Amid all the media hype about fuel shortages, empty supermarket shelves and a shortage of labour in so many sectors of industry the GTNXtra news hound recalls mention of a shortage of Pigs in Blankets this Christmas.
Well this week our industries gardening guru and strongest supporter of UK horticulture in its broadest sense was himself like a pig in... when he dropped into an Essex Garden Centre.
Peter Seabrook, journalist, broadcaster and gardening correspondent for The Sun newspaper popped into Meadow Croft Garden Centre near Wickford in Essex and was pleased to find a plentiful supply of lots of things including plenty of Pigs in Blanket flavoured crisps from leading supplier Mackies of Scotland!
Buying two packets does not constitute ‘panic buying’ insisted Peter, simply one for Christmas day and one for the days following to go with the cold turkey.
Meadow Croft Garden Centre is owned by W.D. Smith & Son, a local family of nurserymen who have been growing plants for gardeners for nearly ninety years.
They are putting the finishing touches to their Christmas display and have just opened their traditional German Market at the centre for the trading period up to Christmas.
Their concept of the German Christmas Market is really very simple but so effective. A fantastic range of products, many which despite all my years in the industry, I have not seen in other retail outlets. Little wonder the centre is such a draw to people from the heart of Essex and beyond.