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Garden centre battles to save £1m extension from demolition
A garden centre facing the prospect of having to tear down a £1 million extension following planning permission issues has urged its local council to help find a sensible solution to the matter. Members of Barrow Borough Council’s planning committee voted unanimously this week to issue an enforcement notice for the building at Charnley's Home and Garden in Cumbria to be demolished.
A garden centre facing the prospect of having to tear down a £1 million extension following planning permission issues has urged its local council to help find a sensible solution to the matter.
Members of Barrow Borough Council’s planning committee voted unanimously this week to issue an enforcement notice for the building at Charnley's Home and Garden in Cumbria to be demolished.
As reported in last week’s GTN Xtra, the council claimed owner Marc Charnley had breached planning legislation and building regulations by creating a mezzanine level that had resulted in the unauthorised sales of household furniture.
As a result of the planning breach, the committee took enforcement action, which means that they have put out a notice to Mr Charnley calling for the building to be dismantled.
Planning officials also claim the garden centre enclosed a central courtyard and resurfaced the car park without permission, causing a reduction in parking spaces. This had sparked major concerns about the safety of pedestrians, with more motorists having to park their cars along Ulverston Road, which has a speed limit of 60mph.
But the garden centre says it is still hopeful of reaching a satisfactory conclusion to the matter, issuing he following statement on its Facebook page.
“Our planning consultants have been in talks with Barrow Borough Council Planning Department since January 2016 and we weren’t informed that there was any kind of problem with the redevelopment of our site, or what we are now offering, until just this week.
“As you can imagine this has been a huge shock and we are devastated. We have put everything we have into the new Charnley’s and our aim has only ever been to offer something Dalton could be proud of and to provide something different for this area. We are a family-run business, we have been going for 20 years now and our heart is here.
“We are now waiting for a report to find out what the problems are with our site and will do everything we can to address them. We have the utmost respect for planning regulations and this has been the case throughout this entire process - we only want to work in co-operation with Barrow Borough Council.
“We are looking to it to provide us with guidance – we employ 30 local people and the focus of our business has changed not through choice, but through survival – we hope that the council will appreciate what we have tried to achieve and help us to rectify any issues they have.
“We have been overwhelmed with phone calls, emails and even visits from local people giving us their support, so I would like to take this opportunity to thank them and our loyal staff sincerely – this isn’t just our business, this has long been a labour of love and their kind words mean the world to us.”
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A week after gaining permission for expansion at their Wimborne Centre, Stewarts Garden Centres have bought Abbey Garden Centre in Titchfield, Hampshire.
The centre is situated next to the 11th Century Abbey in Titchfield and is less than 1 mile from Garsons Titchfield centre.
Martin Stewart told GTN Xtra: "We are thrilled, it's a project for sure.
"We are looking at continuing the growing. The Coffee Shop is certainly a priority but work needs to be done everywhere.
"We have been so impressed with the atmosphere within the team. They really are a happy and hardworking group who have kept their team spirit up despite a severe lack of investment.
"We are really looking forward to working with them and are looking forward to their Christmas party on Tuesday!"
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Whitehall Lacock Garden Centre targeted by gunman
Staff opening up for the day at Whitehall Lacock Garden Centre were horrified when they were approached by a man carrying a gun. Workers rushed to lock the doors and shut themselves in the garden centre after spotting the man, who then fled the scene...
Staff opening up for the day at Whitehall Garden Centre in Lacock were horrified when they were approached by a man carrying a gun.
Workers rushed to lock the doors and shut themselves in the garden centre after spotting the man, dressed in dark clothes and a balaclava, in Corsham Road at 7.15am on Monday (November 28).
The intruder fled and staff called police who sent an armed response team to search the area.
Michael Gingell, operations manager at Whitehall, said: “The man was dressed in dark clothes, a similar colour to my work uniform, and a balaclava and he was carrying a gun, although we couldn't tell if it was a handgun or a shotgun.
“It was at normal opening time, around 7.15am. It just came out of nowhere and was all over so quickly. There were only three members of staff here. We have footage on CCTV which we have given to the police. We have footage of him walking up and down in the car park before we had even opened.”
Once the door had been locked by the quick-thinking workers, the man fled the scene, heading towards the overflow car park.
“We think he came into the centre via the fields at the back and left the same way. He ran towards the footpath and went through to Folly Lane,” added Mr Gingell.
After the incident managers held a meeting to discuss what steps could be taken to ensure the safety of staff and customers.
“We had a meeting on Monday to look at upgrading the CCTV and security. We have highlighted a couple of key areas we will be improving. There is going to be a massive investment in security. You just don’t really expect these things to happen,” Mr Gingell said.
Wiltshire Police have described the man as being of medium to stocky build and wearing a dark coloured jacket, dark trousers and dark shoes or boots.
Detective Constable Tom Fenwick, of Trowbridge CID, said: “This was, understandably, a very frightening incident for the members of staff involved, but fortunately, nobody was injured.
“Following the call, there was a heavy police presence in the area, including armed response officers, who carried out patrols and searches of the area.
“We are appealing for the public’s help with our investigation and would ask anyone who may have information or who may have seen any suspicious activity around Whitehall Garden Centre during the early hours of Monday morning to contact police on 101.”
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Van Hage apologises over Santa’s grotto waiting times
Van Hage Great Amwell has apologised after children were left waiting to see Santa Claus in his grotto at the garden centre last weekend. Customers complained about being told to queue for over an hour, even though they had pre-booked tickets...
Van Hage Great Amwell has apologised after children were left waiting to see Santa Claus in his grotto at the garden centre last weekend. Customers complained about being told to queue for over an hour, even though they had pre-booked tickets.
The attraction is being operated by independent firm Great Grottos Ltd.
