The death of Charles Notcutt this week – peacefully at home at the age of 81 – has deprived the garden industry of one of its most influential and colourful characters.

Charles was a pioneer of the garden centre movement, joining the family nursery firm in 1958 – the year Notcutts opened its first garden centre at Woodbridge in Suffolk. He became managing director in 1964, a post he held until 1999, overseeing the development of a strong and successful retail chain that today numbers 17 stores, the fourth largest group. He later became chairman, finally retiring from the board in 2008 after 50 years with the firm, taking the role of non-executive president.

Charles served on the council of the HTA from 1959 to 1971 and in 1966 became the first chairman of its Garden Centre Group, forerunner of the Garden Centre Association.

Charles was an enthusiastic plantsman and was proud of the fact that the annual Notcutts catalogue was once second only to the Hillier Manual of Trees & Shrubs as the nursery stock industry’s ‘bible’. His particular interest was dendrology. He was awarded the OBE for services to horticulture in 1993.

He oversaw the difficult decision to sell the nursery side of the family business in a management buy-out in 2007 in order to concentrate on garden centre interests.

At various times he served on the governing bodies of the John Innes Research Institute, East Malling Research Station and Glasshouse Crops Research Institute, Writtle College in Essex and Otley College, Suffolk.

Charles was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour by the Royal Horticultural Society in 1997, Notcutts' centenary year, towards the end of an 11-year spell on the RHS Council. He was vice chairman of Perennial (formerly the Gardeners Royal Benevolent Society) and the first treasurer of the Institute of Horticulture, of which he was president in 1988.

He was involved with both the Worshipful Company of Gardeners and The Farmers’ Club and was Mayor of Woodbridge (his birthplace) in 2012-13. He was a founder member of the town’s rugby club.

A statement from Notcutts this week said: "Over the past few weeks Charles and the family have derived enormous pleasure and comfort from the many cards, letters and measures of support from so many of his friends and colleagues.

"The family will be holding a private burial followed by a memorial service at a later date. Thank you for your support at this sad time."

Above: Charles Notcutt during his mayoral year at Woodbridge.

Tributes have been pouring in following the death this week of Charles Notcutt

John Ashley (former sales director, Scotts): Charles Notcutt was one of the key figures in developing the gardening industry into the fantastic business it is today. He has always held strong views on many subjects and was not shy at putting his point over to any audience. Always a gentleman and passionate about his business, he was always ready to give advice and welcome newcomers to the industry which he did when I joined in 1972. He will be sadly missed by all who benefited from his wisdom and good humour. May he rest in peace.

Peter Seabrook (journalist and broadcaster): Charles Notcutt was such a force of good works. His energies, experience and generous contribution will be missed at the RHS, HTA, the GCA (one of the founding committee members), The Farmers Club and Writtle College to mention a few of the bodies he served so loyally. His death leaves a big hole in the close-knit horticultural world and I will miss his presence and friendship.  Thank you Charles for all you did in the nursery and garden centre worlds.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Government Chief Whip in The House of Lords and former MD of Taylors Bulbs): The whole industry will miss one of its greatest figures.  Not only did Charles run and expand a successful business, he also was a great team player for the industry as a whole.  Anyone working in the industry today has a lot to thank him for.

Martin Stewart (Stewarts Garden Centres): After my father died Charles was amazingly kind and supportive to me. I needed some help with a specific issue and he invited me up to stay, talking late into the night. He shared so much with me - help I could not have received from anyone else. His actions spoke volumes, not only about himself but for the open and honest relationships that he instilled throughout the industry that we all love so much. Charles's impact on the independent garden centre trade will live on forever. The current strength of the independent sector is in no small way due to the extraordinary charisma and enthusiasm shown by Charles Notcutt. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten by us all at Stewarts.

Derek Bunker (owner, Alton Garden Centre): Charles was so well respected in the trade. He was an excellent speaker who could always put his point across very clearly and precisely. While I was GCA chairman, Charles commented that he was very impressed with the Rolls Royce I was driving him to an event in. Of course, he could have bought six himself but then that wouldn’t have been the right car to be seen in on the streets of Woodbridge at the time. Notcutts have always been a good group and I hope the family and the current team will keep the name and the business going strong and not sell up.

Boyd Douglas-Davies (CEO, Hillview group): Charles Notcutt’s influence on horticulture as a great plantsman and business leader will be felt for many years to come. I regarded him as one of the great statesmen ‎who helped to shape the world we know today.

Dennis Espley (MD, Squires group): Charles Notcutt was one of the great figures in the industry over the last 50 years. He was a leading light in nurseries, garden centres and the world of horticulture in a wider context, very active in the RHS, spending  many years on the RHS Council. He set the way for Notcutts Garden Centres be the significant player it is today. He was a great friend to many in the industry, including the directors of Squire’s. He will be greatly missed.

