In a year of continuing trading challenge with geopolitical instability, rising interest rates, consumer spending restraint and supply cost pressures, Notcutts saw both sales and profit up during the year. Annual turnover increased by 4.1% to £78.6m with operating profit up at £1.6m. 

Commenting on these results, Nick Burrows, Chief Executive said “We continue to provide a strong offering that our customers rate favourably – as shown in our highest ever customer satisfaction scores in the year measured through NPS. Trading has begun to rebound, and we believe it will continue to do so as economic conditions improve”

Nick Burrows added “We have continued with our programme to develop our garden centre portfolio in order to support the ongoing prospects of the business. This has included the completion of our project to restore the historic Edwardian Messenger glasshouses at our Dukeries garden centre near Worksop; the expansion of our restaurant capacities in Oxford, Tunbridge Wells, Wheatcroft (Nottingham) and Norwich; and a solar power installation in Woodbridge. We have also made significant investments in our IT infrastructure with new retail, stock management and CRM systems during the year which will bring exciting new efficiencies and opportunities for our business.”

Caroline Notcutt, Vice Chairman highlighted the importance that Notcutts places on creating the right culture in which colleagues can succeed and enjoy their roles. “We were really encouraged to win the award for Best Employer in the East of England in retail and hospitality during the year. Part of the assessment of our organisation for this award was an in-depth survey conducted by the adjudicators amongst colleagues in a number of our garden centres.”

Caroline Notcutt added: “I am also delighted that our well-established approach to succession planning is bearing fruit with key senior operational leadership roles having been filled by our own internal candidates. We offer a range of training, coaching and personal development support to colleagues at all levels in Notcutts and it’s great that this can lead to genuine career openings and progression within our organisation”

Bridget McIntyre, Chairman explained that “Notcutts garden centres and support office have continued to work closely with our local communities supporting various charities and schools. We are into the third year of our charitable partnership with The Green Light Trust, whose mission is to ensure everyone has equitable access to the power of nature. They work with people of all ages, who are often more disadvantaged members of our communities, through organised outdoor activities in woodlands and green spaces. Alongside this each of our garden centres has developed partnerships with local charities and community groups – we see this as an important part of the role we play in each of our locations around the UK.”

Commenting on Notcutts environmental strategy, Nick Burrows said “We continue to have a clear policy and set of goals with biodiversity, sustainability and the environment key pillars of our ongoing strategy. Two years ago, we set a goal to reduce our carbon emissions by 15% by the end of 2023/24 and it is pleasing to see that we have been able to exceed this goal in this period. What’s more, in doing this we received a high commendation award from Planet Mark for the manner in which we have engaged colleagues throughout the organisation to help achieve this. We now have Sustainability Champions in every one of our garden centres.”

Nick Burrows added “As we continue to pursue our biodiversity goals, we have now introduced new wildlife gardens in all our garden centres for customers and colleagues to enjoy and where animals, birds and insects can thrive. In addition, with further rainwater harvesting investments – now in eight garden centres - we have capacity to harvest 190,000 litres of rainwater through these installations”

For more information visit www.notcutts.co.uk.