A stunning last week’s trading in November, which was the ninth highest week for volume sales of the year, meant the month finished 11% up on last year and 7% higher than the previous November record set in 2017. 

Despite everything that is going on at the moment this just proves the popularity of garden centres as leisure shopping destinations.

Christmas of course played its part in that overall record with last week’s GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes reaching the highest weekly total in any of the last 10 years of Epos data analysis.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year (week 48)

• Garden Products - up 23%
• Growing Media - up 23%
• Wild Bird Care - up 14%
• Christmas - up 6%
• All Plants Index - up 17%
• All Items Index - up 5%

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Here's a taste of some exciting new Höfats products, available through Ginique...

Gravity Candle

No matter in which direction the gravity candle is twisted, the candle always remains vertical due to gravity. Slightly turning the Gravity candle allows you to light the internal candle without removing the glass or burning yourself. Wax splashes when blowing a candle out are a thing of the past, as inverting the gravity candle will extinguish the flame. Hang it up, put it down or add it to a rod, the Gravity Candle with its atmospheric candlelight turns your favourite spot into a magical place both indoors and outdoors.

Beer Box

Höfats have re-invented the beverage container with their Beer Box. Made of solid Corten steel it can be used for storage or as a fire basket. Thanks to its accessories, the crate turns into a grill or a stool and is stackable. It also has a built-in bottle opener.... It was awarded the Steel Innovation Award in June 2018 prevailing against 561 other submissions.

The Höfats Beer Box makes steel sexy!

Cube Black

The unit is powder coated stainless steel and has an optional stainless steel grill, cast iron plate or wooden stool top. In its unlit form the cube can be used as a stool, bench or side table and can even be stacked to give greater height. As a fire basket the fire is held in a suspended basket which remains vertical when the bowl is rotated, allowing you to protect against the wind or extinguish the unit safely. Genius!

For more info and to see samples:

Tel: 07530 649500

Email: john@ginique.co.uk

A record week for Christmas sales volumes resulted in the GTN Bestsellers Christmas Top 50 sales index being up 16% on last year and 5% higher than the previous November record set in 2017.

As real Christmas trees start selling through many of the items in the Top 50 this week are for tree decoration.

Highlights of the week were:

• Kaemingk’s Willow Xmas Tree Ring Grey 28cm is the highest climber, up 25 places to No 9 and their Large Christmas Tree Wicker Ring is a new entry at No 39.
• Lotus Imports Traditional Berry 3 Stem Pick is the highest re-entry at No 11.
• Premier’s Gold Poinsettia Pick is the highest new entry at No 23.

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

When Bents Garden and Homes’ forest of fresh Christmas trees arrived in store, the team put aside ten Nordmann firs and asked customers to nominate local causes who would love a fresh centrepiece for their Christmas decorations.

After more than 170 comments on the Facebook initiative, the following schools, hospices and charities have been donated a tree:

St Ann’s Hospice, Little Hulton

Children’s Society Shop, Culcheth

Belong, Wigan

Warrington Disability Partnership, Warrington

Fox Wood Special School, Warrington

Penkford School, St Helens

Oakwood SEN School, Eccles

Leigh St Peters Primary School, Leigh

Glazebury C of E Primary School, Glazebury

Twiss Green Community Primary School, Warrington

Bents has also donated a fresh Christmas tree and decorations to Once Upon a Smile, it’s 2019 charity of the year.  The tree is taking pride of place in the reception at the charity’s head office and dedicated bereavement hub.

Customers and colleagues at Bents have already raised more than £15,000 for Once Upon a Smile, with fundraising continuing throughout the Christmas period and at Bents’ Festive Family Fun Weekend, which ends today (Sunday 8 December).

As the largest own-brand supplier of growing media and barks in the UK, Bord na Móna is driven by delivering exceptional products to market. Across the group it specialises in renewable energy, horticulture, resource recovery and eco-fuels, and sees the importance of helping the UK government to hit its target of reaching zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Bord Na Móna’s ‘Brown to Green’ strategy has spearheaded the company’s intent to support the national climate and energy policy. Its aim is to speed up the development of renewable energy assets, as well as accelerating investment in higher-value recycling and resource recovery business.

Steve Harper, UK Head of Commercial and Marketing at Bord na Móna, keeps his finger on the ‘peat vs peat-free’ pulse to ensure that Bord Na Móna can stay ahead of the curve.

“The UK government has issued a number of targets over the years, such as the aim for all soil improvers and growing media to be 50 per cent peat-free by 2005 and 90 per cent peat-free by 2010, however both targets were missed,” he said.  This was followed up by the 2011 White Paper ‘The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature’ which stated that the government will commit to reducing peat use to zero by 2030 and critically end its use by consumers in 2020. So needless to say the debate – or the challenge – continues.”

The White Paper Harper refers to had a profound effect, resulting in the setup of the Responsible Sourcing Scheme for Growing Media that enables Defra, NGOs, retailers, growers and manufacturers to make the best-informed decisions about different constituent formulations, maximising the environmental and social benefits, as well as considering cost. “I am personally delighted to be leading this at Bord Na Móna,” Harper continued, “as we strive to ensure growing media is made from materials that are sourced and manufactured in a way that is both socially and environmentally responsible; supporting the government is of great importance to us.”