Colin Squires (chairman, Squires group): I’ve known Charles so long. When the HTA formed a separate group for garden centres, Charles was the very first chairman.  He set that group, which became the GCA, on the right way. He was very erudite and clear from the start that we needed inspections and standards. That was the formation of what we look forward to now. He was a real pioneer in the industry. In the early days he also formed a multiple group understanding the need to share information and talk over the issues of the day to help further the industry.  I always enjoyed working with Charles and will miss him.


Caroline Owen (Scotsdales): I was privileged to hear Charles lecture on climate change at one of the first HTA conferences I attended.  His passion for the subject matched the passion he had for the garden industry. The world is a sadder place without Charles.

Carol Paris (Director General, HTA): I am deeply saddened to hear about the death of Charles Notcutt. A true plantsman, Charles has done so much for the industry throughout his long and distinguished career. Charles has been a great supporter of the HTA and will be much missed.

Donald Hearn (RHS Secretary & Finance Director, 1986-2001): Charles Notcutt took some persuading to join the RHS Council.  Once on board he was a tower of common sense within the society.  His natural ebullience was infectious and he could always be relied on to remind us of what was best for nurserymen and garden centres.  When there was a move to alert the public to the dangers of poisonous plants, Charles pointed out that putting a skull and cross bones on the plant labels was not exactly going to help promote sales.  We dropped the idea.

Charles was a staunch supporter of the RHS shows. He was particularly keen to make a real success of the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, which he saw would make it possible for the nurserymen to sell plants in significant volumes, unlike at Chelsea.  And he was good at practical details, insisting that the water supply in the Great Marquee at Chelsea must be improved, making life a bit easier for the long suffering exhibitors.

Charles did great service to the RHS, and the horticultural sector has reason to be very grateful for his positive contribution to the gardening public.  We need more people like Charles to step up.

June 2015, with flaming temperatures at the end of the month, has scorched the GTN Bestsellers record books with all time high sales volumes in all but one of the categories.

The GTN Bestsellers All Products index, which tracks all items sold in garden centres providing Epos data every week, shows June volumes up 13% on last year and 1.4% up on June 2013, the previous record set when we’d had a really poor spring beforehand.

Garden Products sales for June, as measured by the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 volumes, are up 5.6% on last year. And mainly due to the growth of garden lighting products sales, the figures are up 15% on June 2013.

Veg-2-Gro sales have been the star performer of the GTN Bestsellers charts this year. June volumes are up 77% on last year as Grow Your Own using young plants has really taken off in a big way this year.

Only Growing Media Top 50 sales volumes, which are up 15% on June last year, failed to set a new record narrowly missing the volumes sold in 2013.

Everyone agrees it’s been a really good year for gardening so far. With SOLEX taking place next week, the current heat wave couldn’t have come at a better time for a final burst of outdoor living sales to keep the momentum going. See you there.

GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year...

• Garden Products – up 10%
• Veg-2-Gro Products – up 42%
• Growing Media – up 5%
• All items index – up 9%

The owners of Fairways garden centres at Ashbourne and Macclesfield are to build their third centre on a Green Belt site near Coventry.

The new project, planning permission for which was obtained by Malcolm Scott Consultants, is believed to be the first new-build garden centre on a new site for 10 years. The 26-acre site is on the A428 between Coventry and Brandon.

Planning approval includes around 2,400 sq.m. of covered retail space with a restaurant, 350 sq.m.of unheated glass, 698 sq.m. of open-sided canopy and  around 2,200 sq. of open sales area. Tarmac parking for 142 cars plus overspill for 200 is envisaged.

Other features include a terrace overlooking an ornamental pond, a play area, demonstration gardens and a nature conservation area with habitat for protected species.

Malcolm Scott Consultants say they achieved “a good planning result after a lot of negotiation with the Local Planning Authority on a very sensitive West Midlands Green Belt site”.  They believe the centre has enormous potential.

Fairways was founded in 1998, when Pip and Chris Plumb opened their first garden centre at Ashbourne following the success of their pick-your-own farm. In 2008, they acquired the former Macclesfield Garden Centre, redeveloping it over the next two years.

The business has been run since day one by the Plumbly’s daughter, Ally. Most of the expansion and development work over the years has been done by Pip Plumbly and his brother Charlie, who joined the business in 2005.

Fairways Ashbourne was the top-scoring Midlands region centre in last year’s Garden Centre Association standards audit.

Wyevale Garden Centres have posted increased sales, operating profit and gross margins for 2014 – and are predicting further growth through acquisition and full implementation of multi-channel retailing.

