to ensure independent and national retailers are fully stocked just in time for peak-season.

First deliveries went into store in mid-January, and STV reports record sales across all sectors, with one national DIY retailer recording an 30% EPOS uplift year on year since implementing its new-season range.

Trade estimates are that control of mice and rats in homes and gardens accounts for roughly 40% of total retail spend on pest control, or in the region of £50 million a year.

And within this spend, rodent bait accounts for as much as half of sales totals through some outlets, generating annual volume sales well in excess of 5 million units.

“Importantly, rodent baits are typically bought one pack at a time, and always as a grudge purchase,” says Ed Deane, STV commercial director.  It follows that every year, they are responsible for driving as many as 5 million customers into hardware and garden stores across the UK – the default point of purchase for baits as they are now largely absent from grocery retail, he says.

The new regulations affecting this business must be implemented by all retailers on or before March 1^st, 2018.  And STV has developed bait formats and new retail packs to meet these requirements and ensure they have a positive impact on your pest control fixture that will drive continued retail sales growth.

But the bait regulations are a positive development in other ways, too.  “Our new formulations have proven effective against mice and rats at substantially reduced levels of active ingredient.  This means that they pose a lower risk to non-target animals such as pet dogs.  And there is far less risk of secondary poisoning of predator birds and animals, as well as an overall reduction of the environmental impact that these necessary control products have on the natural world,” says Deane.

From March 1^st all treatments using rodent bait, both indoors and out, must be applied in a tamper resistant bait station.  Again, this substantially reduces the risk of accidental poisoning of non-target wildlife and pets.  And it provides a great opportunity for add-on retail sales. 

With its reformulated range, STV says retailers will also be able to offer customers a choice of risk profile: single feed baits that deliver a lethal dose in one feed; and multi-feed baits that pose a reduced risk to pets and wildlife and deliver a lethal dose to mice and rats after several feeds. 

Choosing the right product for use in a domestic home or garden is very important -  a professional pest controller must make a risk assessment that considers health and safety before every treatment using rodent bait, and home-users have an equally difficult decision to make before they purchase the product and take it home to use.

And this is why The Big Cheese offers a choice, says Deane.  “Under one, comprehensive brand you can supply effective, non-chemical controls, welfare-friendly catch-and-release traps, electronic and natural deterrents, and a full range of proven catch-and-kill and bait-and-kill control options. 

We call our rodent control The Big Cheese for a reason – it’s the best there is bar none, and it is and a brand to trust.  So do make sure that your pest control fixture is ready for March 1^st 2018, and that you’re fully stocked with new format baits and bait stations from The Big Cheese,” he says.

www.stvpestcontrol.com

info@stvpestcontrol.com

01953 881580

STV Live Pest-Free

For the first time in its 18-year history, Greenfingers Charity has announced that FUNdraising for building magical gardens in children’s hospices exceeded half a million pounds in 2017.

Linda Petrons Head of Fundraising and Communications said, “We are naturally delighted with this wonderful new total thanks to the continued support of the gardening industry, Kew Green Hotels and hundreds of individual gardeners who know what a difference these magical spaces mean to children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

"Our aim is to build on this rock-solid base by stretching out more to the gardening consumer and gardening media to help us double our opportunities to build gardens and promote the benefits of gardening to the British public.”

Greenfingers is also pleased to announce that Colin Wetherley-Mein and Warren Haskins (above) have been appointed Trustees of the charity.

Warren Haskins, Chairman of the Haskins’ group of garden centres has been a long-term supporter of Greenfingers’ work building therapeutic and recreational gardens in the grounds of children’s hospices over the last 19 years. The management and staff of his many outlets have for many years raised funds through exciting and creative ways that improved both job satisfaction and staff morale. Warren will also take responsibility as Treasurer of Greenfingers Charity.

Colin Wetherley-Mein, National Sales Manager at Vitax since 1995 and recently President of GIMA, has also supported Greenfingers Charity in many ways during his extensive experience in the gardening industry. As a Greenfingers Ambassador, Colin has for many years recruited valuable support for the industry’s Garden Re-Leaf weekend. He has persuaded many of his industry colleagues and retailers to create special offers, excitement and promotions. Together they create the first buzzy weekend of the gardening season and plenty of charitable fund-raising for Greenfingers.

In the unfortunate absence of Greenfingers Chairman, John Ashley from the recent GCA annual conference in Stratford Upon Avon, Linda Petrons was delighted to accept a cheque for £25,000 from Mike Lind, Guy Topping and Ian Flounders on behalf of the Garden Centre Association. A great start to the 2018 fund, Linda was delighted to also receive another cheque from Ian Flounders of Woodlodge for £5000. This sum was raised through donations from their stackable gardening pots.