The manufacturers are typically members of the Growing Media Association (GMA) which is concerned with the development, production, marketing and sale of growing media and soil improvers in the UK and Ireland and the ingredients used.

Phenomenal progress has been achieved across the sector since its inception in order to support the UK government’s targets. Members of the GMA cover the whole spectrum of growing media suppliers, from businesses that started out as peat producers to those that run entirely peat-free operations. Steve feels confident that all members that began life as peat producers have worked hard to reduce the peat content in their products and develop alternatives.

Peat has always been the cheapest raw material available on the market, with all other diluents between two to six times more expensive, so has been the go-to product, especially for many who are price conscious. This is one of the reasons why Bord Na Móna has now launched a new peat-free brand, Happy Compost, using a wide range of ingredients to reduce peat –  for example coir, green compost, composted bark fines and a recycled wood fibre – that works as well as the peat-based products they are replacing.

This year the Blue Diamond Group of Garden Centres are delighted to have donated real Christmas trees to various children's hospices, hospitals, charities and primary schools that are local to its 37 centres:

SPRINGFIELDS Wygate Park Academy

CHATSWORTH Fairplay Alexandra road Chesterfield S40 1NP

CHATSWORTH Bluebell Wood Chidrens hospice

MATLOCK Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Childrens Ward

ORCHARD PARK Yewstock School

3 SHIRES James Hopkins Trust

FRYERS Childrens Farm Trust and Alder Hey Children's Hospital

TRELAWNEY Little Harbour House - Porthpean

FERMOYS Ipplepen Primary School

COTON ORCHARD Each -East Anglian Children's Hospices Milton branch

WILTON Woodlands county Primary School

HARLOW Haven House Hospice

NEWBRIDGE Chestnut Tree House

GROSVENOR Hope House / Claire House

REDFIELDS Treloar School for disabled children

REDFIELDS The Ridgeway for disabled children

BRAMBRIDGE Naomi House & Jacksplace

DERBY Children First

TRENTHAM Donna Louise Trust

EAST BRIDGFORD Rainbows Childrens Hospice, Loughborough

EVESHAM Evesham Adventure Playground

LE FRIQUET Le Bourg Hospice

ST PETERS Brightly

ST PETERS Jersey Child Care Trust

CADBURY Childrens Hospice South West

SANDERS Brent Knoll Primary School

BICESTER Helen and Douglas House Hospice

MELBICKS Woodlands School

MELBICKS Damson Wood Infants

PERCY THROWERS Hope House Childrens Hospice

CARDIFF Ty Hafan, Hayes Road

ENDSLEIGH Snowdrop

NAILSWORTH Nailsworth School

BRIDGEMERE The Wingate Special Childrens Trust

CANTERBURY Chartham Primary School

HEREFORD Withington Primary School

LOWER MORDEN St. Raphael's Hospice

RAKE Dreams Come True

TUNBRIDGE WELLS Groove Park School

WORCESTER North Worcester Primary

These organisations provide amazing support and benefits to children and their families, often at very sensitive times of a child's life.

Last year Blue Diamond donated real Christmas trees to 100 care homes to mark the centenary of the end of WW1.

Tong Garden Centre’s Christmas displays have been named the best in the North East for the fourth year running in the Garden Centre Association’s annual festive honours.

The centre achieved a score of 91.73%, seven percentage points higher than last year's winning tally.

Winners are selected for their ability to demonstrate a real ‘wow factor' by showcasing their product range with innovative and inspirational displays that create excitement and a festive ambience.

Congratulating her team, Tong's commercial director Sharon McNair said: “It's a great result and very well deserved. Christmas at Tong really is a massive team effort and every department within the centre has contributed to this amazing result. The GCA class a score between 80-90% as excellent to outstanding, so you can imagine just how thrilled we are to be above outstanding!

"Winning this award for the fourth year is testament to the team's skill and ongoing commitment to giving our customers the most memorable Christmas experience."

GCA judge Alyson Haywood said: “Christmas at Tong is beautifully laid out in a strong spacious creative manner that inspires customers to achieve the look in their own homes. Whether it's lights to decorate your house or tree, toys for the children or collectable lit villages for the grown ups, Tong has it all."

Tong Garden Centre's Christmas offering includes a new grotto experience, tasting events in the food hall and extended opening hours.

Pictured: The team at Tong celebrate their GCA award (left to right) – John Bamforth, Anne Harris, Matthew Inman, Zoe Whitehead (Buyer), Jenny Shaw, Janice Astbury, Dennis Keen.

The new wild bird care range launched earlier this year by Lincolnshire-based Henry Bell & Co, the family-owned animal feed producer behind a number of private labels, is now on shelves at Dobbies Garden Centres.