Sales in the year to 28 December were up 5% to £290m – the majority of the growth driven by acquisitions, including the 2013 addition of three centres plus the Garden & Leisure chain as well as the nine additions made in the accounting year.

Concession income provided a notable highlight, rising £3.8m to £18.1m as concession numbers rose from 478 to 566, a trend that looks set to continue. Wyevale say they are identifying non-core categories where the stable rental income from concessioning is more profitable than offering these products directly, despite the overall retail revenue reduction.

Operating profit increased last year from £22m to £34.1m while gross margin went up 3.3 per cent to 56.5 per cent, largely as a result of a focus on the supplier tendering process and central hub distribution, improvements in cost control, stock wastage reduction at centres and steps to drive down the cost of back office support functions.

The annual report says a key event over the next twelve months will be the launch of a full multi-channel offering which, with home delivery and Click-and-Collect, will offer easier shopping.

The group spent £28.3m on acquisitions and £34.6 million on capital expenditure across an improvement programme in 31 stores.

The report says the best indicator of progress in the group is the increased EBITDA of £56.1m – but net debt was also up from £273.1m in 2013 to £335.7m.

Growing media supplier William Sinclair faces weeks of financial uncertainty as it urgently searches for strategic options, according to this week’s interim results.

A statement covering the six months to 31 March says the significant capital and operating costs during the commissioning of the new Ellesmere Port plant has left the business with “a significant requirement” to raise additional funds in the next few weeks. The company says it is in discussion with shareholders and other interested parties. Meetings with major stakeholders and other potential investors to establish the market appetite for a significant share placing are also being arranged.

Chairman Rupert King warns: “Significant progress towards a funding solution is needed in the next few weeks and there can be no certainty as to the outcome of any of these discussions.”

He adds that Sinclair can continue to be a significant player in the horticulture market “provided we can raise the required funding”.

The commissioning of Ellsmere Port (left) proved considerably more challenging than the company expected and led to a loss of business, predominantly on the professional side, as it was unable to supply customers at times.  Retail sales were also lost because of customer uncertainty about security of supply and service levels.

King says margins have also been weak as the company has had to defend its business in some areas.

Initial issues with product quality at Ellesmere Port had now been solved and, King reports,  “there is now a consensus among retail customers in particular that the product quality is better than ever”. Service levels from Ellesmere Port were also poor initially but were now at the required level.

Revenue in the period fell £3.1m to £18.7m.  Operational loss was £3.5m (compared to £1.8m in 2014), with exceptional costs of £4.5m.

At the time of writing, shares had fallen to 10p, a 12-month decline of 85%.

The GTN Xtra team will be at SOLEX all next week bringing you the SOLEX SUN so we will be on the look out for next year’s Outdoor Living bestsellers.

We’d love to know your tips for success in 2016 and at the same time hear about your Outdoor Living bestsellers this year. Have you had another great year with casual dining sets? Have fire bowls outsold BBQs? What have been your best outdoor living linked sales?

If you can’t find us out and about around the show then visit SOLEX SUN office.  Or you can contact us by e-mail: neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk 

SOLEX runs from Tuesday 7th July to Thursday 9th July at the NEC, Birmingham. To register go to www.lofa.co.uk/solex

The GIMA Awards are proving to be the most hotly contested competition of the year with the number of entries, totalling around 200, beating all recent records.

Although entry to the awards is now closed, there’s still time to book a place at the Awards Gala Dinner which is once again taking place at the Celtic Manor Resort on Thursday 16^th July.

With Rufus Hound recently announced as the host, and everyone who is anyone in the gardening industry in attendance, it promises to be a great night.  But don’t leave it too late as bookings will close on Friday 10^th July.

Vicky Nuttall, GIMA Director, said:  "Bookings are going extremely well, which I hope is a reflection of the positive trading conditions that our industry is currently experiencing.  

"The GIMA Awards are always hotly contested and this year, the number of entries also reflects a buoyant season."

For more information on the GIMA Awards and how to book a place, visit www.gima.org.uk/gima-awards or call 01959 564947. 

In the latest edition of the members’ business magazine issued by The Federation of Garden & Leisure Manufacturers, the director general Amanda Sizer Barrett urges British firms not to neglect reviewing the ways in which they handle their overseas business.

She said UK exporters needed to reconsider often-neglected aspects of doing business overseas in order to gain a competitive edge. “You might not regard cross-cultural awareness and protected intellectual property rights as vital components in the marketing mix, yet applied properly they can give you a significant advantage over competitors,” she says.

Her message comes as the Federation is involved in the planning the British pavilion at spoga+gafa in Cologne (left), which attracts buyers from every corner of the world. Gardenex has organised a British group of exhibitors at the event for more than 40 years. Two weeks later, they organise and host the International Buyers’ Centre at Glee.

