The one thing that every independent garden centre has is its own story. A story that is as unique as the centre. And a story that is worth telling.

This leads to a simple question asked by Garden Centre and Catering Consultant Doug Stewart: Does our catering offer help us to tell our story?

At the Terrace Café, which is adjacent to Floors Castle Plant Centre in the borders of Scotland, the regular customers rave about the complimentary flowerpot bread, which is baked and served in a warm flower pot.

During a meeting at Wisley Gardens recently I was delighted to see the sandwich lunch served in wooden trugs, pictured above. Perfect.

Our food offer, with a little bit of thought can speak of our heritage, our background, it can tell our story and make our customer’s experience that little bit more special and that little bit more authentic.

Doug can be contacted through his website, www.waringstewartassociates.co.uk