Customers voiced their outrage on social media, with mother Katie Southam saying: "We got there a bit earlier and see one gigantic queue to be told we would be waiting near to two hours. To tell my daughter we can't see Father Christmas was horrible. She was balling her eyes out and something I couldn't even control. "This is completely unprofessional. To be told to 'come back in the week when it's less busy' was something I found terrible." Kirsty Russell said: "An awful experience - I pre-booked a ticket to see Father Christmas at your grotto today. We had a twenty minute arrival slot. After arriving and waiting about 10 minutes I was informed I would have to wait about an hour. "I was told by your grotto staff that your management company had over sold the pre-booked tickets which is why people were waiting in excess of an hour. How can you expect families with young children to queue up outside for over a hour?" Van Hage issued a statement on Facebook, saying: "We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to all customers affected by the queuing times experienced at Santa's grotto over the weekend at Great Amwell, and the disappointing effects this may have had on young children. "We have been in talks with the managing director of Great Grottos Ltd to investigate this issue fully. "We take this very seriously and thank our customers for all of the feedback relating to this matter, all of which have been passed onto the managing director. "Great Grottos have assured us this will not happen again and will be introducing additional support throughout this service to ensure queues are not an issue for any upcoming visitors. "Should you wish to contact ourselves directly regarding this matter then please do not hesitate to contact Amwell@vanhage.co.uk" Matthew Wise, managing director of Great Grottos Ltd, said: "We experienced a number of teething issues at the grotto over the weekend, and staff are working really hard to get back on track for the coming weekend. "These things sometimes happen when running live events, but it is something we take very seriously."
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November sales fall just short of record levels
The last week of November didn’t quite live up to expectations to tip the GTN Bestsellers All products Index to the record we had had been predicting. The month was 9% above the average for the previous 5 years, but just behind the previous peak of 2014.
The last week of November didn’t quite live up to expectations to tip the GTN Bestsellers All products Index to the record we had had been predicting.
Christmas sales soared but other gardening related sales and overall purchases in total didn’t match the year on year increases seen previously during the month.
The month was 9% above the average for the previous 5 years, but just behind the previous peak of 2014.
So, it’s all down to the next three weeks. Expectations are running high at centres we’ve been visiting for The Greatest Christmas Awards. We hope to see many very busy centres during our visits.
GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...
- Garden Products - down 5%
- Growing Media - down 6%
- Christmas Products - up 23%
- All Items Index - up 1%
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Schoolgirl's campaign pays off at Cardwell Garden Centre
An 11-year-old girl who launched a campaign to help people with “invisible illnesses” get better bathroom facilities, visited Cardwell Garden Centre in Scotland to see the notices she designed displayed on their toilet doors...
An 11-year-old girl who launched a campaign to help people with “invisible illnesses” get better bathroom facilities, visited Cardwell Garden Centre in Scotland to see the notices she designed displayed on their toilet doors.
Grace Warnock suffers from Crohn’s Disease and decided to do something to stop people who have an illness being refused access, or questioned about why they are using a disabled toilet facility.
So, she designed a new accessible toilet sign that included people standing with a red heart on their bodies alongside the traditional image of someone in a wheelchair.
Then Grace launched a Facebook Page to campaign for these signs to be widely used in shops, leisure centres and public buildings.
Bosses at Cardwell, near Gourock, decided to back Grace’s Sign campaign, which is supported by the Crohn’s and Colitis UK charity.
 The garden centre now displays Grace’s signs on their accessible toilet to make it clear that people suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases or other illnesses are welcome to use these facilities.
Other places that also display Grace’s signs are the Scottish Parliament building, at Holyrood, along with shopping centres, offices, museums, cinemas, care centres and schools all over the country.
Grace, from Prestonpans, in East Lothian said: “I get really excited when I see one of my signs going up somewhere.
“I want to change people’s attitude towards those of us who have an invisible illness.
“Lots of people have the idea that you have to be in a wheelchair to be allowed to use an accessible toilet and that’s just not right because people with inflammatory bowel diseases sometimes need to make a lot of bathroom stops.
“I used a heart in the design to show that someone’s illness might not be visible and for people to have a heart and not judge what they can’t see.”
Cardwell retail general manager, Paul Carmichael said: “Not only did Grace recognise there was a problem for people with illnesses like hers who need to use an accessible toilet, but she did something practical to find a solution. She’s done a fantastic job and lots of people will benefit from her campaign.
“We’ve done our bit for her campaign and I hope lots of other places start displaying Grace’s signs.”
Pictured: Grace Warnock and Cardwell’s retail general manager, Paul Carmichael.
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The dreams of Play Leaders at Leeds Children's Hospital were realisedthis week when the magic of Christmas was revealed on their wards.
When Joanne Phillips and Katy Inman asked the team at Tong Garden Centre if they could help to make Christmas memorable for the children who spend time in hospital over the festive period, they were only too happy to oblige.
The makeover on wards L41 and 42 comprised several themed trees, tinsel, stars, angels and hundreds of lights that were switched on by Santa, with the help of Dixie and Emma from Heart breakfast, to mark the first day of advent.
Joanne Phillips, Play Leader on the general surgical ward L42, was unaware of the exact details of Tong's plans and was amazed with the ward's transformation: "This is better than we could have imagined - it's truly magical."
The team at Tong also surprised Joanne and Katy with 24 presents for the ward, one for each day of advent.
Katy Inman was moved by the extra gifts: "What a fantastic surprise! Thank you so much for all the work that you have put in to make Christmas extra special, not just for the patients, but the staff too."
Tong's co-owner, Tom Megginson was delighted that the makeover was so well received: "We're thrilled to be able to give something back to the community and pleased that we were able to realise Joanne and Katy's ambition. The look of delight on the children's faces was fantastic and will stay with us all for quite some time."
Tong Garden Centre is one of Yorkshire's biggest garden centres with 110,000 square feet of retail space and parking for up to 1,000 cars.
Pictured (from left to right): Tom Megginson, Dixie and Emma from Heart, Santa, Joanne Phillips and Katy Inman with two of the children currently on the ward.