She emphasises the importance of the ritual of presenting and receiving of business cards in East Asian markets, and the significance of the colours used in a company brand as among the key factors for overseas sales success. “Colours can be valuable intellectual property rights and the proper protection of those rights can help you succeed overseas. A trade mark, for example, assures the buyer of the quality of your product and gives protection against passing-off and piracy. While intellectual property can be a complex process to protect globally, it is, nevertheless, extremely important that businesses have a clear understanding of what is involved and take a strategic approach to protecting their rights”, she explains.

She quotes various sources of help and advice available to British companies through bodies such as UK Trade & Investment and The Intellectual Property Office website, and via the Federation’s own business services. “One of the many benefits of membership of either Gardenex or PetQuip is that companies can use the Federation’s own trade mark protection service as well as to access a leading patent and trade market attorney for free advice and obtain a substantial discount on their services.”

The Greatest Outdoor Living Categories

• The Greatest BBQ Sales Team of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Decoration and Lighting Sales Team of the Year
• The Greatest Inspiration for New Gardeners Team – Love The Plot You've Got Award
• The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Sales Team of the Year

Ball Colegrave’s 2015 Summer Showcase, a 'must see' event for plant buyers and growers, opens later this month (13-31 July) at the company’s West Adderbury showground near Banbury.

They promise more than 200 new plants for 2016, daily presentations on new varieties, including handy culture tips; innovative colour-themed patio gardens and an interactive retail plant zone.  

You will also be able to view some 700 experimental annual and perennial varieties, a showcase of market leading basket and container plants, tomato trials and fruit tasting, patio vegetables and perennial gardens

The famous RHS Hampton Court VertiGarden Celebration Cake will be on display, too

Ball Colegrave say the showcase offers a perfect opportunity to review your current plant range, identify new products for 2016 and view lines being assessed for future introduction.

On Tuesday 14 July the event hosts a free workshop with the HTA, ‘Plant Retailing - Fit For the future’, during which leading retail industry experts will cover topics such as retail eye-tracking, customer interaction in the planteria, plant merchandising and the types of plants you may need to be selling as the consumer market evolves.

The Greatest Garden Centre Team Awards Categories

• The Greatest Garden Care Retail Team of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Centre Customer Service Team of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Centre Training Team or Initiative of the Year, sponsored by MorePeople
• The Greatest Garden Centre Merchandising Team of the Year
• The Greatest Gardening Supplier of the Year
• The Greatest Garden Centre of the Year (Public Vote), sponsored by National Garden Gift Vouchers

As usual The Greatest Awards team of experts will be out and about meeting nominated teams, gathering information and taking photos of their work so that the Gold, Silver and Bronze Greatest Awards winners can be chosen.

Plus your team have the chance to become The Greatest Garden Centre Team of 2015 by involving your customers in the public voting later this summer.  The Greatest Garden Centre Teams, small, medium and large will be the teams that have the best relationships with their customers and generate the most votes (taking size of centre into account) and in the event of a tie, the centre with the most complimentary comments form their customers.  To take part in the public vote please e-mail trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call The Greatest Awards on 01733 775700 to request an in store voting pack.

As this issue of GTN Xtra goes to press the expert judges are meeting to decide the winners of The Greatest Plant Retailing Team Awards in advance of The National Plant Show.  Make sure your Outdoor Leisure, Garden Care and Garden Centre teams are nominated for visits later in July and August.

The Greatest Awards would like to thank sponsors, Elho, National Garden Gift Vouchers, MorePeople and The HTA plus the event organisers at The HTA Catering Conference, National Plant Show, GIMA Awards and HTA Futures for agreeing to be presentation venues for The Greatest Awards ON TOUR 2015.  The date and venue for The Greatest Outdoor Leisure Awards will be announced in a future issue of GTN Xtra. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available for product and service suppliers seeking to gain the highest possible exposure between now and November this year.  Please contact mandy.atkin@tgcmc.co.uk for details.

Glee’s operations team have been crowned 2015 winners of the Best Organising Team of the Year by a leading trade body.

The accolade is awarded by the Association of Event Organisers (AEO) to organisers who have excelled in demonstrating the collaborative nature of organisation, whilst clearly outlining and meeting objectives and achievements, and continually thriving for improved productivity, efficient and performance.

Kelly Yeo, Glee’s senior operations manager said: “We are beyond excited to have won. It is of course fantastic to be recognised for our hard work by our peers, but more importantly this award is testament to the ongoing support of the garden retail industry which collectively has helped Glee to develop and grow. Everyone from the show’s exhibitors, to its visitors, supporting trade associations and media have all come together in the last two years to demonstrate their support for the long-term future of the show, and it has been absolute joy to be able to help turn this support into the show we see today.”

