Headline keynote speakers, more than 20 expert-led seminars, two dedicated content stages and the return of the Glee New Products Showcase make Glee 2026 one of the industry's most valuable destinations for business insight as well as buying.
Visitors to Glee 2026 can now start planning their visit, with organisers unveiling a packed three-day content programme spanning Centre Stage and the Feed Your Business Stage. Taking place from 8th-10th September at the NEC Birmingham, the agenda has been carefully curated to tackle the biggest commercial opportunities and challenges facing modern garden retail.
Alongside Europe's biggest buying moment – which sees Glee co-locate with Autumn Fair for two days – visitors can also look forward to the return of the hugely popular Glee New Products Showcase, providing an exclusive first look at the latest launches, breakthrough innovations and retail solutions set to shape the seasons ahead.
Together, the seminar programme and New Products Showcase reinforce Glee's position as far more than a trade exhibition, offering buyers the opportunity to source new products, discover emerging trends, hear from industry leaders and take away practical ideas to help their businesses thrive.
Business insight for every retailer
Built around themes including market insight, leadership, people, productivity, sustainability, customer engagement, food and hospitality, and innovation, the programme ensures every visitor can tailor their experience to the areas most relevant to their business.
Centre Stage will welcome many of the industry's biggest names, including an exclusive keynote interview with David Robinson, CEO of Dobbies Garden Centres, who will discuss leading one of the UK's best-known garden centre businesses through a period of transformation, sharing his thoughts on leadership, customer expectations, investment and the future of the sector.
People also remain firmly on the agenda. In 'People, Pay and Perception: Fixing the Talent Challenge in Garden Retail', Guy Moreton, Managing Director of MorePeople, will explore one of the industry's most pressing issues, examining how businesses can attract, develop and retain talented people whilst changing perceptions of careers within garden retail.
The programme begins with Laura Loveridge and Harry Redman from the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), who will present 'The State of Garden Retail: What the Data Is Really Telling Us',providing exclusive insight into the latest consumer trends, market performance and opportunities shaping the industry. Retail productivity also comes under the spotlight as Vanessa Cranford, Phil Wright and Josh Novell of Polhill Garden Centre demonstrate how better use of business data can improve operational efficiency and profitability, while Michael Perry (Mr Plant Geek) returns with his ever-popular Future Plants Walking Tour across all three days.
Wednesday sees Sam Dickson, Managing Director of Squire's Garden Centres, reflect on his first year leading the business, alongside practical discussions around smarter water management featuring Wave and the National Trust. Whilst, on Thursday, James Shorey from Planet Mark joins George Hillier to explore how Hillier is successfully combining lower carbon with lower costs, before Floral Thursday rounds off the programme with fundraising and celebrations in support of the Greenfingers Charity.
Spotlight on food and hospitality
Reflecting the growing importance of hospitality within modern garden centres, the dedicated Feed Your Business Stage returns with practical sessions designed to help operators maximise the commercial potential of their catering and food retail operations.
Sessions will cover topics including coffee trends, menu engineering, restaurant design, food safety, staffing, customer experience and creating food propositions that drive footfall, loyalty and profitability. Supporting Glee's expanded Food Hall and Food & Beverage sectors, the stage provides specialist insight for businesses looking to grow one of garden retail's fastest-expanding revenue streams.
More than a buying event
From discovering tomorrow's bestselling products within the Glee New Products Showcase to hearing from the industry's leading retailers, researchers and innovators, Glee 2026 combines buying with business learning like no other event in the sector.
The full seminar agenda is now available online - www.gleebirmingham.com/whats-on/agenda - allowing visitors to plan their visit in advance and make the most of every moment at Glee 2026. Free visitor registration is now open at www.gleebirmingham.com.