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Squire’s get ready for Christmas Jumper Day
Friday 16th December is national “Christmas Jumper Day”, and employees from Squire’s Garden Centres are ready for it! They have a great selection of cosy knits, with adult jumpers from £14.99 and children’s jumpers from £12.99...
Friday 16th December is national “Christmas Jumper Day”, and employees from Squire’s Garden Centres are ready for it! They have a great selection of cosy knits, with adult jumpers from £14.99 and children’s jumpers from £12.99.
Customers can also buy some rather fetching hats from just £5.99.
And Squire's haven't forgotten about dogs either. On sale will be a gorgeous festive coat (from £7.99), fun Santa hat (£3.99) or even a pair of doggie reindeer antlers (£3.99).
www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk
Sales surge expected on real Christmas trees
Wyevale Garden Centres has predicted that this weekend will see a surge in sales of real trees, with tens of thousands of trees being sold in their centres at their annual Real Tree Weekend events...
Wyevale Garden Centres has predicted that this weekend will see a surge in sales of real trees, with tens of thousands of trees being sold in their centres at their annual Real Tree Weekend events.
The garden centre retailer predicts that they will see a +11% YOY sales rise on its real Christmas trees this year, selling more than enough trees to fill London’s iconic Wembley Stadium, with more than one million shoppers through their doors.
As a recent survey by Wyevale Garden Centres and YouGov has shown, demand for real trees amongst British consumers remains high, with the YouGov survey demonstrating that now one in five of us would prefer a fragrant real tree that drops needles as opposed to a non-needle dropping tree with no scent. This has been reflected in the buying habits of Wyevale Garden Centres, the retailer has increased their buy of the Fraser Fir and Norway Spruce varieties that are particularly fragrant by 25% YOY.
Traditionally, the Nordman Fir is the most popular option for real Christmas trees, however over the past few years Wyevale Garden Centres have been pioneering a more sparse ‘Swedish’ style of Nordman Fir. This style is exclusive to Wyevale Garden Centres and is the result of tailored in-the-field pruning of the trees that creates larger gaps between branches. This more lightweight look is a response to the rising customer demand the retailer has seen for real trees that can cater for their oversized tree decorations. The retailer also predicts XXL trees to be as popular as ever, they have seen demand for trees of 6ft and above grow year on year, especially amongst their male shoppers. Insight gathered from the YouGov survey supports this observation, with Dads proving the most likely to buy a bigger Christmas tree.
Despite the ambitions of Dads for huge trees, Mums are most likely to take charge of buying the family Christmas tree. When it comes to decorating the tree, 84% of British parents said they would allow their children to decorate the tree. Furthermore, when asked if they re-decorate the tree afterwards, less than half of mums and dads admit to doing so.
David Mitchell, Christmas tree expert at Wyevale Garden Centres says: "We’re expecting to see thousands of families through our doors to choose their real trees, especially with the Real Tree Weekend events taking place in centre on the 3rd & 4th and 10th & 11th of December. The first weekend of December is always when we see the first surge in real trees sales as we move in to December and people feel that Christmas is finally on the approach."
David continues: "The quality of the trees we sell at Wyevale Garden Centres is undisputed, our trees are pruned by hand more than twenty times in their life-cycle and genuine craftsmanship goes into creating this truly artisanal product. We are so confident in that our real trees will stay looking good until Christmas, that if shoppers aren’t completely happy we’ll replace their tree for free any time before Christmas Day.
"This year we have experienced a cool snap during the autumn season, unlike the continuous warm autumn’s we have seen in the past couple of years, creating the perfect growing conditions for these trees. Cool weather at the final stage of growth for these trees prompts them to go into hibernation, ensuring they retain water and will stay in great shape for longer."
Wyevale Garden Centres Real Tree Weekends
The Real Tree Weekends will be taking place at Wyevale Garden Centres up and down the country on the following dates:
- Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th December
- Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th December
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The Gardens Group has launched its first online Christmas tree store with Needlefresh, the UK’s leading supplier of living and fresh cut Christmas trees.
From a tap on the keyboard to a tap at the door, people all over the UK are now able to order their Nordman Fir Christmas tree from the comfort and warmth of their own home, at any time of day or night.
With a choice of four sizes, ranging from 5ft to 8ft, customers can inspect the selection of Nordman Fir Christmas trees from every angle on the online picture gallery and the exact tree that they select will be delivered to their door, straight from the grower.
Mike Burks, managing director of The Gardens Group, explains: “While we will continue to stock our wonderful range of Christmas trees in store, we know that people’s lives are increasingly busy and shopping online seems to be the go-to option for many. With this in mind, we’re really pleased to be able to give them the added option of buying beautiful trees online, straight from the dedicated growers, making people’s Christmas planning just that little bit easier!”
Customers can buy Christmas trees online by visiting www.needlefresh.co.uk/shop/gardensgroup.
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Garden centres throughout the UK are already impressing judges of the GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards as inspections for this prestigious event are well underway...
After all the judges visits, our GTN experts meet to decide on the winners and the results will be announced at The Greatest Awards Christmas Party on January 8th 2017 in the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate, during the evening after the first day of the Harrogate Christmas & Gift Show.
 The award for The Greatest Garden Centre Team at Christmas is a category decided purely by customer voting. Using the voting postcard pdfs we supply you can invite your customers to vote for you as The Greatest Garden Centre Team at Christmas. You can also invite them to vote online using a special Greatest Awards voting link.
Voting will run from today through to Thursday December 22nd. When all the votes are counted, the size of each garden centre team is then taken into account so that small and medium sized centre teams have as much chance of winning this accolade as large centres.
To register your team for customer voting in GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards please send an email to thegreatestawards@tgcmc.co.uk or follow the link below to download the voting forms and posters to get started straight away.
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Do customers think you're The Greatest at Christmas?
The ultimate accolades at GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards are The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre Teams, as voted for by garden centre customers. Voting starts now and runs through to Thursday December 22nd and to be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is download the posters and voting forms below for in-store voting and add our voting link to your facebook, twitter or website to get customers voting on-line too!