The Glee team was pitted against teams from across the event and exhibition industry, many commanding significantly bigger budgets. Kelly and Hannah Heinemann - the full contingent of Glee’s operation team – knew they had to work hard to create stand out. However the facts spoke for themselves. A new location, growth in the show’s footprint and exhibitor numbers was all supported by a major turnaround in the show’s Net Promoter Score (NPS), something that no other show was able to demonstrate so successfully.

Assistant Commercial E-Commerce Manager (ref:DS7471)

Location: Worcestershire
Salary: £18,000 to £20,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Assistant Commercial E-Commerce Manager 

Reporting to the Commercial Manager 

The Business

Our client is an exciting e-commerce business who source and supply a range of wonderful garden products and plants to a discerning mail-order audience across the UK. They wish to appoint an enthusiastic Assistant to help support the commercial manager. 

The Role

This person will assist in the day to day tasks in support of the commercial sales team who undertake the promotion of sales to the magazines and newspaper readers offers 

The Person

Horticultural training or a passion for horticulture and good plant knowledge
Be computer literate with experience of administration
Be well organised and capable of paying great attention to detail and accuracy
Have a natural sales and marketing ability with good commercial acumen
Great communication skills, drive and with plenty of get up and go!

Our client is willing to look at experienced administrators with a passion for gardening as well as horti graduates who have a good level of administration skills and the desire to work in the on-line horticulture sector 

Salary £18-20,000 depending on experience

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further contact Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929013910

Technical Manager /Buyer (ref:DS7260)

Location: Suffolk
Salary: 40 to 45K per annum
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Our client is a leading packet seed company who are looking for an enthusiastic, creative and experienced Technical Manager / Buyer to join their team

Description and purpose of role:

• To be responsible for the cost effective purchase of seed and packaging materials to meet agreed company objectives.
• To evaluate new seed lines and make recommendations to the business.
• To oversee all technical, seed buying and storage, seed QC and trials ground activities.

Key duties/responsibilities :

• Responsible for the purchase of seed in a timely and cost effective manner.
• To purchase seed paper packets and liaise with the main supplier to the maximum benefit for the company.
• Demonstrate technical /gardening skills and company product knowledge.
• Develop an annual purchase plan aiming to minimise stocks, and reduce obsolescence and wastage.
• Source new seed products and maintain good relationships with suppliers
• Budget management. To deliver all activity within the agreed budget.
• To ensure the quality of seed and packaging through adequate QC and trialing procedures.
• To maintain an annual growing trial to evaluate stocks and provide marketing support.
• To provide technical support to other departments within the company as appropriate but including sales, marketing and customer services.
• To develop and implement a company-wide plan to push seed product, working with all departments for its execution.

Specific requirements:

• To adhere to company policies and procedures
• To comply with health and safety requirements ensuring your safety and that of your colleagues
• To take on other related duties as required
• To act with professionalism and have a committed approach to your work
• To undertake such training as may be required to fulfil your role in line with company expectations.

Please submit your CV in the first instance or to discuss further call Dianne Saunders at MorePeople on 07929 013910

Garden Centre Manager | South London | Newly Developed Site (ref:BP7468)

Location: London
Salary: £32,500 to £36,000
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

Garden Centre Manager

The Business

My client is a national business with a good reputation in horticulture. They are currently redeveloping a large retail site that is part of one of their managed properties. They are looking to continue to develop this site in accordance with the groups strong retail offering.

The Role

This role will take on the day to day leadership of the operations team at this scenic centre. The site has been redeveloped recently to take on the companies branding and to promote a better more linked consumer experience across the property. The site is very strong on plants and is plant led in a lot of its retail space. It benefits from being able to offer a full range of stock in a historical setting.

The Person

I need a leader for this role first and foremost. The operations team on site are very strong but need a directing force to keep them moving in the right direction. The role will likely change as the site develops and we will need a candidate who can be flexible and adapt. A more analytical brain will be needed to take on strategic planning for the site and to formulate plans to be approved by senior management. 
This is a retail role first and foremost and that is where we will expect the background of the candidate to come from.

Please submit your CV in the first instance, or to discuss further contact Brad Peck at MorePeople on 01780 480530

Plant Buyer (ref:BP7298)

Location: Romsey
Salary: Commensurate with Experience
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent

MorePeople have been retained by Hilliers to help them find an outstanding Plant Buyer to join the team at their Head Office in Romsey. 