Henry Bell has over 20 years’ experience in the bird food industry and has been pivotal in the growth of many private label wild bird food brands. The company has now combined its strong expertise and knowledge to launch its own high-quality range of products specially designed to provide health and wellbeing for wild birds.

The Henry Bell Wild Bird Care range comprises more than 100 products catering for every type of garden bird. Created to meet specific needs, the range includes mixed seeds, straights such as peanuts, sunflower seeds and mealworms, suet and fat balls, all

available in various sizes and formats.

Complementing the food range is the Henry Bell Wild Bird Care Collection of bespoke and adaptable accessories. It includes the ‘Essential’ and premium ‘Heritage’ collections which feature a broad range of feeders and feeding stations at market-leading prices.

Tom Lee, Henry Bell’s MD, said: “We’ve built a strong pedigree in the animal feed industry and with decades of expertise, it was a natural step for Henry Bell to launch its own brand. Henry Bell Wild Bird Care is focused on excellence and we worked hard at designing a range that places the wellbeing of birds centre stage. We know that both the superior quality and attractive packaging of our food and accessories will resonate with both professionals and consumers alike - and will get wild birds coming back for more”.

Henry Bell has also unveiled new branding which focuses on its 175 plus years of experience and strong heritage as a British business. The range showcases an eye-catching and modern packaging design that is reflective of the quality of its feeds and complementary accessories.

Brother and sister Tom and Jenny Ripley are to take over Greenways garden centre in Bethersden in January - the first time the centre has changed hands in almost 20 years.

They plan to call it Ripleys and add a hairdressing salon.

The site has been owned by the Ripley family for around 40 years but Tom, 32, a former team manager at Waitrose, Canterbury, and his insurance broker sister Jenny, 34, have given up their day jobs to concentrate on the venture.

Tom will be investing £150,000 to upgrade the premises, which will retain the independent A-Z Animal Care and The Antiques Barn businesses on site, and a new business, Olson Timber Buildings, will be added. The Garden Restaurant, run by his cousins Andrew and Brad, will continue to trade as normal

The centre’s product range will be expanded to include gifts, candles, cards and children's toys.

Tom who plays cricket and football in the district and began his 16-year Waitrose career at the Tenterden branch, told the Kent Messenger Online: “We have lived in Bethersden all our lives so lots of people know us. Our garden centre will be family-run and we hope people will get behind us."

Greenways, run by Alan Greenway for 19 years, will officially close on Christmas Eve after a final sale.

Gardman Crest says strong stock levels of its Kent & Stowe wellington boots are meeting soaring seasonal demand across the industry.

The boots are fully waterproof, feature a cushioned sole for comfort and have reinforced seams. They are available in full and half-length for women and men in sizes 3 to 12, priced from £14.99.

Sales director Andy Abraham says the new wellies have proved popular with retailers. “Due to the strong position we are now in, we are easily able to fulfil this demand whilst also keeping stock and supply flowing” he added.

Spring Fair has announced its new theatre line-up for February’s show. Across five days and three stages, visitors can access fresh retail sector insights from world-renowned industry innovators and disruptors.

The programme is designed to help identify opportunities to invigorate retail businesses and fuel sales and profits, focusing on current and future trends. ‘Queen of Cakes' Mary Berry and ‘Queen of Shops’ Mary Portas are among the names announced so far.

The Inspiring Retail stage in hall 6 will host seminars, celebrity Q&As and expert panel discussions covering hot topic issues from sustainability, customer experience, and the ever-increasing move towards hybrid retailing. This stage will also delve into consumer trends and equip retailers with everything they need to better engage with their customers and the community around them.

Major industry keynotes include John Lewis, Selfridges, Google, PWC and Mintel, as well as show trend partners Colour Hive.

The Design and Source stage will feature as part of the show’s all-new Sourcing area in hall 18. Speakers will provide insight-led talks on how to get one-step ahead of market rivals in 2020 by looking beyond the UK’s borders for the best and most competitively priced products. They’ll also address the latest design practices and inspiration sources, while helping educate on more practical issues like product lifecycle management and sourcing techniques.

There will be speakers from some of the UK’s best-known retailers and brands, including Oliver Bonas, Harrods, JML, West Elm, Penguin and Random House, alongside interior designers and international sourcing experts.

Essential must-know tips, tricks and best practices for the retail industry in 2020 will be explored from the stage of the Retail Skills Theatre in hall 2. Speakers, including management coaches, HR experts, digital consultants and PR strategists, will offer practical insights for everyone from fledgling start-up retailers to established online indies looking to improve their offering, and Google Digital Garage will run workshops.

Charlie Cracknell, Spring Fair’s portfolio director, said: “The climate that retailers operate is in a state of transformation. Whilst many businesses are making it work, business models are being challenged. At Spring Fair, we want to give ambitious retailers the knowledge and assurance that embracing real change and transformation opens the door to opportunity. Those that have that fresh thinking in their approach and put their customers at the centre of their business are those that will thrive.

Spring Fair runs from 2–6 February at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre. Register to attend for free here.

LifestyleGarden has helped complete the refit of the Eden Project’s catering areas.