 The ultimate accolades at GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards are The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre Teams, as voted for by garden centre customers. Voting starts now and runs through to Thursday December 22nd and to be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is download the posters and voting forms below for in-store voting and add our voting link to your facebook, twitter or website to get customers voting on-line too!
As we head towards the busiest weeks of the year it’s time to ask your customers to vote for you as The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre Team. There's no entry charge for taking part in The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre voting but we are looking to raise funds during November and Decemnber for Greenfingers. If you'd like to make a donation to Greenfingers, please use this link.
GTN Xtra and the Greenfingers Team are also looking for great new Christmas fundraiing ideas for Greenfingers, so get your creative thinking caps on, let us know what ideas you've come up with and you never know, you may be inline for a special award at The Greatest Awards Christmas Party in January.
So, what are you waitiing for? All you have to do is download the voting posters and voting postcard artworks from GTN’s Greatest Christmas Awards Dropbox 2016 folder or these links:
GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2016 Voting Postcards.pdf
GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2016 Poster A1.pdf
GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2016 Poster A3.pdf
GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2016 Poster A4.pdf
GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards 2016 Post Your Votes Here Artwork.pdf
Print them out and get your customers voting. They can post them to our Greatest Christmas Awards office or you can create "Post your Votes" here boxes for votes to be posted in store. You can also ask your customers to vote for you on line this year, just paste this link: http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/GTN/s9lzjxs25b7 into your social media pages, e-mail newsletters and websites. The link will take them straight to our voting form. Last year we recieved a record number of on-line votes and we expect the number to grow even further this year. The closing date for votes, both on-line and posted in-store is 4:30pm on Thursday 22nd December. If you collect votes in-store, please send them through to us on a regular basis to help with the counting and then make sure you send your final batch of votes off directly after Christmas. The Greatest Christmas Awards are presented in Harrogate on January 8th 2017 so the cut off for final votes to be received and counted in our office is Monday 4th January 2016. Remember to look through all your votes before you post them to us - your staff will love to know all the wonderful things your customers say about you as they vote for The Greatest Christmas Garden Centre Team. When all the votes are counted, size of centre and number of staff are taken into account, so there are as many chances of small and medium sized centres winning this ultimate Christmas accolade as that of a big centre. If you have any problems downloading any of the files please e-mail thegreatestawards@tgcmc.co.uk and we’ll send you them by e-mail straight away.
Good luck!
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This year you can ask your customers to vote for you on-line in The Greatest Christmas Awards.
All you need to do is copy and paste this voting link into your website or your social media posts: http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/GTN/s9lzjxs25b7
You can add The Greatest Christmas Awards logo too:
GTN's Greatest Christmas Awards logo
The closing date for on-line votes is 4:00pm on Thursday 22nd December 2016.
Please note: To avoid unscrupulous multiple votes the system will only accept one vote per IP address, so please do not use on-line voting in store, the postcards are better for in-store voting.
We'd love to know how you use your social media, e-mails and website to drive your customer voting. Please send us links to your activity and we will report on them in GTN Xtra: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
When all the votes are counted, size of centre and number of staff are taken into account, so there is as much chance of small and medium sized centres winning these ultimate Christmas accolades as that of a big centre. If you have any problems downloading any of the files please e-mail thegreatestawards@tgcmc.co.uk and we’ll send you them by e-mail straight away.
Good luck!
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 The Company: Apta is the leading supplier of quality flower pots and accessories to the UK garden trade, under its own brand and iconic UK brands, The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and Laura Ashley. The company has achieved very considerable growth and now wishes to strengthen its merchandising team with the recruitment of additional Product Merchandisers. The role will appeal to motivated and ambitious individuals. Job title: Product Merchandisers (Full-Time). See Areas below. Area 1: Kent Area 2: Southwest and surrounding areas Area 3: Sussex, West Kent, south London, Surrey Salary: £22,000+ after training with immediate start. Generous bonus scheme & company vehicle. Progression: Apta has a track-record of promoting its staff. The Role of Product Merchandiser: - Building upon strong partnerships with existing customers
- Working with the sales team and head office to ensure that customer experience is always exceptional.
- Planning and working to an effective journey plan, maximising customer contact.
The person for this Product Merchandiser opportunity:
We are looking for committed, fit and motivated individuals to join our excellent merchandising team. The main duties involve setting up display benches and displaying our products within garden centres.
Area 1: mainly covering Kent, Sussex, and surrounding areas. Candidates must be well located in the territory, ideally in the Ashford area. Other well located locations within the territory will be considered. Area 2: mainly covering the Southwest and surrounding areas. Candidates must be well located in the territory, ideally in the Exeter area. Other well located locations within the territory will be considered. Area 3: mainly covering Sussex, Kent and surrounding areas.Candidates must be well located in the territory, ideally in East Sussex. Other well located locations within the territory will be considered. This is an outdoor job involving heavy lifting and only applicants whom are fit, healthy and willing to work extended hours during our main season should apply. A company vehicle is provided for all work duties along with a fuel card and mobile phone. A full clean driving licence is required and applicants need to be 23 + years of age.
Applications should be sent by email with your CV and covering letter to Brian Cobb, Merchandising Manager, brian.cobb@apta.co.uk or telephone 07968 153418 for any other details.
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Garden Centre Café Cook (ref:DS8851)
Location: East Sussex
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000
Date: 30 Nov
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Our client is a lovely family run plant and garden centre with a great cafe and farm shop who are based near Brighton. They are currently looking for an experienced Cook and are seeking someone with a good background in cooking for a cafe who ideally has worked within a coffee shop or cafe. They are not looking for a Chef or Restaurant Manager but are looking for a hands-on practical cook who can make light meals and snacks for their garden centre clientele.
This is a hands-on role within a close team and offers great potential for someone who is driven and keen to develop their career.