As well as being one of the most renowned Garden Centre groups in the UK, Hilliers are also one of the country's leading growers of hardy nursery stock and have been awarded a Gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for the past 70 years! They are justifiably proud of their worldwide reputation for quality, plantsmanship and innovation and are keen that the business continues to expand and develop. 

This role will have total responsibility for developing and sourcing the range of plants available at Hillier Garden Centres and will work with the garden retail team, and the Head of Purchasing, to create a robust and innovative selection for their customers.

The Right Person will…… 

• Be an outstanding plant buyer with experience in the UK and international market. 
  • Have a strong horticultural pedigree and be passionate about plants. 
    • Be an experienced negotiator and knowledgeable in using market and statistical data to help deliver optimal performance. 
      • Have the relationship building skills to develop existing partnerships as well as develop new sources. 
        • Be a self confident and assertive buyer, with the insight and creativity to help the business develop a unique offering.

This recruitment assignment is being handled exclusively by MorePeople and any direct or third party applications will be forwarded directly to them. 

Please apply by sending your cv to info@morepeople.co.uk or for more information please contact Guy Moreton on 01780 480530 or 07932 161444 for a confidential conversation.

Greenfingers are calling in any remaining monies raised from Garden Re-Leaf Day earlier this year so the final tally can be calculated.

With more events and activities than ever before taking place in and around Greenfingers Garden Re-Leaf Day 2015, which this year fell on Friday 27 March, the charity is hoping to announce that this year has been the best yet.

The ‘call for cash’ comes as it is revealed that the ‘Glovies’ campaign, which took social media by storm at the time, went all the way to No. 10. Even Prime Minister David Cameron couldn’t resist donning a pair of gardening gloves in the name of Garden Re-Leaf Day!

David Cameron was in the last few days of campaigning ahead of this year’s general election when he visited Squire’s Garden Centre in Twickenham with local candidate Tania Mathias. Julie Leatherdale, the manager, took the opportunity to tell the PM about Greenfingers and ask him to have a ‘glovie’ snap taken. He donned a pair and duly obliged!

Linda Petrons, head of fundraising for Greenfingers, said: ‘We are so grateful to everyone who took part in Garden Re-Leaf Day activities this year and made it the best yet – it’s amazing that even the Prime Minster got caught up in the Glovie craze! Now we just need you to send in your donations – without the money we can’t begin creating new gardens at the children’s hospices who are on our waiting list, so please do take the time to send in your funds as soon as you can.”

Send your outstanding Garden Re-Leaf donations (cheques, payable to Greenfingers Charity – Garden Re-Leaf) to: Sarah Lioveri, Greenfingers, 23 Gregories Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks, HP9 1HH. Sarah can be reached on 01494 674749 or by email (sarah@greenfingerscharity.org.uk)

The final figure raised will be announced at the GIMA Awards on Thursday 16th July which are held at the Celtic Manor Hotel in South Wales.



As the next part of The Greatest Awards On Tour 2015, there will also be an award presented at the GIMA's for The Greatest Garden Re-Leaf Day Fundraising Retail Team.  All of the information and fundraising amounts sent into the Greenfingers office have been collated and over the next week GTN's Greatest Awards team of experts will be making their decisions as to the winners of the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards to be presented on July 16th.

Tickets are still available for the GIMA Awards, follow the link to the story below for details.  See you there!

Garden lighting sales, added to a boost in plant feed products, pushed June figures for GTN Bestsellers Garden Products up by 5.6% on the same month last year and up 15% on 2013.

Star performers this week include:

• Gardman Ice Orb Solar Light, the highest climber jumps 21 places to No 19.
• Smart Garden LED Lattice Lantern Candle retains top spot.
• The highest re-entry is Gardman Bamboo Canes 1.8m, pack of 10, at No 24.
• Town & Country Ladies Triple Pack Gloves is the highest new entry at No 31.
• There are four feeding products in the Top 10, topped by Scotts Levington Tomorite. 

A garden celebrating the influence of women in gardening earned a special visit from HRH Princess Alexandra at this week’s RHS Hampton Court Flower Show  - and won a Silver Medal.

 ‘A Growing Obsession – the Yardley London Perennial Garden’ was designed by Alexandra Stevenson and Jean Wardrop in collaboration with Yardley London and the charity Perennial, of which Princess Alexandra is patron.

Based on a Victorian ladies’ flower garden, the garden drew admiring compliments from visitors and celebrities. Guests who visited the garden included Linda Barker, Nicki Chapman, Jo Brand, Charlotte Hawkins and Camilla Kerslake.

Influential women from the world of horticulture (above) gathered on the garden to celebrate the women and gardening theme, including designers Anne-Marie Powell, Jo Thompson and Pat Fox and nurserywomen Rosy Hardy. This is the first time designing a show garden for one half of the design duo Alexandra Stevenson, while Jean Wardrop has been involved with Hampton Court Palace Flower Show just once before.