The ScanCom International subsidiary provided its limited-edition Banyan Tree cast aluminum chairs, which have been installed in the Eden Kitchen, Eden’s main refreshment area located between the biomes.

The bespoke chairs are designed to be robust as well as lightweight and have a unique design inspired by the Banyan Tree in Eden’s Rainforest Biome. In a palette of pastel colours, the chairs compliment the light and airy refit of the café areas and have been paired with LifeStyleGarden’s self levelling and folding Gyro bistro tables.

CEO of Eden Project International, David Harland, said: “Eden’s mission is to reconnect humans to the living world, exploring how we can work together to create a better future. Eden’s ethos blends perfectly with that of LifestyleGarden, which is led by the motto ‘Doing Business the Right Way’ and together we are committed to tackling this to ensure a more sustainable experience for all.”

Paul Cohen, sales director at LifestyleGarden said the synergy provided the perfect platform to showcase the company’s furniture ranges. “This will help further drive our common goal of promoting good environmental practice and sustainability to the consumer and help them make an ethical choice when purchasing gardening furniture,” he added.

The partnership between LifestyleGarden® and the Eden Project has been gathering momentum in 2019.  The company’s DuraOcean® chair, crafted from recycled fishing nets, ropes and plastic waste salvaged from the world’s oceans, is showcased in a replica beach exhibit in Eden’s Mediterranean biome.

Both the Banyan Tree and DuraOcean® chairs will be available for the 2020 season, as part of the full Eden Project partnership range. The range also includes exclusive cushions and deckchairs, featuring Eden designs and patterns, which will provide retailers with an additional add-on sales opportunity, and a unique selling point, supported by the iconic Eden Project branding.

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 a motivated and ambitious Product Merchandiser. This is a temporary contract with a term of 7 to 8 months.

Job title: Product Merchandiser

Area: Norfolk and surrounding areas

Salary: Very attractive salary, company vehicle.

Progression: There will be opportunities to progress within the company

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 a fit and healthy additional member to join our team of merchandisers. The main duties will involve setting up display benches and displaying our products within garden centres in your allocated area, mainly covering Norfolk, Suffolk and surrounding areas. The ideal applicant will live central to these areas. Other locations within reasonable proximity will be considered.

This is an outdoor job involving heavy lifting and only applicants whom are fit, healthy and willing to work long 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.

This is a temporary contract, full time position with immediate start available.

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.

Job Title Full Time Merchandiser /Sales representative

Area Approximately 50 mile radius of Reading

Job Description :Creative Products Ltd are an instore TV promotion company selling a range of unique cookware, houseware, garden, giftware and pet products under the brand name Creative.

We are currently seeking a hard-working, dedicated full time merchandiser/area representative to look after our accounts within approximately a 50-mile radius of the Reading area and responsible for installing/ merchandising our dedicated display stands that incorporate media advertising screens playing our custom made in store product advertising films.

Previous merchandising experience is preferable, as is some experience of customer service and sales, although full training will be given. The ideal candidate would be in the Reading area. You will be responsible for approximately 60 customers who will need visiting every 4-6 weeks. These customers are predominantly garden centres but also include High Street and out of town retailers. The work can be physically demanding. The role is very hands on, comprising of installing our display equipment for new business and merchandising the stock displayed on our stands. Our promotions change every 8-16 weeks and so delivering in stock, merchandising and collecting stock are all part of the required role. This vacancy would suit a person with experience of FMCG. You will be confident, have a smart appearance with the ability to develop good customer relationships. You should also have good commercial awareness and understand how the critical placement of products within retail stores affect sales performance. The ideal candidate should hold a full clean driving licence. Some overnight stays will be required as well as visits to our head office in Lincolnshire every 3-4 weeks. Company van, telephone and laptop provided. Company Pension Scheme also offered. Starting salary in the region of £22,000 with an increase after completion of successful 3-month trial period

Starting salary £22,000 dependent upon experience.

Applications by email to:

mark@creativeproducts.ltd.uk

richard@creativeproducts.ltd.uk

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On the back of high lighting and houseplant feed sales, November 2019 sales totals reached a new record high.

Even beating the high from 2014 when garden lighting sales were on a year-round sales roll. In the last week of November 2019 houseplant feeds were significant contributors to Garden Product sales. 

There were 13 houseplant feed lines in the GTN Top 50, six from Fito, five from Growth Technology and one each from Westland and SBM.

Highlights of the week were:

• Growth Technology Poinsettia Myst 300ml is a new entry at No 31.
• Fito’s All Plants Drip Feeder climbed 42 places up the chart to No 6.
• Smart Garden’s Wibbly Bert was the highest new entry for the week at No 18.

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

Davidson Richards and Garden Connect have signed a deal to develop joint solutions, one of the first of which is an app allowing garden centre customers to scan their own shopping cart and to pay on their mobile.