To apply for this role click here
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Horticultural Trading Manager / Plantarea Manager (ref:DS8868)
Location: Norfolk
Salary: £20,000 - £23,000
Date: 29 Nov
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Our client is part of a large garden centre group with stores based throughout the UK. The business has a reputation for offering quality garden products and plants as well as being a destination garden centre for those customers seeking a day out. This is a business which invests in its people and provides the opportunity to further a career within garden retailing. They are currently seeking an experienced and passionate Horticultural / Plantarea Manager.
The Role
The role is part of the centres Senior Management team alongside the Restaurant Manager and Deputy Manager. It would suit a candidate who is currently a manager at a smaller centre who is looking to step up or a candidate in a larger centre looking to join a group for further progression.
As Horticultural Manager the day to day role will involve the leadership and motivation of the Horticultural team to provide the highest standard of customer service, plant care and merchandising. This centre has a unique customer base because of its location adjoining a large supermarket. This provides a new challenge for candidates coming from a more traditional plantarea environment.
The Person
For this role we are seeking a superb planteria or plant centre specialist with a real knack for retailing.
- Horticulture experience should be gained from a blend of practical and academic qualification.
- Candidates will be expected to lead a horticulturally focussed team with great drive and knowledge.
- Good retail experience is also a must as is the ability to demonstrate management ability in a retail environment, this could have been developed in a role outside of horticulture but must be recent.
To apply for this role click here
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Assistant Quality Controller (ref:DS8844)
Location: Northamptonshire
Salary: £18,000 - £20,000
Date: 23 Nov
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
This major garden centre group are looking for an Assistant Quality Controller to join their QC team at their Northamptonshire based distribution hub. The QC department known for supporting a quality assurance approach for all horticultural plants so that their Garden Centres provide the healthiest and most vibrant range within the market place inspiring customers to buy thereby maximising the commercial contribution.
The Role
Responsibilities will be:
- Plant specification - Prepares and agrees specification documentation for horticultural plants in collaboration with the Horticulture QA Controller, suppliers and buyers so as to set the required standards.
- Quality checks - Undertakes spot checks across the full horticultural plant so as to make sure that quality standards are being maintained with the plant health and labelling and to identify and resolve quickly any errors.
- Plant health management - Develops and maintains effective working relationships with the local governmental offices so as to anticipate and mitigate any plant health issues for the Garden Centre's plant stock.
- Stakeholder management - Engages and develops effective working relationships with key stakeholders across the business so as to ensure the quality assurance approach and specifications are clearly understood and implemented into our standards of practice.
The Candidate
For this role they are looking for someone who is passionate about plants and is enthusiastic in providing healthy and vibrant plants for customers. Shows initiative, with a flexible and enthusiastic approach.
The ideal candidate will be:
- Be inspiring
- Be helpful
- Take ownership
- Be passionate
- Qualifications within horticulture
To apply for this role click here
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Brand Manager (ref:DS8817)
Location: Cambridgeshire
Salary: Excellent
Date: 16 Nov
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
This well known mail-order brand that sells direct to their loyal customer base via catalogues and the web is looking to ensure their brand, values & culture are clearly articulated, communicated and understood across all commercial & non-commercial activities, by internal staff, external agencies and their customers. In order to do this they are seeking a Brand Manager whose job it will be to manage the content for the mail order catalogue, email, website, social media and advertising campaigns they produce.
The Role
In essence for this job you need a strong desire to create the number one brand in the market place. With a drive to constantly improve your overall commercial skills, knowledge of the market place in which you work and the execution of best practice within your role.
Key Accountabilities:
- Ensure all internal and external stakeholders understand and support the brands' objectives and plans for achieving them.
- Develop & deliver marketing plans and projects.
- Ensure timely implementation of key projects including new product launches and commercial plans.
- Manage all brand specifications and promotional activities, point of sales and stocks.
- Conduct market research to determine requirements for existing and future products.
- Manage the marketing budget and deliver marketing activity within agreed budget.
The Candidate
The ideal candidate will have a proven background in B to C, business to consumer marketing, ideally with experience of e-commerce within the Fresh, Horticulture or Garden Centre sectors.
- Have a strong academic background ideally to degree level in horticulture, business or marketing.
- Be a fluent communicator both written and interpersonal.
- Have an interest or desire to work in the horticultural sector.
- A creative flare and great eye for detail.
- Full UK Driving License and own transport.
Reporting into the senior management team this is a fantastic role for an individual who is driven and has the ambition to push their career forward within a large and vibrant company who is one of the leading suppliers within the horticultural and garden centre industry. In return for your dedication to keeping this brand a leader they are offer a competitive salary and benefits.
To apply for this role click here
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with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox. The best news service every weekend and all the breaking news as it happens.
Subscribe for free using this link: http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/7rulj2yio7x?a=6&p=49514304&t=20355005
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November Top 50 Garden Product sales were up by 10% on last year, but not a record as they were 13% down on 2014.
Garden lighting continues to shine through but there is a noticeable upward shift in houseplant related products such as pot covers and houseplant feeds. Who has the best displays to sell gardening products as gifts this year?
We look forward to seeing great ideas during our visits for The Greatest Christmas Awards.
The main highlights this week were:
- Kaemingk LED Black Antique Lantern 40cm took top spot.
- The highest new entry was Burgon & Ball Mega Leaf & Dirt Collector at No 38.
- Gardman Tap Cover was the highest re-entry at No 24.
- Apta Pot Toppers were the highest climber, jumping 33 places to No 12.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Personal decorations drive record Christmas sales
Volume sales of bestselling Christmas products are riding high after a November when GTN’s Top 50 lines beat 2015 by 23%. Gisela Graham Hummingbird Decoration was the highest re-entry at No 21...
Volume sales of bestselling Christmas products are riding high after a November when GTN’s Top 50 lines beat 2015 by 23%.
Personalised decorations continue to be the most popular pick-up items with the top 3 products contributing 20% of the total Top 50 volume.
Here are the highlights:
- Kaemingk C22 LED Acrylic Candle was the highest new entry at No 16.
- Gisela Graham Hummingbird Decoration was the highest re-entry at No 21.
- Festive Burgundy/Red Berry Cluster Pick was the highest climber, jumping 15 places.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Ok, so the weather has turned and with it growing media sales start to drop off at a fast rate. However, November growing media sales were up by 8% on last year according to the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 charts.
It has been a great year for people getting out and getting growing. Let’s hope 2017 brings more good cheer!
The main highlights were:
- Arthur Bowers Chunky Chip Bark (70 litres) was the highest climber, jumping 29 places to No 16.
- Westland Bulb Planting Compost (20 litres) was the highest re-entry at No 22.
- Scotts Miracle-Gro Peat Free All Purpose Compost (50 litres) was the highest new entry at No 28.
- Scotts Levington Multipurpose + John Innes (56 litres) retained the top spot.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Bestselling plants shine through
Prime locations for best selling plants are more important than ever as we move into winter proper. In this week’s GTN Bestsellers Plants chart the Top 6 plant genus account for 50% of total plant sales, inside and outside.
Prime locations for best selling plants are more important than ever as we move into winter proper.
In this week’s GTN Bestsellers Plants chart the Top 6 plant genus account for 50% of total plant sales, inside and outside.
With fewer plant lines selling through it’s a great opportunity for festive plant retailing in the lead up to Christmas.
- Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo, is the highest placed new entry this week at No 30.
- Planted Amarylis, Hippeastrum, sees the highest percentage sales increase rise.
- Planted Hyacinths move into the Top 6 with sales up by over 100%.
To subscribe to GTN Bestsellers email karen.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
Meet the Buyer event hailed as a great success
Overseas buyers representing retailers with a total of around 180 stores in five different markets across Europe met with UK suppliers on 23 November in the latest ‘Meet the Buyers’ event organised by the Gardenex and PetQuip associations...
Overseas buyers representing retailers with a total of around 180 stores in five different markets across Europe met with UK suppliers on 23 November in the latest ‘Meet the Buyers’ event organised by the Gardenex and PetQuip associations.
The retailers included pet product chains, garden centres with pet departments and country stores offering a wide range of garden and pet products. The event also featured a leading distributor of pet products from Slovakia.
All of the buyers praised the event format, the meeting sessions and the retail tour that was also part of the programme. Nearly 80 meetings were held with suppliers on the day and these brought the following enthusiastic reactions from the buyers. Spanish garden centre: “We believe that we could potentially be doing business with four or five of the suppliers seen on the day”. Czech pet retailer: “We identified at least three companies where we hope to do business, and also saw two other products of interest from other potential new suppliers from the UK during the retail tour.” Portuguese and Spanish buyers: “We found the event particularly rewarding and useful and had very full meeting schedules. We normally have so little time to evaluate incoming emails from potential suppliers in our day to day business and it is impossible for us to visit and see such a broad spread of products and suppliers in such a condensed time. Therefore, the PetQuip ‘Meet the Buyers’ event provided a very focussed and time effective format.” Dutch retailer: “We were participating in a PetQuip ‘Meet the Buyers’ event for the third time, and had the busiest day ever and look forward to receiving detailed quotes. We have also requested contact with a PetQuip member whose product we saw at some of the shops during the retail tour.” Slovakian pet product distributor: “The event was extremely effective and comparable with three or four days spent at a trade show. We are interested in products from the majority of companies that we spoke to and now await detailed quotes. We wish that we had a proactive organisation like PetQuip in our country.” Initial reaction from UK suppliers was also positive with Pet Rebellion saying that the events produced consistent results for the company during the three years it had attended, and this had helped the company grow across European markets. Another supplier, Hownd, said that it chose to meet three out of the five available buyers and came away with interest from all of them. They added that the meetings provided a very cost effective way of seeing a number of buyers in one place. PetQuip and Gardenex member company, Assured Products, said that the discussions had been fruitful and they expected them to lead to export orders. Commenting on the continuing success of the buyer meetings, director general of the Federation that runs PetQuip and Gardenex, Amanda Sizer Barrett said: “Much of the continued success of these events is due to the meticulous planning carried out by the associations to identify buyers with a genuine interest in UK products and then matching them with British suppliers that can satisfy their requirements. The format ensures that serious sales negotiations can commence as soon as the two parties are introduced in the one-to-one meetings and the teams in our associations provide information and advice year-round to turn buyers’ interest into long term international sales.” The next ‘Meet the Buyers’ events are scheduled for 23 February 2017 (pet sector) and 15 March 2017 (garden sector) and the associations are already in discussions with several international buyers who have expressed their intention to take part. Contact Gardenex and PetQuip to register your interest in attending.
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Improved performance by Thompson & Morgan
Thompson & Morgan has revealed a sharp improvement in performance in its latest accounts. For the year ending June 30th 2016, the company generated an EBITDA of £2.1m, up from £0.85m in 2015. Turnover has increased to £34m from £32m in the prior year...
Thompson & Morgan has revealed a sharp improvement in performance in its latest accounts. For the year ending June 30th 2016, the company generated an EBITDA of £2.1m, up from £0.85m in 2015. Turnover has increased to £34m from £32m in the prior year.
The company has benefited from more efficient operations as its investment in industry-leading IT pays off, along with a shift away from traditional catalogues to a more web based marketing platform.
In addition, the company has increased the range of products that it offers online and now has the widest range available to gardeners in the UK.
The Ipswich-based retailer dominates the online market, with its websites receiving double the number of visitors of its nearest competitor*. It is the only plant retailer that has its own breeding operation and has developed some of the UK’s most popular plant varieties over the years, including Buddleia Buzz and Foxglove Illumination.
*Hitwise June 15-Jul 16 T&M Group 16.4m visits
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With supporting UK Horticulture at the heart of everything the HTA does, listening to our members and the industry is key, and the HTA is continuously staying in touch with its members to identify and deal with key garden issues and opportunities.
Seven years ago the HTA launched the National Plant Show at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry to support our Growers and give them the right show at the right time of the year for them to do business. The event is now a staple date in the horticultural calendar and to enhance this offering and give a platform to even more of the industry the HTA will be introducing the co-located HTA Nursery Supply Show.
Running as a separate exhibition in hall 3 at Stoneleigh alongside the HTA National Plant Show on the 20th and 21st June 2017 the HTA Nursery Supply Show will give even more to our visitors by both enabling them to buy plants but to also look at the critical elements that support plant sales, nursery retail and garden centres.
Along with the National Plant Show this enhancement aims to be the number one show in UK for plants and nursery suppliers. The premier buying event for Garden Retailers, Retail Nurseries and Growers.
The exhibition will follow the back to basics formula of the National Plant Show to allow the product to do the talking with the same low cost stand options for exhibitors to ensure the event is affordable for all.
Visitors can expect to see a range of suppliers from labelling and product information companies, substrate and growing media through to display benching, potting machinery and everything in between.
More details on the free to attend event will come with the official launch in January 2017 when booking for exhibitors will open.
Commenting on the new show, HTA President Adam Wigglesworth from Aylett Nurseries said: “I am delighted that with the new event, alongside the National Plant Show, there will be an opportunity for visitors to see suppliers with products that help us sell more plants. I hope that the efficiency of having this event next door will make our visitors’ days even more productive and worthwhile and be an exciting addition to a landmark event.”
Geoff Caesar from The Bransford Webbs Plant Company said: “As an exhibitor at the National Plant Show since the very beginning we believe this exciting new development will provide even more reasons for both growers and retailers to visit the show. The new Nursery Supply Show will provide numerous opportunities to support the production and sale of plants in the UK and help build the strength of the British nursery and garden centre industry.”
Neil Gray from Melcourt said: “The Nursery Supply Show running alongside the National Plant show offers a real opportunity to showcase UK horticulture through the supply chain of plants. We are looking forward to the opportunity to speaking to our existing customers and potential new customer about Melcourt products that serve both the retail and professional markets.”
For more details contact the events team at events@hta.org.uk
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Garden industry public relations specialist, Hornby Whitefoot PR, has been appointed as the new PR team for Briers.
Briers, the original fashion-led garden clothing, gift and tool brand, signed with Hornby Whitefoot in early November after witnessing the agency’s efforts at GIMA, Glee and Garden Re-Leaf Day, as well as wider supplier based PR activities.
Relaunched as Hornby Whitefoot PR in 2015, the agency draws on decades’ worth of industry experience - with MD Kimberley Hornby and Account Manager Robbie Cumming complimented by a networked team of senior PR professionals based across the UK. The agency was the first in the industry to transform its operations to a versatile remote working arrangement with each member of the agency working from home, office, or in Robbie’s case, from a narrowboat that travels around the UK.
Hornby Whitefoot PR’s Managing Director Kimberley Hornby said: “I am so pleased to be able to confirm that Briers has joined our client roster. We really admire the work that the team have already achieved, so being able to get stuck in and develop this even further is an exciting prospect. We look forward to working with the team to build its brand awareness, and to join them on their journey as they continue to cement their place as the go-to brand for beautiful and aspirational garden clothing, gifts and tools.”
Briers’ Managing Director Jackie Eades explains why Hornby Whitefoot was her first choice: “I’ve known Robbie (Cumming, PR Account Manager) and his family for many years, and had met Kimberley at various industry events - but it wasn’t until I joined them both on this year’s Garden Re-Leaf charity walk that we got to know each other really well! To cut a long story short, I soon realised that not only were they on my wavelength, but they would also be perfect to help build our profile with trade and consumer audiences alike. We’ve got some big news to release over the next twelve months and I can’t think of another agency that is more qualified to take us to the next level.”
Find out more
If you would like to find out more about Briers’ trend-led product ranges, telephone 01963 269 077, or email hello@briersltd.co.uk.
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The board of the Nursery Trade Fair Foundation has chosen a new direction for Plantarium.
“Under the name Plantarium 3.0, we are making the fair trendier and the event will also become a source of inspiration for green applications," says chairman Jan Willem Griep.
The new direction is being translated into a new fair layout, the organisation of Plantarium’s first green festival by and for young people and the division into three trade days and one consumer day. The Best Idea at Plantarium award, which was organised for the first time last year, will be repeated in 2017.
Layout
The new fair layout includes around a dozen Houses of Inspiration. Surprising pot/plant combinations will be displayed here, based on products supplied by both green participants and other participants. The division into three trade days and one consumer day also affects the layout. Participants who opt for three-day participation will also be allocated a specific location at the fair. In the Green Park hall, there will be a Product Promotion Square together with a follow-up to the gardens experience. On the Saturday, the hall will be converted into a consumer square.
Green festival
Plantarium will be particularly trendy as a result of its first green festival by and for young people. “We are challenging young people between the ages of 18 and 35 who work and/or study in the green sector to organise their own green festival with us,” says an enthusiastic chairman. Experiences will be shared with the Urban Greeners from Floriade 2022, who organised the first GROW festival in Almere last September. The ‘festival boss for a day’ registration form will be available on the Plantarium website from January.
Green character retained
The organisers have been careful to retain Plantarium's unique character, keeping it packed with new introductions and interesting developments. Plantarium will therefore remain a European hub of the green industry. The nursery stock package will now feature even more propagation materials, also for bedding plants, and a sizeable avenue tree presentation near the festival site.
Jan Willem Griep continues: “We have listened closely to our customers, participants and visitors. We are convinced that this new direction will allow us to offer our participants a better platform for their products and services and that the quality of the visitors will increase as a result. We are also keeping an eye on costs by introducing three levels of participation. Inspiration, experience and above all the ability to buy: these are still the main points for us. Register and come along, I would say!”
Registration
The 35th edition of Plantarium, an anniversary edition, runs from 23 to 26 August 2017 in the Plantarium building at the International Trade Centre Boskoop-Hazerswoude. Information and registration forms can be found at www.plantarium.nl. Registration opened on December 1.
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We live in changing times and independent retailers have to lead to grow sales. Being one step in front of the consumer is the challenge that faces the garden industry.
What better to kick off the year than to listen to the latest thoughts from international garden retail guru John Stanley who will host his only UK workshop at Pentland Plants, near Edinburgh on Monday 30 January 2017.
The Millennial consumer thinks differently and expects a different experience when they shop. These consumers are information hungry, social media savvy, have a short attention span and rely on visual ideas. This means retailers need to rethink how they approach the consumer and display to stimulate sales.
This workshop looks at ideas that need to be developed to grow sales in a changing world.
John Stanley works with independent garden centres in 35 countries advising on how retailers can stay ahead of the consumer. The ideas he will present are cost effective and will enable you to develop them for the coming spring in your business.
John is a world renowned retail consultant, speaker and author, starting his career teaching perishable retail management at Merrist Wood College. His ability to create rapid stock turnover launched his global consultancy and made him highly sought after in all retail industries. His presentations and workshops teach retailers how create solutions for a new generation of customers and bring them the new experiences they crave.
This will take place from 6.30pm – 9pm on Monday January 30th 2017 at Pentland Plants, Pentland Nurseries, Loanhead , EH20 9QG.
Cost Price is £50 per person for HTA members and £60 for non-members and this includes refreshments and a light supper.
To register your interest contact Neil Cummings, HTA Regional Business Manager, on neil.cummings@hta.org.uk
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Ricky Pestana has joined the Provender Nurseries sales team with a focus on face to face customer sales and advice.
With a background in plant sourcing, garden design and customer service Ricky is a very welcome addition to the team.
Hailing from Brazil Ricky has an exceptional knowledge of plants of a more tropical ilk and moved to the UK some years ago to further his plant knowledge.
with all the news direct to your e-mail inbox. The best news service every weekend and all the breaking news as it happens.
Subscribe for free using this link: http://tgcmc.newsweaver.co.uk/gtnxtra/7rulj2yio7x?a=6&p=49514304&t=20355005
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Every week GTN receives and analyses epos data from a number of UK garden centres to produce the GTN Bestsellers charts and weekly bestsellers sales tips. The full charts which provide useful insight into product sales peaks, new trends and new link sales opportunities are published in the weekly GTN Xtra printed newsletter.
As the year goes on we give sales volume comparisons with 2014 as well as 2015 to allow your teams to see variations over a three year period. Access is by subscription only. For £195.00 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 Christmas Products Bestsellers chart for this week are here
Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here WARNING the GTN Bestsellers Charts seriously improve the business of our subscribers. Invest 15 minutes each week in improving your sales using the GTN Bestsellers charts and your turnover and customer satisfaction will improve too.
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Get the GTN Bestsellers charts in full every week in the GTN Bestsellers newsletters delivered via the post for only £195.00.
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.
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All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
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Already an essential date on equipment buyers calendars, Commercial Kitchen is all set for a successful second edition next year on 6-7 June at the NEC Birmingham.
The UK’s first dedicated trade event exclusively for the entire commercial catering equipment industry, Commercial Kitchen has enjoyed strong industry and association support from the outset.
Its launch event, six months ago, attracted 1,723 attendees; including leading catering equipment purchasers and specifiers from across the foodservice sector.
For 2017, those visiting buyers will have even more new innovations to see. Thanks to a 25% increase in exhibitors, the event will now accommodate over 100 leading equipment manufacturers, suppliers and distributors. They’ll be showcasing the complete range of innovative equipment, devices and utensils required to run a commercial kitchen; including cooking equipment, refrigeration, storage, warewashing, fit out and design.
“The exceptional success of the launch event resulted in over half of our founding exhibitors re-booking stands before the end of the show,” says Commercial Kitchen’s group event director Chris Brazier.
“Since then we’ve had significant interest from around the world and a raft of new, leading equipment manufacturers and suppliers have already added their names to the growing exhibitor list. We’re around 70% booked, with six months still to go.
“Whilst there are many great trade shows that focus on specific sectors, such as Casual Dining and lunch!, for example, what makes Commercial Kitchen truly unique is that it brings together senior equipment buyers from every vertical sector, from all types of kitchens – from top-end Michelin starred restaurants to pubs, bars, branded restaurant chains, cafés, schools and hospitals.
“This doesn’t just make it much easier and more effective for exhibitors but, crucially, also much more appealing for visiting decision makers. The kitchen is one of the most important investments any operator has to make. At Commercial Kitchen they can see what’s new and compare the latest products from the best market-leading brands in one visit, at one dedicated show,” he says.
New exhibitors looking to take advantage of the show’s unique proposition include Wexiödisk, Roller Grill, Liebherr, True MFG, BBCS, Retigo, Target, ScanBox, and Calorex Heat Pumps.
While among the returning exhibitors are Rational UK, Space Catering, Purified Air, Valentine Equipment, MSC Technical Products, Gamble Foodservice Solutions, Manitowoc Foodservice, Electrolux Professional, Hoshizaki Gram, rexmartins, Unox UK, Testo, Clifton Food Range, Nayati, Robot Coupe UK, EAIS, R H Hall Foodservice Solutions, ACO Building Drainage, and GDPA.
Save the date for 2017
Commercial Kitchen returns to the NEC Birmingham on 6-7 June 2017. Show features include a free two-day seminar programme, the Innovation Challenge Awards, and CEDA Design Gallery.
“As someone who wants the best equipment for our teams and customers, Commercial Kitchen 2016 was a good and very relevant show for me. I look forward to attending again and watching this important event grow over the coming years,” says Dirk Wissmann, senior equipment buyer at Pret A Manger.
For further information, and to pre-register to attend next year, visit www.commercialkitchenshow.co.uk/register-your-interest.
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