The concept for ‘A Growing Obsession’ was inspired by the writings of Jane Loudon, whose book 'Instructions in Gardening for Ladies' published in 1840 helped make gardening more accessible to women. The British obsession with gardening goes back to this era, marking the transformation of gardening from being male-dominated activity to something that everyone could enjoy. This was the same point in history that Perennial was founded as a benevolent fund to look after the gardeners of Britain’s great estates and today Perennial is the only UK charity dedicated to helping all people in horticulture and their families when times get tough. 

A new free resource designed to help independent businesses to grow has been announced by i2i Events Group, the organisers of Glee.

‘Inside Retail’, which will run alongside all the company’s retail shows, will offer regular market data and intelligence reports, inspirational content and access to retail ‘big names’.

Glee’s event director Matthew Mein said: “Inside Retail is a fantastic free resource, and we really hope that buyers from across the garden retail and leisure industries will take full advantage of it. From monthly reports to top tips and trend-led content, Inside Retail helps to bolster Glee’s thriving portfolio of tools already in place to help businesses to succeed and diversify within an ever changing marketplace.”

The first report under the Inside Retail banner will be the ‘New Retail Guide – Why independent retailing matters’. 

With 10,000 new retail start-ups every year, the guide will focus on the opportunities and challenges facing all new businesses, including mapping retail trends.

Practical considerations including insurance, banking and the basics of employment law will also be covered. Dedicated sections will look at at key aspects including buying cycles, marketing, financial support, omni-channel advice and contact details for useful information sources and support services.

The full report, and future reports, can be downloaded from click here.

Mr Fothergill's seeds are now on sale to New Zealand's gardeners through a number of well-respected retailers.  Seed ranges are being stocked at all 45 Bunnings stores, of which 24 are warehouses.  Bunnings is the leading retailer of outdoor living and home improvement products in both New Zealand and Australia, where Mr Fothergill's has long been that nation's most popular garden seed brand.

In addition, Mr Fothergill's seeds are being listed by 20 independent garden centres in New Zealand, including the prestigious Palmers and Oderings chains. This side of the business is being developed by Michael Zambo, who has a proven track record in key account sales in New Zealand.

"Some accounts in New Zealand are already reporting seed sales increases of 40 per cent after switching to our brand", says the company's John Fothergill, "which is a fantastic start to our new partnerships."

Mr Fothergill's has also employed Lincoln Brokerage, with whom it works in Australia, to oversee its merchandising operation in New Zealand.

The growth of Grow Your Own, using young plants as the start point, has continued throughout June with sales up 77% on last year.

Even at the end of the month high volumes of tomato plants and young salad plants were being purchased as more customers got the desire to grow their own summer veg.

Star performers include:

• Quantil Lettuce Iceberg is the highest climber, moving up 33 places to No 9.
• Tomato Pear Drop (8.5cm) is the highest re-entry, returning to the Top 50 at No 14.
• The highest new entry is Farplants Tomato Hanging Pot Tiger (22cm) at No 36.
• Quantil Beetroot is another newcomer at No 49.
• Runner Bean White Emergo stays at No 1, closely followed by Peas at No 2.

A new New Molly's Den outlet planned for Sparkford in Somerset will be the first of the group’s five emporia to include a garden centre.

Molly’s Den emporia are warehouses offering vintage, antique, retro and contemporary goods with a market place atmosphere. They are currently at Bournemouth, New Milton, Winchester, Bridport and Westbay.  

The Sparkford emporium, scheduled to open in October, is next to the popular Haynes International Motor Museum, a busy tourist spot two minutes from the A303.

The owners say the new den will be “huge with both indoor and outdoor space as well as a garden centre and farm shop. There will of course be a quirky cafe and kids play area on site to keep the whole family happy.”

The heat may be coming out of growing media sales but to reach the half year up 7.2% on last year and up 11.7% on 2013 reflects just what a great gardening year it has been. Bark sales are a notable sales performer this week as the lack of rain and the heat prompts customers to seek out mulching solutions to keep their plants in tip top condition.

Star performers include:

• Westland Bed and Border Chipped Bark is the highest climber, rising 21 places to No 22.
• Westland Decorative Mini Bark is the highest re-entry at No 35.
• Another returning item is Plant Protection Bark at No 37.

Reports have appeared in The Uttoxeter Pres and Times of a break-in at Byrkley Park Garden Centre, one of the Klondyke-Strikes group of garden centres.

Staffordshire Police are appealing for information after the break-in between 6pm on Wednesday and 7.45am on Thursday at Byrkley Park Garden Centre near Uttoxeter.