Keith Bateman (pictured, far left), director of Davidson Richards, said: “Giving your customers the ability to scan their own purchases in-store and then pay on their phones transforms their retail experience, removing the need to stand and queue at a till point.  Alternatively, the Scan & Go App can be used with the customer still scanning their own purchases and at the payment stage, they can be requested to visit any till point using our OpSuite retail management and EpoS solution and the entire customer basket can be processed at the till with a single scan of their phone and the payment processed as usual. "

Edwin Meijer (second left), founder of Garden Connect, is excited by the opportunity: "We were in touch with Davidson Richards last year when one of our customers requested to integrate their webshop with OpSuite. Because it went so well, we started talking with Keith about a closer partnership since it could benefit many of our mutual customers.

"We're both aware some companies are doing everything: EPOS and online marketing. But EPOS is not something you can do as a side job, nor is online marketing. So having a partnership between our two companies will give garden centres the best of both worlds."

Pre-Christmas plant sales are giving a welcome end of year lift to overall plant sales.  Last week's plants total volumes were up by 17% on the same week last year, the second consecutive week of big increases.

Total plant sales for November were 6% up on last year, but just 0.25% under the level of sales in 2017.

Highlights were:

• Poinsettia more than doubled in sales to move up to be the No 2 bestselling plant.
• Cyclamen sales were up by 58% year on year to hold onto the No 1 bestselling plant for winter title.
• Primula sales also grew significantly, up by 42%, to move up to No 3.
• All Plants volume sales change: Week on week UP 13.4%.  Year to date vs 2018 DOWN 6.3%, vs  2017 UP 0.8%.

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

Squire’s Garden Centres in Shepperton has donated £2,889 to the Charley Paige Trust after pledging  20% of the profits from their Buzzy Bumbles soft play hive to the charity.

The Charley Paige Trust supports children with life limiting illnesses and disabilities, providing them with medical, educational or recreational equipment, helping families in need.

Trustee Jackie Franklin said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive such a fabulous donation from Squire’s Garden Centres. Our thanks go to Martin and his fantastic team and all their soft play customers. We try to provide sick children with a reason to smile and help with things that enhances their life, or makes life easier for the whole family, so this money will make a real difference.”

Pictured above: Jackie Franklin, Trustee of the Charley Paige Trust, receiving a cheque for £2,889 from Squire’s Shepperton manager Martin Lines.

Left: Buzzy Bumbles soft play hive.

Wild Bird Care sales volumes overtook Growing Media volumes for the first week this winter. Top 50 Wild Bird Care volumes for November were 6% up on last year.

Highlights of the week were:

• Gardman Fat Snax, tub of 50, keeps hold of its No 1 Bestsellers position.
• Westland Peckish Complete Suet Cake, pack of 10, is the highest climber of the week, up 24 places to No 17.
• Tom Chambers Nice Nuts 2.5kg with 25% extra free move up 11 places to No 9.

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

November was a busy month for gardening activity with Growing Media sales volumes up 21% on last year at an all-time record level for the month.

Highlights of the week were:

• Evergreen Garden Care Levington Bark Bale 100 litres is the highest chart climber, up 35 places to No 6.
• Bloomin Amazing Soil Enricher 70 litres moves up 20 places to No 13.
• Growth Technology Orchid Focus Repotting Mix 3 litres moves up 6 places to be the 3^rd Bestselling Growing Media line of the week.

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

Apta have today, 2^nd December, 2019, announced that the business has been acquired by The AMES Companies, a leading supplier of non-powered landscaping products in the USA, Canada and Australasia. The broad range includes garden tools, wheelbarrows, planters, garden hoses and lawn accessories. AMES (www.ames.com) has a long history dating back to 1774 and is excited about expanding its presence in the UK market, with Apta joining its other UK businesses: Kelkay, La Hacienda and Anchorfast.

AMES itself forms part of Griffon Corporation (NYSE: GFF), a diversified U.S. public company with a turnover of over $2.2billion that conducts its business within the Home and Building Products, Consumer and Professional Products, and Defence Electronics markets.

Apta has grown its business significantly in recent seasons to establish itself as the leading supplier of planters and accessories to the UK garden centre market. The present management team will continue to run the business, with Paul Sykes remaining as Managing Director.

Paul comments, “This is a terrific development for our business, and we have great confidence that the many employees, customers and suppliers of Apta will benefit from our new ownership structure. As part of the global AMES team, we are well positioned to continue to grow via a strengthened supply chain and broadened product portfolio”.

For further information please contact Apta on 01233 621090.

A statement on the Griffon Corporation website this afternoon said: "Griffon Corporation (“Griffon” or the “Company”) (NYSE:GFF) announced that its subsidiary, The AMES Companies, Inc., (“AMES”) acquired Vatre Group Limited (“Apta”), a leading United Kingdom supplier of innovative garden pottery and associated products sold to leading UK and Ireland garden centers. This acquisition enhances our ongoing AMES UK expansion strategy.

The purchase price for Apta is approximately $10 million and is expected to contribute approximately $15 million in annualized revenue and be accretive to Griffon’s earnings in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020.

Barton Grange Garden Centre (above) and Whitehall Garden Centre – Whitchurch (below) have been announced as the national winners of the 2019 Garden Centre Association’s annual Christmas competition.

The garden centres were judged to have the best festive displays in the country by the organisation and will receive their awards at its annual conference in January, 2020.

Iain Wylie, GCA Chief Executive, said: “Each year our member’s Christmas displays get better and better and it was an extremely difficult decision to choose the winners this year.

“The entrants were judged on general ambience, creativity, stock range, flow, tidiness and customer service was also taken into consideration.

“We’d like to say a huge congratulations to Barton Grange Garden Centre in Lancashire who won in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category and Whitehall Garden Centre – Whitchurch in North Somerset who won in the Garden Centre (GC) category.”

Entrants in the GC category were judged by Andy Campbell and entrants in the DGC category were judged by Alyson Haywood.

David Fawcett-Ropner, Display Manager at Barton Grange Garden Centre, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have won the title of ‘Best Christmas Displays in the UK’. A lot of planning, time and effort goes into Christmas and it’s great to be rewarded for our team’s hard work! ​

“One major change we made this year was painting all the shop fit black, this was to make all the colourful decorations stand out and it’s definitely been worth it! We’ve got vibrant rooms such as the vivid pinks found in ‘Flamboyance’, and the neon greens of ‘Tropicana’, but we’ve also got displays focused on the more traditional reds as well as those modern graphite greys.

“There’s something for everyone! We’ve had fab comments from our customers about our displays and received many congratulations for winning this competition, it’s truly fantastic!”

The area winners in the South Thames area were Garsons Garden Centre – Esher (DGC) and Busy Bee Garden Centre (GC). In the Wales and West area Whitehall Garden Centre – Lacock (DGC) and Whitehall Garden Centre – Whitchurch (GC) were chosen.

In North Thames, the area winners were Perrywood Garden Centre – Tiptree (DGC) and Sunshine Garden Centre (GC) while St Peter’s Garden Centre (DGC) and Planters Garden Centre – Bretby (GC) were selected in the Midlands area.

Barton Grange Garden Centre (DGC), pictured above, and Fron Gogh Garden Centre (GC) were selected in the North West and in the North East, Tong Garden Centre (DGC) and Coletta and Tyson Garden Centre (GC) were chosen.

Chris Wilde, Whitehall Garden Centre Manager, said: “We aim to ensure that our customers enjoy the whole festive experience, this makes what we do stand out from the crowd. 

“Winning this award is the culmination of months of planning and hard work by the whole team, from the buyers and suppliers, to the team on the shop floor. Every year we focus on seeing what we can do even better than before. We never stop, we think about Christmas 12 months of the year!”

The national winners will be given their awards during the GCA’s annual conference at the Mercure Bristol, Grand Hotel in Bristol from January 26 until 29, 2020. Places can be booked via www.gca.org.uk.

Dobbies Garden Centre Group Limited yesterday (30th November 2019) filed the Annual Report and Financial Statements for The Group and its subsidiaries.  These accounts are for the 12 months to 24 February 2019.

• Sales increased 12% on prior year to £166m
• Like-for-like sales increased 5%
• Underlying operating profit increased 35%
• Six new centres added and two non-core stores exited
• Dobbies has doubled the size of the business by store numbers and sales in the last twelve months

In the year Dobbies acquired six new and disposed of two non-core garden centres. Acquisition and associated restructuring costs amounted to £3.3m and are considered non-recurring to the operations of the business.

In recent months (after this reporting period) Dobbies acquired an additional 31 garden centres from Wyevale Garden Centres, bringing the estate to 69 stores becoming the largest garden centre group in the United Kingdom with underlying sales of approximately £300m, now double when the business was acquired in 2016.

Like-for-like store sales have performed strongly with an increase of 5% in LFL sales in the year and an increase in customer basket size of 6%. Performance was particularly strong in Plants & Gardening , as well as in the Food Halls

Chairman, Andrew Bracey said:

“We are delighted with the continued strong performance with overall sales up 12% and like-for-like sales up 5%.  We are also very encouraged by the progress made in our newly-acquired garden centres.

The integration of the new centres is moving at pace and we look forward to providing market leading garden centres for our customers across the length and breadth of the country.”

Chief Executive Officer, Graeme Jenkins said:

“Dobbies has delivered a strong performance this year, as we continue to differentiate our retail and hospitality offerings with customers at the centre of everything we do.

“Our trading performance is testament to the hard work of the team and we are well positioned to enjoy a successful Christmas season. We are continuing to invest across the estate to ensure our customers enjoy the best shopping experience we can offer at every Dobbies garden centre.”

On a wet Monday in Edinburgh last Monday, Graeme told told GTN Xtra that the new centres: "We're getting the footfall back, we're getting the customer engagement. We're doing customer listening groups as we always do and you can see those incremental investments will just drive serious footfall."

"It's as much about shopping as it is about social, it's day out and something different.  We're getting more people in and more are spending and spending is increasing."

See GTN Xtra's photo tour of Dobbies Edinburgh from last week below and read the full interview with Graeme Jankins in the next issue of Garden Trade News.

Westland Horticulture has announced two key appointments across the group in line with its investment and growth strategy for all divisions.

Simon McArdle, Marketing and Category Director, Gardman Crest

Simon has over 20 years’ experience in the garden industry, including four years working within Westland’s Marketing team. Simon will now lead the Garden Crest Marketing and Category team and will be responsible for creating and delivering a consumer-focused growth plan across the portfolio. As well as ensuring the continued successful growth of the leading Kent & Stowe and Flopro brands, Simon will also look to drive sales across the rest of the Gardman brand portfolio.

Mark Sage, Head of Commercial Horticulture – Westland Group

Mark joins Westland from Wyevale Group, where he previously held the position of Head of Trading, responsible for Buying, Visual Merchandising and Supply Chain Management. Prior to this he held positions with the Garden Centre Group and B&Q as a buyer, and also has 13 years’ experience as Operations Director at Carpenters Nursery. Mark will lead the horticultural & commercial direction for Westland and oversee the development of the overall horticultural offer, to include relaunching and repositioning of the retail seed offer and take commercial control of Marshalls’ retail division.

Keith Nicholson, Westland, commented: “We are delighted to announce these new appointments which will enhance our marketing, horticultural expertise and commercial structures, plus strengthen the wider Westland business.

“The newly created role of Marketing and Category Director at Gardman Crest will create a structure which is better aligned with our customer needs and will enable us to increase our focus on our customer and end consumer. Simon McArdle has a wealth of experience in the sector and has a solid understanding of our business, having spent four years driving progress and development

within the Westland marketing team. Simon’s appointment will enable Colin Smart, Commercial Director at Gardman, to focus his experience on leading our buying, and supply chain teams, to deliver best-in-class availability and quality.

“Mark’s appointment will strengthen and refocus our Horticultural ranging, as part of our ongoing investment plan within the business. Mark Sage has a proven track record of delivering and leading positive change. His horticultural and commercial acumen is one of the strongest in the sector and we are looking forward to welcoming Mark into the group. Mark’s influence on our ranging, understanding of the retailing environment, product innovation and consumer positioning will guide our re-launch of our retail seed category and re-shape and provide direction in our Marshalls division."

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 2017 as well as 2018 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 Growing Media Bestsellers chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Christmas Products chart for this week are here

Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care Products 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 receiving the GTN Bestsellers charts this week.

Week in week out, tens of thousands of loyal customers vote for their favourite casual dining brands with their wallets.  Despite the headlines and the challenging market, scores of innovative restaurants, bars and pubs across the UK’s high streets are thriving – with their teams working tirelessly to deliver an all-round incredible casual dining experience.  The Casual Dining Awards 2020 are for them.

Recognising the standout casual dining operators of the year, the shortlist includes nearly 70 brands – ranging from industry titans like Azzurri Group, Casual Dining Group, Greene King, Mitchells & Butlers, The New World Trading Co (NWTC), The Restaurant Group and Stonegate Pub Company (all competing for Casual Dining Group of the Year), to a raft of smaller independents and ‘Instagrammable’ new concepts ready for national expansion.  With today’s announcement, they are all one tantalising step closer to being crowned the UK’s best.

Organised by Diversified Communications UK, the Casual Dining Awards will take place at the London Marriott Hotel, in Grosvenor Square, on 20 February.  Finalists are competing across 18 categories, including Best New Restaurant Site, Best Family Dining Experience, Menu Innovation Award, Brand Marketing of the Year, and Best Designed Pub / Bar of the Year (see the full list below).

Some of the operators up for multiple awards (three or more) include Azzurri Group, Big Mamma Group, Caravan, Casual Dining Group, Dishoom, Franco Manca, Greene King, Honest Burger, Mitchells & Butlers, Mowgli, Nando’s, NWTC, Oakman Inns & Restaurants, Pho, PizzaExpress, The Alchemist, The Ivy Collection, wagamama, and YO!.

As in previous years, there’s no shortlist for the prestigious ‘Trailblazer of the Year’ Award – just a winner who will be announced on the night.  They’ll be in great company, as previous recipients include Kavi Thakrar and Shamil Thakrar, founders of Dishoom (2019), Chris Hill, CEO of NWTC (2018), David Campbell, wagamama’s then CEO (2017), and Alex Reilley, chairman of Loungers (2016).

Judges for the 2020 awards include: James Spragg, CEO of Casual Dining Group; Chris Hill, CEO of NWTC; Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality; Shamil Thakrar, co-founder of Dishoom; Nisha Katona, founder & CEO of Mowgli; Zoe Bowley, MD of PizzaExpress; Jo Fleet, MD of Flat Iron; Simon Potts, MD of The Alchemist; Ian Neill , chairman of Haché; Laura Harper-Hinton, owner of Caravan; Brian Keeley-Whiting, owner of Whiting & Hammond; Scott Collins, co-founder of MEATliquor; Peter Martin, director of CM&CO; Sophie Michell, food & drink director at Byron; and Libby Andrews, marketing director at Pho.

“The Casual Dining Awards showcase the excellence constantly achieved within our sector and gives motivation to us all to try harder,” says founding judge Ian Neill, widely known as the “The Godfather of Casual Dining”.

“The Casual Dining Awards are a brilliant opportunity to recognise and acknowledge the success of great people and great brands,” agrees Jo Fleet, MD of Flat Iron.

The Casual Dining Awards shortlist in full:

New Casual Dining Concept of the Year – sponsored by Casual Dining Show

•             The Chambers

•             Circolo Popolare

•             Eggslut

•             Gloria

•             Sweet Chick

•             Vardo

Best New Pub / Bar Site

•             Alberts Schenke - Liverpool

•             The Alchemist - St Martins Lane, London

•             Cahoots - Ticket Hall & Control Room, London

•             Duke of York (Barworks) - Haggerston, London

•             The Florist - Watford

•             Mikkeller - Shoreditch, London

Best New Restaurant Site

•             Dishoom - Manchester

•             Flat Iron - Spitalfields, London

•             Honest Burger - Cardiff

•             The Ivy - Manchester

•             Pho - Cardiff

•             Pizza Pilgrims - London Bridge

•             Sticks'n'Sushi - Soho, London

Sustainable Operator Award

•             Greene King

•             Mowgli

•             Nando’s

•             Oakman Inns & Restaurants

•             The Restaurant Group

•             YO!

•             Young’s Pubs

Employer of the Year (1-49 sites)

•             The Alchemist

•             Dishoom

•             Hawksmoor

•             Mowgli

•             The New World Trading Co.

•             Oakman Inns & Restaurants

•             Peach Pubs

Employer of the Year (50+ sites)

•             Carluccio’s

•             Casual Dining Group

•             Côte Brasserie

•             Loungers

•             Pizza Hut Restaurants UK

•             Stonegate Pub Company

Menu Innovation Award (1-19 sites) – sponsored by Commercial Kitchen Show

•             The Alchemist

•             Caravan

•             Dishoom

•             Food & Fuel

•             MEATliquor

•             Mowgli

•             Pizza Pilgrims

Menu Innovation Award (20+ sites)

•             ASK Italian

•             Franco Manca

•             Fuller’s

•             Honest Burger

•             Las Iguanas

•             PizzaExpress

•             wagamama

Brand Marketing of the Year – sponsored by Chef Direct

•             The Alchemist

•             Nando’s

•             Pho

•             PizzaExpress

•             Pizza Hut Restaurants UK

•             wagamama

•             YO!

Best Designed Pub / Bar of the Year

•             The Alchemist - Brindleyplace, Birmingham (designed by Macaulay Sinclair)

•             Blame Gloria - London (designed by Finch Interiors)

•             Box - Leeds (designed by Fusion By Design)

•             Coppa Club - Brighton

•             The Florist - Watford (designed inhouse)

Best Designed Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by London Design Fair

•             Bill’s Restaurants - Spinningfields, Manchester (designed by Focus Design)

•             Circolo Popolare - London (designed by Studio Kiki)

•             Dishoom - Manchester (designed by Macaulay Sinclair)

•             Gloria - London (designed by Studio Kiki)

•             The Ivy - Manchester (designed inhouse)

•             Vardo - London (designed by Box 9 Design)

Best Family Dining Experience

•             Bella Italia

•             Franco Manca

•             Harvester

•             JD Wetherspoon

•             PizzaExpress

•             wagamama

•             Zizzi

Pub / Bar Brand of the Year (2-49 sites)

•             The Alchemist

•             The Botanist

•             London Cocktail Club

•             Oakman Inns & Restaurants

•             Peach Pubs

•             Yummy Collection

Pub / Bar Brand of the Year (50+ sites)

•             All Bar One

•             BrewDog

•             Greene King

•             Loungers

•             Marston’s

•             Young’s Pubs

Restaurant Brand of the Year (1-19 sites) – sponsored by Coca-Cola European Partners

•             Big Mamma Group (Gloria & Circolo Popolare)

•             Caravan

•             Dishoom

•             Flat Iron

•             Hubbox

•             Mowgli

•             Pizza Pilgrims

Restaurant Brand of the Year (20-50 sites) – sponsored by Boutinot

•             Bistrot Pierre

•             Franco Manca

•             Giggling Squid

•             Honest Burger

•             The Ivy Collection

•             Pho

•             Turtle Bay

Restaurant Brand of the Year (51+ sites) – sponsored by Fentimans

•             Las Iguanas

•             Miller & Carter

•             Nando’s

•             PizzaExpress

•             wagamama

•             YO!

•             Zizzi

Casual Dining Group of the Year – sponsored by Carlsberg UK

•             Azzurri Group

•             Casual Dining Group

•             Greene King

•             Mitchells & Butlers

•             The New World Trading Co.

•             The Restaurant Group

•             Stonegate Pub Company

Trailblazer of the Year – sponsored by Trail

•             No shortlist

For further information, please visit www.cdawards.co.uk.