News from John Ashley is that he is recuperating well at home from his New Year operation and should be bouncing back to full health in the next couple of months. Fingers crossed he will be able to join in Garden Re-Leaf activities on March 16th, although he says the 10-mile industry walk from Wyevale’s Worlds End Garden Centre in Wendover, Buckinghamshire is not currently on his wish list. But who knows?  We very much hope he will be able to fire the starting gun. We all wish him well for a quick return.

We were also delighted to hear the news that the Woodland Walk Garden at Chestnut House Hospice in Arundel, Sussex won a top award at the Society of Garden Designers Awards.

Ann-Marie Powell, Patron of Greenfingers and principal designer of the garden won the top award in the Healing and Learning category.

The judges were highly complementary and said: “This is an absolutely fantastic garden that demonstrates amazing value for money. Gentle, soft and magical, it has been sensitively and creatively designed so that it sits naturally within its woodland setting. This is a role-model garden that children will love."

Built by Garden House Design, the magical garden which is now enjoyed by over 300 life-limited children includes a treehouse nestled in the canopy of the trees where children can enjoy being high up in the woodland surrounded by fresh air and birdsong.

Other key features include a natural clearing of circular decks with tables and chairs where families can spend special time together, giant blackboards for drawing and creative play, a plant amphitheatre where children can feel the textures of mosses and ferns, bug houses and wooden sculptures of foxes and deer and wooden dens bring the outdoors to life.

A new orchid drip feeder has joined the battle for the No 1 overall bestseller in the GTN Garden Products Charts. 

Growth Technology, regulars in the chart with Orchid Myst, have launched their own Orchid Drip Feeders and initial sales see them enter the chart at No 17. 

That means there are 11 orchid related products in this week’s Top 50, including four orchid drip feeder lines.

Other highlights are:

• High winds see Grange Fencing’s U-Shaped Trellis Clip 32mm as the highest new entry at No 6.
• And Gardman’s Pressure Treated Softwood Round Tree Stake 1.8m x 40mm is the highest re-entry at No 19.
• Signs of early post winter garden clean up activity see Algon Organic Algae Remover Patio Cleaner as the highest chart climber, up 25 places to No 11.

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

After six weeks of 2018 the GTN All Plants Sales Index is running at 42.5% up on last year! 

Earlier sales of planted Hyacinths, Narcissus and Tulips are big contributors to the overall increase.

Hyacinth sales are up 187% on the same week last year, Narcissus up by 86% and Tulips are into the Top 5 selling through a whole week earlier than in 2017.

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

SBM Life Science’s new strategy – New Time, New Way – is proving successful as the company celebrates a year-on-year increase in pre-season sales of 46%. 

Launched at Glee 2017, SBM Life Science’s New Time, New Way strategy reflects the company’s new and exciting approach to the market.  Recognising the significant changes and trends taking place in the garden care sector – increasingly restrictive regulations and a continued focus on sustainability resulting in the need to adapt and re-invent – New Time, New Way represents SBM’s investment in the future. 

“The extraordinary year-on-year hike in pre-season sales to date of 46% is evidence our new strategy is working,” explained Darren Brown, Head of SBM Life Science in the UK.  “As part of the strategy we have developed Job done – an exciting new weedkiller brand with an attention-grabbing look and feel and new chemistry – and launched Solabiol, a new brand ‘In Tune with Nature’.  We are also proud to add Maxicrop to our portfolio of brands.  Embodying our strategy and attuned to the UK market, these brands, have been pivotal at driving up our pre-season sales.”

To support the trade and create record sales this year, SBM Life Science is providing category leadership for the ‘weeds’ and the ‘naturals’ category, by breaking up the ‘usual norms’ and by raising the standards of point of sales materials in store. By increasing the level of investment, SBM has created new point of sales materials, aiming to improve on-floor and on-shelf visibility, creating tailor-made solutions in attention-grabbing display units. 

The response of garden centres to SBM Life Science’s new initiatives has been positive.  Simon Whitehead, Partner of Hall’s Garden Centres explained: “We have supported many of the heritage brands SBM have in their portfolio, going back through the Bayer Garden and pbi days. It is encouraging to see that the business appears to be engaging and listening to its retailers and is moving forward into a company that has a passion and willingness to succeed in our market.  We are excited to see the reception of our customers to the newly launched brands like Job Done. Keep up the good work SBM!”

“We are delighted the pre-season sales have been so strong,” continued Darren, “but we are not resting on our laurels.  We are now working hard to drive consumer sales and so support our garden centre partners throughout the season.  We’re also taking the time to build strong relationships to make sure the products and solutions we develop will meet the needs of gardeners now and in the future.”

Consumer Advisory Line 0845 345 4100; uk.gardenadvice@sbm-company.com

www.sbm-lifescience.co.uk

Bionema have developed a selection of specialist training programmes to help maximise the potential of this biologically benign way to protect and enhance your crops, plants and amenity areas.

The key message to leading commercial distributors and end users (grower, farmers, greenkeepers and foresters) is that natural pest control makes even more sense now, as traditional pesticides lose efficiency - and many are delisted.

The use of biopesticides across many land based sectors is now a crucial subject. Changes in legislation mean that managers in the field of agriculture, horticulture and amenity need to be aware of how the latest best practice solutions are shaping up.

How to handle living organisms

Professionals need to know how to handle these living organisms such as nematodes, fungi, bacteria, beneficial insects and others, says Dr Minshad A Ansari, MD of Bionema Limited based in Swansea University, UK. Dr Ansari said that there is a need to understand how best to use them. The way they are stored, handled and applied are all important, without proper care they may not deliver the efficacy you need.

These training courses includes presentation, practical workshops and demonstration about different biopesticide products and their correct application to help you maximise the efficacy of your biological controls by providing you with the information you need to succeed. Courses are developed by biological experts with years of practical experience in maximising the benefits of biopesticide products in agriculture, horticulture, turf amenity and forestry sectors.

Unique approach provides better results

"Our training course over the last two years attracted users, manufacturers, researchers and distributors from different sectors, and our unique approach provides 40-50% better results after training, thus delivering total satisfaction,” said Dr Ansari.  The new training courses include:

• Application of biological insecticides: Entomopathogenic nematodes
• Application of biopesticides (fungi and bacteria)
• Application of beneficial biocontrol agents: Predators, Parasitoids & Mites

Users will develop - a complete understanding of biopesticide application through a practical integrated pest management system within their own environment.

The next edition of these courses will be held from March 14-16 at the headquarters of Lantra at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. These courses are run by biological experts who will focus on the needs of your business to help you achieve immediate beneficial results.

Bionema is a LANTRA Approved Provider. To book your place: - Please contact info@bionema.com 

or register here:  https://bionema.com/training-course-signup-page/  

Greenfingers Charity is inviting its supporters to put their pedal power to the test this spring by taking on an inspiring new Cycle Challenge for Garden Re-Leaf Day.

The event, which takes place on Friday 16th March, will now feature a new Cycle Ride Challenge for bike enthusiasts.

The route will start in World's End Garden Centre, Wendover and take in the scenic Chiltern hills and idyllic countryside.  There will be two routes available, 50 miles and 100 miles .

The inaugural Garden Re-Leaf Cycle Ride Challenge was an idea put forward by Matt Jackson (Mr Fothergill’s - pictured) and David Nicholson and Louise Hoskins (Elho), who are all keen riders.

Linda Petrons, Head of Fundraising and Communications at Greenfingers Charity said: “We are delighted to introduce this Cycle Ride Challenge to Garden Re-Leaf Day. This challenge is certainly not for the faint hearted and will require grit and endurance to get to the finish line.  This challenge will also be fun and is great way of doing something for yourself and achieving a personal goal, whilst raising money to bring the gift of a garden to children in hospices across the UK.”

As well as the Cycle Ride Challenge, the popular Garden Re-Leaf Day Walk will take place and is still open for entries. Also starting and finishing at Wyevale’s World’s End Garden Centre, Buckinghamshire, there be two routes available this year.  You can either take a “gentle” 10 mile stroll, or complete a more challenging 20 mile route through the Chilterns. The popular Plantathon will return with Greenfingers calling for garden retailers across the country to pot up as many plants as possible in a 12 hour period, to sell to customers with proceeds to going to Garden Re-Leaf.

Luke Murphy, Marketing Manager for Glee, is a keen Garden Re-Leaf supporter and regular. He said: “I have always taken part in the walk with the Glee team. The walk itself is always great fun, I have completed two now and each one has been filled with laugher and is a great chance to catch up with friends and customers in the gardening industry. Glee loves to support Greenfingers and is always on the lookout for new ways of promoting them, whether this be at the show in September or throughout the year.”

To sign up or register your own event, please do not hesitate to visit the Garden Re-Leaf page, it’s an unmissable day in the garden industry calendar and can be great fun!  www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/gardenreleaf

If you want to find out more about how to get involved in Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day 2018, whether by putting on events in your garden centre, through sponsored solo activities or simply by donating - contact the Greenfingers office on 01494 674749 or email Linda@greenfngerscharity.org.uk.

Squire’s Garden Centres held their annual plant show at Squire’s in West Horsley. Thirty two suppliers from across the UK and abroad came to showcase their latest plants.

Exciting new varieties on display included Hosta ‘Autumn Frost’, Hebe ‘Joan Mac’, Pieris ‘Polar Passion’, Jacob’s Ladder ‘Kaleidoscope’ and Raspberry ‘Little Red Princess’.

Squire’s Plant Managers were treated to a preview of some of the stunning plants that will soon be on sale to the public, and they also voted for their best performing supplier in two categories – Hardy Plants & Bedding Plants.

Barnsfold won ‘Best Bedding Plant Supplier’ (above) for an impressive third year in a row, and Liss Forest picked up the award for ‘Best Hardy Plant Supplier’ (below).

Sarah Squire, Deputy Chairman at Squire’s, commented: “Our plant show is absolutely one of my favourite events of the year. It’s fantastic to see all the new plant varieties, and some old favourites, that customers will be able to buy in our centres in the next few months.

"Thank you to all of our plant suppliers who attended, we are so grateful to them for the superb quality of plants that they supply and the high level of service that they provide.

"This really was an excellent show, and I know that everyone from Squire’s came away excited about the spring gardening season ahead.”

Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire has expanded its planteria team with two experienced new recruits, bringing the team total to 14. 

The family-owned independent employs 132 staff across the overall business.  Turnover is currently £7.5m p.a., of which around 22% relates to planteria sales.

Ian Byrne joined in June as Deputy Planteria Manager, while Scott Ellis took up his role soon afterwards.  Ian has more than 35 years’ horticultural experience, and Scott has 11. 

Jon Mason, a director of the business and Planteria Manager at Highfield for the last 22 years, commented:  “We’re always looking for ways to improve what we offer. 

"A good customer experience is crucial, and we decided to invest in expanding our planteria team so that staff here would have more time to spend with customers.  That one-to-one attention can make all the difference, especially when talking to a customer who doesn’t have much gardening knowledge. 

"It means that the customer is twice as likely to leave having really enjoyed their visit, and with a car full of plants which are more likely to flourish than if they had been chosen without any expert input.   That, in turn, engenders word-of-mouth marketing and repeat visits.”

With recruitment in the horticultural industry being notoriously difficult at the moment, Jon continued: “It’s no secret that recruiting staff with good horticultural knowledge is tricky, and we struck lucky with Ian and Scott. 

Now, with six full-time and eight part-time staff in the planteria team, we have the capacity not only to spend more time with customers, but to tweak and tailor our offering to reflect consumer demands and make the most of changing market conditions and offers through the seasons.”

After starting his horticultural career in an independent nursery and garden centre in County Durham, Ian has worked in the industry for 35 years in a variety of roles including senior management positions with both Homebase and Wyevale.  

Scott Ellis has worked in the industry for around 11 years, working for a number of different Wyevale stores in that time.

A Shipley-based charity that helps people recovering from mental health problems to get back into work is among local charities that have gained from the generosity of Tong's Garden Centre's customers and staff.

Over the last two years, the team at the Bradford garden centre has raised over £8,500 for the Cellar Trust through a series of fund-raising events that included 11 colleagues undertaking an 18 kilometre walk in the Lake District, selling Cellar Trust produce in store and collection boxes at the tills.

Jo Dales, Tong Garden Centre's Marketing Manager is delighted with the amount raised: "We're at the heart of the community here at Tong and we're pleased to support a local charity that makes a real difference to the lives of local people.

"We're delighted to be able to support the Trust's great work in helping people on their journey to recovery and to help them to raise the funds they need to offer this valuable service. As a garden centre first and foremost, we have particularly enjoyed supporting the Trust's horticultural Skill Shop."

Kim Shutler-Jones, CEO of The Cellar Trust, is delighted with Tong's support: "Tong is a brilliant example of a local business making a big difference to people in their local community.

"We're really grateful for the funds they have raised for us over the last two years - it will make a real difference to the Trust."

The fundraising team at Tong were rewarded for their endeavours with a cake from the catering skill shop that was presented at the cheque handover.

In addition to the funds raised for the Cellar Trust, staff and customers at Tong Garden Centre have raised more than £20,000 over the last two years for local charities and community groups including Martin House Hospice, Wibsey Salvation Army, Birstall Victoria Rugby Club and Shona Boocock Academy of Dance.

The Cellar Trust is a charity that provides support to people recovering from mental health problems in the Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven areas. The team provides people with tailored support to help them move forward and improve their mental health and wellbeing, in a way that complements any additional support they are receiving through other services.

The team at Tong became aware of the work the Trust does when they employed former Cellar Trust client Dion Magyar, who is now a valued member of the team.

Tong Garden Centre occupies a 17 acre site in Tong village. It is one of Yorkshire's biggest garden centres with 110,000 square feet of retail space and parking for up to 700 cars.

Pictured, centre is Andrew McCarthy from the Cellar Trust with some of the team at Tong Garden Centre Cellar Trust receives a cheque from Tong

Plans to ban the sale of Channa and three aquatic plant species across the whole of the UK have had a reprieve following a challenge by OATA to the EU.

A proposal by Spain had put the whole Channa genus in jeopardy but the European Commission has announced that no animal or plant species will be listed for a ban in 2018 while they examine the process for implementing such bans.  

OATA’s Dr Tracey King put together a detailed rebuttal of the Spanish risk assessment for Channa, effectively pulling apart the reasons put forward for stopping the sale and keeping of the fish. OATA joined forces with the European Pet Organisation and Ornamental Fish International to help make its case for Channa.

“It’s highly unusual for a whole genus to be put forward for a ban and this is another example of a species that just would not flourish and breed in UK waters,” said OATA’s Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee.

“One Channa species (Argus) is rightly banned in the UK because it has the potential to become invasive and licences are required in Scotland for other Channa species so there are already adequate restrictions in place within the UK.

“This was one of our main points to the EU. There are regional measures that Spain or other Southern European countries can take if certain Channa species are causing problems – although we have to say the risk assessment they put forward did not demonstrate a significant issue. There is no need to ban the genus across the whole of the EU, especially on such flimsy evidence.

“Risk assessments are there for a reason. They should provide robust evidence of an actual problem. So we are pleased that the European Commission has announced a review of the risk assessment process which we hope will ensure this kind of proposal cannot be put forward in future.”

The next round of proposals from EU member states for bans on selling or keeping certain invasive species are expected this month so Channa and the three plant species Gymnocoronis spilanthoides (Senegal tea plant), Pistia stratiotes (Water lettuce) and Salvinia molesta (salvinia) may still return to the table for a ban in 2019, the year the UK will leave the EU.

“We will have to see what arguments Spain puts forward and will challenge its evidence if we do not think it is good enough. To that end we want to hear from businesses that sell Channa and people who keep them to find out the species that are kept and the conditions they need to flourish. We would also be interested in hearing more about how important the plant species are to the trade. We believe this information will help us to demonstrate they are not an invasive threat to the UK.”

The UK will leave the European Union in 2019 and it will depend on the transitional arrangements as to whether any further bans in that year will affect the UK.

Haskins Garden Centre in Roundstone has partnered with Angmering School to promote awareness of National Nest Box Week.

The garden centre has donated a total of 12 bird boxes to the school to be mounted around the school site during National Nest Box Week and spark students' interest in providing a home for breeding birds and a safe place for them to build a nest. Students and teachers were invited to visit the garden centre last week and pick up their bird boxes.

Carole Burden, head of science at Angmering School, commented: "We're so grateful to Haskins for inviting us to the centre to pick up these bird boxes. We plan to personalise the bird boxes in conjunction with the tech department before mounting them around the school to encourage more house martins and sparrows on site.

"It was so lovely to do something different with the students and they are all over the moon with the bird boxes."

National Nest Box Week is an annual campaign which starts on Wednesday February 14 and runs until Wednesday February 21. The campaign aims to encourage people to put up nest boxes to help breeding birds and was established over 20 years ago by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Now an established part of the ornithological calendar, the campaign helps to promote and enhance biodiversity and conservation.

Nick Joad, centre manager at Haskins Garden Centre in Roundstone, commented: "We're proud to support Angmering School and help promote the importance of looking after our feathered friends, particularly during these colder winter months. Just a little shelter can turn your garden into a vital sanctuary for birds."

Haskins Garden Centre is located in Angmering, Littlehampton, West Sussex. Visit www.haskins.co.uk<http://www.haskins.co.uk/> for more information.

News that Reigate Garden Centre is set to close later this year has been met with hundreds of local residents expressing their sadness and disappointment on social media.

The Tiley family has run the centre, on Sandcross Road, for 35 years but according to reports in the local media, chief executive Gary Tiley announced that the site had been sold to property developers.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's development management plan proposes to remove land surrounding the garden from the green belt, with developers understood to be eyeing it up for hundreds of homes.

A public consultation on the plan is open until February 23 with residents able to give their views on the council's website.

Separate plans are currently being consulted on for 23 homes to be built on the two-acre garden centre site.

Reacting to the news on social media some have called it a “shame” that they are losing a sanctuary that “holds precious memories”. Others have stated their frustration that the popular business and its surrounding green belt land could be lost to developers.

Seed potatoes and onion sets lead the way in Veg-2-Gro sales with Taylors Bulbs holding nine of the Top 10 in the GTN Bestsellers Veg 2 Gro chart.

Red Baron onion sets go back to No 1 and Charlotte Taster packs are the bestselling seed potato line.

Other highlights:

• Thompson & Morgan Beetroot Boltardy is the highest placed seed pack at No 9.
• Kapiteyn Onion Sets Centurion are the highest re-entry at No 12.
• Mr Fothergill’s Tape Seeds Carrot Early Nantes are the highest new entry at No 37.

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

Seed sowing in greenhouses and indoors is the big driver for growing media sales this week. 

Three seed compost lines all increased their sales by over 100% as keen gardeners get sowing for early season growing.

Highlights were:

• Westland John Innes Seed, 30 litres is the highest chart climber, up 25 places to No 10.
• Scotts Levington John Innes No2, 25 litres, is a re-entry at No 22.
• Scotts Levington John Innes Seed Compost, 8 litres, grew sales by 113% to re-enter at No 46.

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

Despite Gardman’s ongoing issues where they are catching up with orders at their new Daventry warehouse, their Wild Bird Care lines dominate the GTN Bestsellers chart.

Highlights were:

• Gardman Fat Snax, tubs of 50, are the No 1 Bestseller for the sixth consecutive week of the year.
• Gardman Mealworm Pouch 200g is the highest re-entry at No 16.
• Gardman Robin Blend 2kg sales increased by 200% to re-enter at No 36.

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

Specialist garden centre planning experts Malcolm Scott Consultants has appointed environmental impact assessment (EIA) coordinator and ecologist Dr Holly Smith to the business to oversee all environmental issues on behalf of its client base.

 Holly joins the team from Ecus in Sheffield, where she led the Environmental Impact Assessment team for seven years, obtaining the IEMA EIA Quality Mark for the company and delivering environmental statements for a wide range of developments across the UK.

 Chris Primett, of Malcolm Scott Consultants, said: "The decision to enhance the business' offering with a clear environmental stance is one we've been discussing for some time. Increasingly companies are asked to demonstrate their efforts to preserve and minimise impact on the local environment and while we have done this for a number of years, with ecology being high on the political and social radar at present, and with the natural fit with our client portfolio, we felt Holly would be a huge asset to the team.

"Holly is a highly respected ecologist within the field. With more than 12 years’ professional experience, starting as a consultant ecologist before moving into EIA, she  has a huge amount of insight which will bolster our other services, enabling us to develop detailed environmental statements on behalf of our clients and aid the planning and design process. We're delighted to be able to extend our service provision, and our clients should see a real benefit from us adding this service in-house." he added.

Holly and MSC sister company Harris Lamb have a long-standing history of working together on projects including North Worcestershire Golf Course, whereby Holly coordinated and produced an environmental statement under the IEMA Quality Mark Scheme and acted as client project manager, working with the planning team and client to produce design, and on the  Stoneleigh Park Redevelopment, where Holly again oversaw the environmental statement, acted as client project manager and was retained to work with the Park and HS2 through revising the HS2 detailed design.

Everest Home Improvements will again be teaming up with celebrity gardener David Domoney this year for a series of events and activities, including the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

David is a TV favourite, regularly appearing on shows such as Love Your Garden and This Morning, and has worked with Everest for the past three years.

As part of his partnership with Everest, David will be designing garden displays for both the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show and the Southport Flower Show. He’ll also be offering expert gardening advice to members of the Women’s Institute at an educational day presented by Everest at the WI’s Denman College. As well as providing seasonal gardening tips throughout the year, David’s horticultural tips will be available on the Everest website and social media profiles, so follow Everest on Twitter or Facebook if you don’t want to miss out.

David says, “I loved creating the gardens for the flower shows’ Celebrity Theatres last year. It was fantastic to engage with so many garden enthusiasts, and we raised £11,000 for five very worthwhile charities. I’m so pleased that Everest has decided to continue its support and can’t wait to start designing the new gardens.”

David’s love of gardening started as a child. After selling plants at a church fair, he decided to try growing his own. He sought advice from elderly neighbours, and was soon helping them to tend their flower beds and cut their lawns. Before long, David was hooked on gardening, and had his heart set on a career in horticulture. He started an apprenticeship at Notcutts nursery, before studying for his qualifications. Today he is a Chartered Horticulturist.

After a decade of working in commercial nurseries and garden retailers, David wanted to get back to his gardening roots. He set up his own garden design company, which now works on high-profile projects across the UK. To date, he has won 30 RHS garden design medals.

David is a big believer that anyone can get involved in gardening. He wants to inspire people to head outside, have a go, and really enjoy their garden. He says it’s one of the main reasons that drew him to his first TV job back in 1999, working with Carol Vorderman on ITV’s Better Homes.

In 2012, David launched a campaign to encourage communities to come together to revitalise Britain’s streets. Cultivation Street recognises and rewards community gardening projects and school gardening schemes across the UK.

Everest's Marketing Director, Martin Troughton, says, “David’s enthusiasm, drive and community spirit make him a great fit with Everest. He’s keen to encourage people to make the most of their outdoor spaces and to work on creating a garden that will create a harmonious link to their home. We’re delighted that David has agreed to create charity gardens for the Celebrity Theatres again this summer and can’t wait to see the designs he comes up with.”

David Domoney adds, “I enjoy working with the professional team at Everest and creating gardens which can be enjoyed from both inside the window and outside. At Hampton this year I will be creating gardens that will reignite our love for the front garden; something to put a smile on your face as you enter and leave your home, as a colourful bridge of nature from the front door to the roadside.”

Kelkay has announced it has been acquired by Griffon Corporation (NYSE:GFF), a US public company with approximately USD$2billion in annual revenue. Kelkay becomes part of The AMES Companies, Inc. (“AMES”), the largest supplier of non-powered lawn and garden tools in US, Canada and Australasia. 

Antony Harker and the Kelkay Board of Directors, which includes Richard Pyrah, Jonathan Wilson and non-executive, Bob Hewitt, will all remain in their current roles to continue the successful development strategy for the UK business.

In addition, Antony Harker will take on the new role of Managing Director for The AMES Companies UK Ltd. (“AMES UK”) and will have oversight of AMES’ Ireland business. He will drive forward AMES’ expansion into UK gardening, which AMES has identified as a strategic growth market.

Antony Harker, AMES UK Managing Director, said “This is a very exciting time for Kelkay and it represents a major step forward for the business, the whole team and our customers. AMES has a major focus on developing their business in the UK. It is flattering that they have chosen to make Kelkay a key partner and investment opportunity to help them achieve their goals.”

AMES acquired La Hacienda in July 2017 and also operates a subsidiary in Co Cork (Ireland). They have a portfolio of other well-known brands across USA, Canada and Australia with ranges including hand tools, wheelbarrows, irrigation equipment, as well as patio planters and other home and garden products.

Antony Harker continued, “AMES has made a long term commitment to the UK market and they share our values in terms of employees, suppliers and customers. I’m really looking forward to working with them. They are very supportive of our focus on garden centres, retailers and grocers and keen to ensure our personality as a business is protected. So, whilst there will be new development opportunities, our customers should continue to expect the same high level of service.

Anthony told GTN Xtra this evening: "Griffon really liked our distribution and market penetration.  We've been talking with them since March last year.  They understand our garden market is different to others and their business is run by a small group of very nice people who want to do it right.  They talk a lot of sense and we are now looking at rest of their gardening portfolio to see what other UK opportunities there may be. Strategically they see potential for growth in lawn and diy markets from the Ames brands that currently trade in the US and Australia."

Anthony, who started Kelkay15 years ago added: "It is really great that the Kelkay "family" will continue to run the business.  I'm looking forward to the next period of growth and development for Kelkay."

"It looks a bit like the scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark when they put the Ark of the Covenant away in that warehouse."  That is the description Pete Utting, CEO of Gardman uses to describe their new 70,000 pallet space warehouse at Daventry which GTN Xtra visited last week to see just how they are getting on with getting back on schedule after the teething problems encountered during January.

"We are now picking at well above our normal peak season rate and that will mean the backlog will have been cleared by the end of February." Pete explained as we took a tour of the facility which is run for Gardman by DHL on the warehousing side and XPO for transport.

In the warehouse it is clear to see that the problem is being solved in the short term by adding more people to the teams to hit the numbers required and garden centre customers can be reassured their orders are being given extra priority in that the sales team are also helping out.

"We've had Scott McCabe and his really dedicated team based at Daventry and often staying until midnight night picking themselves. They've been fully trained to enable anything we have missed to be picked immediately and on the first vehicle out."

"We really have been putting the effort in to try and look after our customers. We are hyper conscious of it."

Paul Barker and Jason Perrins with Pete Utting in the picking area: "We've been picking day and night, its all hands to the pump and we provide extra QC."

East Anglian discount retailer, QD Group, has acquired The Barn Garden & Aquatic Centre in Peterborough.

Exciting changes are taking place at the store, located on Gunthorpe Road, as part of the acquisition. These include major improvements to both the indoor and outdoor sales areas, expansion of gardening and seasonal ranges and the creation of new departments including clothing and Scallywags Pets. The Coffee Barn is also being revamped to accommodate a 120 seater restaurant with a full menu of delicious freshly prepared food.

The store, now known as The Barn by Cherry Lane Garden Centres, has transferred all staff over to the QD Group, enabling them to remain in their existing roles.

QD is already well known in Peterborough with a discount store located in the Ortongate Centre on the outskirts of Peterborough. The Barn by Cherry Lane Garden Centres is the 11th garden centre owned by QD Group, who also have another four QD Stores with garden centres.

Mark Care, store manager at The Barn, said: "We are delighted to join the QD family. The QD Group has a great record in running garden centres and we're very excited about this transition, which will create an even better store for our customers to enjoy. We can't wait to unveil our new look and exciting additional departments and product lines."

Nick Rubins, Chief Executive of the QD Group, said: "The acquisition of The Barn is another great landmark in the ongoing growth of QD and the success of our Cherry Lane Garden Centres. We are a family run business and this is a major purchase for our Group. We are very pleased to welcome the team from The Barn and are looking forward to sharing with shoppers our great value, excellent quality and ever-changing spectacular new deals."

With its head office in Norwich, where the first store opened in 1985, QD remains one of the original discount retailers. The company has ambitious growth plans - in 2017, QD opened four new stores at Sudbury, Raunds, Melton Mowbray and Lowestoft.

For more information on QD Stores, visit www.qualitydiscounts.com.

Squire’s Garden Centres is actively looking for further sites having taken the difficult decision to part with their Windsor centre, which will close in the autumn of 2018.

The sum received from the sale of the site will be re-invested into Squire’s other centres, where they have an ambitious improvement programme, as well as being used to look for new investment opportunities.

Deputy Chairman Sarah Squire said, “We are committed to re-investing in all areas of our business and one of our primary aims is to add further sites to our portfolio. We have confidence in the future of our sector despite the current economic and political uncertainty.”

Managing Director Martin Breddy added, “We do not have any particular size requirements, although we are keen to keep within the South East of England, and our preference is for freehold sites wherever possible.”

Over the years Squire’s in Windsor has had limited ability to maximise its potential, partially for physical reasons due to its small car park, which is shared with customers and trucks accessing goods inwards, and also due to planning constraints given its green belt status. The Borough Council has an obligation to build houses to address the housing shortage in the area and identified Squire’s Windsor within the emerging Local Plan as being a site suitable for the development of about 40 new homes.

A number of development businesses expressed interest in buying the site. Given the inability to grow in the ways the company would like, these offers were considered seriously and a decision made to sell the site.

The centre will stay open for business throughout the spring and summer of 2018 and will eventually close in the autumn of 2018. Squire’s hope that as many team members as possible will be able to take alternative employment within the company.

Squire’s would like to thank their team at Windsor for their longstanding commitment and hard work, and they also recognise and thank their customers for their support over the years. Until the autumn of 2018 it is business as usual.

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 2015 as well as 2016 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 Veg-2-Gro Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers 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.

Whitco, the catering and bakery equipment company, has announced that its CEO Jeff Whitaker has died after a short illness.

Jeff was a man for whom the word hospitality and its industry might have been invented. However, his first experience with catering was just a means to an end. He became a student at Hull Catering College, and later admitted: “I only trained in catering so that I could join the merchant navy and see the world.”

His warmth and personality suited the catering industry perfectly. This, combined with vision, charisma, energy, an enormous appetite for hard work and a commitment to taking the long- term view (“Stick at it” was a favourite mantra) laid the foundation for the growth of the company that he founded with his wife Vita in 1995.

His leadership and approach to management inspired trust among colleagues, employees, suppliers and customers. At the same time, his innovations fuelled the company’s growth and changed industry practices for the better.

He knew how to extend hospitality to others and, not surprisingly, he enjoyed the company of friends, good food and knew his way around a fine wine list. His loyalty to friends and colleagues alike was boundless. This extended to acts of generosity that often went well beyond the call of duty.

He is remembered as both a gentle man and a gentleman possessed of a quiet dignity and a winning smile that seemed to enter the room just before he did.

He leaves a legacy of a loving family and a successful business that he built over more than 22 years.

A memorial service for Jeff will take place on 22nd March at Oundle School Chapel and after at The Great Hall.