The thieves are said to have forced entry into the garden centre and selected 'a number of high value ornaments and pots', placed them into a vehicle and left the site.

Perfect weather and packed out crowds, Thursday was a fantastic success in the Celebrity Theatre at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. The celebs have enthralled and entertained standing room only audiences!

This year’s also seen the return of Briers to Hampton Court with their stand in the Celebrity Theatre. The Briers team were doubly thrilled when Charlie Dimmock took a break from her talks to join them on their stand and also got into the spirit and posed for an impromptu #Glovie. 

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 2012 as well as 2013 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 last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Veg-2-Gro Products Bestsellers chart for last week are here

Highlights of the GTN Growing Media Bestsellers chart for last 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.

The Grocery Accelerator team  from the Food Marketing Network have announced a £60,000 investment opportunity for up to six food businesses.

It will be linked to a six month growth programme, beginning this September.

The accelerator programme is designed to support promising young brands with high-growth potential. With funding being a key barrier to progress, the team’s fund partners will invest up to £60k for 15% equity under SEIS. Programme fees of £20,000 will be charged against the investment to cover the six months of support.

Before graduation, businesses will be supported in making themselves ready to win follow-on growth funding from a pool of angel investors, each looking for FMCG brands to back.

Successful applicants will participate in an intensive programme that kicks-off with a two-day business boot camp in London. They will be assigned an experienced FMCG mentor who will work with them throughout, calling on specialist industry partners for expert guidance where necessary.

The areas include branding, IP, packaging, food technology, sales, marketing, logistics, legal and finance. “This is about making practical improvements to your business in the real world using a deep pool of experience,” the team says

Winners making it onto the programme will have access to an extensive network of industry experts and trade contacts to help them grow affordably and accelerate their business into a market-leading position.

To apply, follow this link: http://groceryaccelerator.co.uk/

Diversified Communications UK’s Casual Dining show – the award winning trade event for the UK’s multiple restaurant and pub group sector – has won ‘Best Tradeshow Exhibition under 2,000sq.m’ at the AEO Awards for a second time in its first two years of business. 

The Association of Event Organisers’ Excellence awards ceremony, widely regarded as the ‘Oscars’ for the live events and exhibition industry, hosted over 1000 event industry professionals at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London's Mayfair on 26June. Facing tough competition, Casual Dining defended its title for a second consecutive year over fellow finalists, including The Surface Design Show, ScotHot, UTECH North America, PayExpo 2014, Travel Technology Europe, and The Meetings Show. 

Having already won widespread support from across the casual dining sector and exhibitors, the AEO’s judges were impressed by the show’s “excellent content programme and exhibition design and layout”, commenting that Diversified UK “identified a clear gap in the market for the fast emerging casual dining sector, a sector focused on innovation and brand.”

“To have the honour of Casual Dining winning Best Trade Show for its launch event last year was incredible,” says group event director Chris Brazier. “The fact that Casual Dining has won again – that’s twice in our first two years – is a fantastic achievement for the show.  A big thank you must go to the whole industry, including our exhibitors, visitors, media and association partners for supporting the show from the very beginning and helping to make Casual Dining the show that this important sector truly deserves.”

“A special mention must go to the amazing team here at Diversified UK, who have worked so hard to deliver a much respected, sector defining event in such a short space of time,” he says.

“To win this award for a second consecutive year really is a wonderful endorsement for the show,” adds marketing manager Nina Jones.  “It’s also a great recognition of the impact that Casual Dining has made within the industry in its first two years.”

With over 150 exhibiting companies and over 3600 visitors in 2015, Casual Dining’s rapid expansion mirrors the growing success of the UK’s £6.9bn casual dining market. This strong market performance, combined with glowing testimonials from attendees, has seen increasing demand from new companies looking to exhibit in 2016.  Among them are Moy Park, Twinings, Innovate Foods, Pipers Crisps, Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines, Innis & Gunn, and Jascots Wine Merchants.

Since the success of the 2015 show in February, which saw 75% of exhibiting companies rebook onsite, stands have been selling at a record rate, with returning big names like Britvic Soft Drinks, Reynolds, Lamb Weston, Farm Frites, Fresh Direct, Unox UK, AAK, Magrini and Tudor Tea & Coffee confirmed.  Eight months ahead of its highly anticipated third show, the Ground and Mezzanine Levels are sold out.  Whilst the Upper Feature Level, the new home of the Casual Dining Keynote Theatre and Casual Dining Design Awards Gallery, has only limited stands left. The show is already 85% sold out.

Casual Dining will return to the Business Design Centre, Islington, London, on 24-25 February 2016.  For more information, and to stay up-to-date with all the latest news and exhibitor information, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk