In This Issue
HTA catering day serves up success for 250
Redundancy fears as TGCG undertake staffing review at Garden & Leisure centres
'The secret of great margins? Put a lot of veg on the plate...'
Cultivating business solutions together – Classiflora-Zelari 2014 Open Days
Charlie Dimmock revealed as new face of Planting Magic
Dragons' Den company launches Raised Bed Rescue campaign
Six products battle for orchid drip feeder sales
Prestopets has 35 years experience in the fishkeeping industry
How catering impacts on the bottom line
Bents smashed fundraising total with £17k donation
Garden centres get into the Valentine's Day spirit
Consumer confidence boost but will the weather be on side?
Newbridge Nurseries gets top national award
Jude Law, David Tennant and other stars present the Garden Re-Leaf Day quiz for 2014
Senior Buyer wanted by Greenfingers.com
Man breaks into Allwoods Nursery garden centre in Cheam but steals nothing
Tomato fever sets in already
Get involved in Garden Re-Leaf Day with 'Loose Change'
Joe Awome appointed Sales Customer Support for Easitill
Good week for growing media sales...but let's not get carried away
Award nomination for HTA apprentice
Gardman initiative helps consumers migrate to no-net Fat Snax
New GIMA Member Popadome has a new solution to garden pest problem
Slugs and snails are the most 'detested' pests
More pictures of Garden Centre Christmas displays than have ever been published before
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Situations Vacant
Senior Buyer wanted by Greenfingers.com
 

Having proven its economic model, Greenfingers.com is now looking to double the scale of its business in the next three years. Part of that expansion includes the recruitment of a Senior Buyer...
Read more»
Send us your news and great ideas

Contact us with your news.  Email neil.pope@tgcmc.co.uk, or trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk or call the GTN News team on 01733 775700

 


'The secret of great margins? Put a lot of veg on the plate...'
 

At Fairweather’s Nursery in Hampshire, Patrick and Steff Fairweather re-branded their catering operation three years ago. ‘The Hungry Gardener’ became ‘Steff’s Kitchen’ and capacity was increased from 50 to 100 covers, with a further 100 outside.

The theme, Patrick told delegates at the HTA Catering Conference, was very much home-made – but just as importantly, home-grown. In season, most of the fresh produce is harvested from an educational vegetable and fruit garden, ‘Patrick’s Patch’, which has also become a significant attraction in its own right. “If you can put a lot of veg on the plate, you can make great margins,” he said. “And we have great fruit too. It means you get away from the price pressure of meat and fish.”

The free-to-visit garden is partly maintained by around 25 volunteers, has 500 school visits a year and hosts courses and grow-your-own advice sessions. “It’s the best marketing story you can ever have,” he added. “It’s created a community around our business.”
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Del.icio.us Digg | Comment (0)
Email Newsletter Software by Newsweaver