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Lisa Faulkner, cookery author, presenter and actress, presented GTN's Greatest Catering Awards at the HTA Catering Conference dinner last night (Tuesday). Lisa is pictured above with co-host Trevor Pfeiffer, Managing Director of Garden Trade News...
The 2010 Celebrity MasterChef winner first established herself as a leading actress starring in numerous high profile TV dramas including Holby City, Spooks and Dangerfield. In 2010 Lisa won BBC 1′s Celebrity MasterChef and has since gone on a remarkable food journey.
Lisa’s first cookery book, Recipes From My Mother For My Daughter, became an instant bestseller, reaching number one in The Times non-fiction list. Following this, Lisa released her second cookbook, The Way I Cook, and her third book, Tea and Cake, also becoming a bestseller.
Lisa presented GTN's Greatest Catering Awards 2016 alongside host Trevor Pfeiffer, Managing Director of Garden Trade News.
As part of the Greatest Awards on Tour 2016, Garden Trade News celebrated excellence in garden centre catering by hosting and presenting their awards in the following categories:
- The Greatest Afternoon Tea Experience 2016
- The Greatest Garden Centre Coffee Team of the Year Award
- The Greatest Chef Team of the Year
- The Greatest Front of House Team of the Year
- The Greatest Garden Centre Catering Team of the Year
Check out the winners in this Special Greatest Awards edition of GTN Xtra.
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Green Pastures, Fron Goch and Bents all picked up golds in GTN's prestigious Greatest Garden Centre Catering Teams categories.
The Greatest Garden Centre Catering Teams
Finalists
- Barton Grange
- Bents
- Chessington
- Deepdale
- Fron Goch
- Green Pastures
- Loch Lomond
- Mains of Drum
- Perrywood
- Planters Tamworth
- Poppies Oban
- Squires Badshot Lea
- Stratford Garden Centre
- Timmermans
- Tong
- Trentham Blue Diamond
- Walkers Nurseries
- Woodside Plant Centre
Team with less than 150 covers
Bronze Award: Woodside Plant Centre
Silver Award: Poppies
Gold Award: Green Pastures
Team with 150 to 300 covers
Bronze Award: Timmermans
Silver Award: Mains of Drum
Gold Award: Fron Goch
Team with more than 300 covers
Bronze Award: Squires Badshot Lea
Silver Award: Trentham Blue Diamond
Gold Award: Bents
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Green Pastures picked up a second gold to clinch the Greatest Afternoon Tea Experience for their unique Gardeners Tea, served in a trug with edible flowers and salad leaves grown in the plant centre.
The Greatest Afternoon Tea Experience Team
Finalists
- Fron Goch
- Green Pastures
- Mains of Drum
- Perrywood
- Poppies Oban
- Squires Badshot Lea
- Walkers Nurseries
- Woodside Plant Centre
Bronze Award: Woodside Plant Centre
Silver Award: Squires Badshot Lea
Gold Award: Green Pastures
Poppies of Oban and Trentham Blue Diamond were joint gold winners in The Greatest Garden Centre Coffee Team category. Silver went to Fron Goch (pictured receiving their award).
Finalists
- Deepdale
- Fron Goch
- Loch Lomond
- Poppies Oban
- Tong
- Trentham Blue Diamond
The Greatest Garden Centre Coffee Team
Bronze Award: Deepdale
Silver Award: Fron Goch
Gold Award: Poppies Oban and Trentham Blue Diamond
| Deepdale | | Fron Goch | | Loch Lomond | | Poppies Oban | | Tong | | Trentham Blue Diamond |
Timmermans were crowned The Greatest Garden Centre Chef Team for the second year running.
The Greatest Garden Centre Chef Team
Finalists
- Barton Grange
- Bents
- Green Pastures
- Mains of Drum
- Perrywood
- Squires Badshot Lea
- Timmermans
- Tong
Bronze Award: Tong
Silver Award: Green Pastures
Gold Award: Timmermans
The Greatest Garden Centre Front of House Team category was hotly contested so it was no surprise to see to gold winners in Fron Goch and Squires Badshot Lea.
The Greatest Garden Centre Front of House Team
Finalists
- Barton Grange
- Chessington
- Fron Goch
- Mains of Drum
- Squires Badshot Lea
- Stratford Garden Centre
- Timmermans
- Tong
Bronze Award: Barton Grange and Chessington
Silver Award: Timmermans
Gold Award: Fron Goch and Squires Badshot Lea
GTN Xtra will bring you more coverage of GTN's Greatest Catering Awards and the HTA Catering Conference at the weekend and in the July issue of Garden Trade News.
FInd out how Melanie Sewell from Fron Goch shares the love with Fred Sireaux and how the co-founder of Leon restaurants believes garden centres are providing an essential service for communities.
As this issue goes to press we can confirm that once again the HTA Catering Conference is one of the most useful events for garden centre owners, managers and staff. So much learning and so much inspiration.
Plant Awards are next - last chance for nominations
GTN's Greatest Plant Sales Team Awards will be presented at The National Plant Show in 2 weeks time so this is yor last chance to nominate a team for a visit before the winners are decided.
E-mail your Plant Team nominations to: trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk
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Squire’s Garden Centres have announced the appointment of two new managers – Ryan Bailey at Squire’s Stanmore and Anne Dedman at Squire’s Long Ditton.
Ryan Bailey has been promoted to Manager at Squire’s Garden Centre in Stanmore. He has been with Squire’s for 3 years and was previously Assistant Manager at Squire’s in Twickenham before taking up the same role at Squire’s in Stanmore.
Ryan commented: “I am delighted to be heading up the team at Squire’s in Stanmore. It’s a great garden centre, with a fantastic selection of plants and gifts. I hope to bring my knowledge and expertise to enhance the shopping experience for customers, and to bring inspiration and support to the team here. I know the area well as I live not far away, and I have family in Watford and Finchley. I look forward to welcoming existing and new customers to what is a fantastic place to shop for quality plants as well as gardening equipment, gifts, or even a relaxing drink or meal in our Café Bar.”
As well as being a keen gardener with a particular interest in growing vegetables, when he’s not at work Ryan can be found either playing or watching football as he’s a huge Arsenal fan, or honing his skills on the golf course.
Anne Dedman is the new Manager at Squire’s Garden Centre in Long Ditton. Anne joined Squire’s in September 2001 as a part-time till operator, and has worked her way up though the company thanks to the support and training provided by Squire’s. She was previously the Manager at Squire’s in Cobham.
Anne said: “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to take the Long Ditton centre to the next level not only in terms of sales, but also with customer service.
"Our impressive extension and refurbishment, which has increased the shop space by 25%, has ensured our range and levels of stock can meet the growing customer demand.
"The shop has a fresh and inviting look with an exciting new range of giftware. The plant area has a new and improved layout, so it’s easy to browse the extensive range of quality shrubs, trees, cottage garden plants, climbers and patio favourites.
"Our Café Bar has also increased in size by 30%, with a new food hall area, more seating, plus a delicious new menu. We look forward to welcoming customers to our new look garden centre.”
Squire’s stylish new look follows a £900,000 investment to make it bigger and better than before. Squire’s are celebrating their 80th anniversary this year, and the extension and refurbishment of their Long Ditton centre forms part of their 80th anniversary celebrations.
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 Thompson & Morgan is celebrating a second time in as many weeks, following the industry success of its latest dual cropping creation, Egg & Chips.The innovative potato and aubergine graft has been well received by all sectors of the industry and customers alike, with strong sales in its first season on the market. Already an announced finalist in the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year, the Ipswich-based seed and plant specialist has just been informed that Egg & Chips has also been shortlisted as one of the five finalists in the prestigious Fleuroselect Fleurostar awards. Traditionally a bedding plant event, organisers where so impressed with the unique attributes of Egg & Chips that it is being pitted against four new floral creations in this year’s ceremony; Argyranthemum ‘Grandaisy’, Dahlia x hybrida ‘Dahlegria Red Yellow Bicolor’, Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Capitán Colón’ and Begonia hybrid ‘Miss Malibu’. Thompson & Morgan new product development manager, Michael Perry said; “We’re really pleased to see recognition being given to this very special creation. Previous finalists of these two prestigious awards, such as Petunia ‘Night Sky’ and Viburnum ‘Kilimanjaro Sunrise’, have gone on to become top-sellers for the industry, so expect to see Egg & Chips widely grown on allotments, patios and gardens across the UK. Our recent focus on dual cropping vegetable plants has opened up home growing to everyone. Both our Egg & Chips and Tomatato plants allow home grown crops to be produced in the smallest of spaces. As long as you have room for a large patio pot, you have the space to grow your own potatoes and aubergines or potatoes and tomatoes.” Michael says these quirky plants could be the answer to encouraging the next generation of gardeners too. He adds: “These plants really capture the imagination of children. Grow Egg & Chips with your kids or grandkids this summer and see their amazement as they harvest large shiny aubergines from the top and a crop of large white potatoes from the pot below.” The FleuroStar Contest will be held at nine locations in The Netherlands and Germany as part of the annual FlowerTrials open days. More than 30 professionals working in plant breeding, production and retail, as well as trade journalists and marketing specialists, will choose the ‘Winner with the Wow Factor’ based on the highest average score on commercial potential and point of sale attractiveness. The winner will be announced on 16th June at the Green Inspiration Event at RAI Amsterdam, Netherlands. Egg and Chips can be grown outside in a sunny sheltered spot and will crop right through to the first frosts of autumn – even longer if you can bring the pot indoors later in the season. So there is still time to grow Egg & Chips this season. Visit www.thompson-morgan.com and search ‘Egg & Chips®’ to order yours.
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Horticultural / Plantarea Manager | Somerset (ref:DS8362)
Location: Somerset
Salary: £19,000 - £22,000
Date: 13 May
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Our client is a Nationwide group that are continually growing and developing their leading garden centres across England and Wales. They are proud of their heritage in the gardening industry and each and every one of their garden centres has its own identity and for this reason each of the garden centres is separately branded and the staff and customers are loyal to their centre.
Currently they are seeking an outstanding Plants Person / Horticultural Manager to manage their Plantarea.
The Role
The role will be to take responsibility for one of the largest departments within the centre. As Horticulture / Plantarea Manager you will look after the day to day merchandising and maintenance of the plant stock as well as motivating the team to provide the highest standard of customer service. The role will also have duty management responsibility across the entire centre.
The Candidate
For this role we are seeking a leader with superb retail experience to head this busy department.
Candidates MUST HAVE strong horticultural knowledge both practical and academic and be able to demonstrate a very high level of plant knowledge.
The plantarea is the focus point of any garden centre and your standards for customer service, merchandising and the little details that make a department special will make you stand out. Experience within a garden centre is desirable as is supervisory skills.
To apply for this role click here
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Soft Landscaping Team Leader (ref:DS8398)
Location: Hertfordshire
Salary: £18,500 - £22,500
Date: 26 May
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Based out of their Ware Depo in Hertfordshire, this UK based Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Company is looking for a skilled and experienced soft landscaping Team Leader to work on various projects around Herfordshire and the neighbouring counties.
Reporting to the Landscape Contracts Manager
The role
- Supervise a team of staff carrying out landscaping schemes on corporate and commercial sites. Mainly soft plantings but there may be some elements of hard, such as paths, paving or fencing as well.
- Be responsible for all equipment on site
- Be responsible for ensuring that Health & Safety standards are observed and reporting any issues to the Contracts Manager
- Liaise with the client on site and also the Contacts Manager to ensure that projects are carried out in accordance with the clients wishes.
The candidate
- For this role they are seeking an experienced supervisor with good hands-on skills within the soft landscaping sector who has experience managing teams of 3 or more operatives.
- Good plant knowledge and the ability to read planting plants / design schematics
- Full Driving Licence and Trailer/towing Licence
Salary
£9-11.00 per Hour depending on skills and experience
Overtime is also available and expected.
To apply for this role click here
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Restaurant Manager | Gloucestershire | Garden Centre (ref:DS8392)
Location: Gloucestershire
Salary: To attract the best
Date: 26 May
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
Restaurant Manager - 40 Hours per week, Full Time/Permanent Position
We are seeking a highly motivated Restaurant Manager to join our clients Garden Centre Restaurant, located in Gloucestershire.
The role
You will manage the restaurant and staff to enable the efficient, well prepared and profitable service of food and beverages. You will be organised and able to plan ahead ensuring the highest customer service standards within the Restaurant.
The candidate
- Have experience of working in a large restaurant with a track record for delivering high quality food and exceptional customer service
- Be focussed on driving growth in margins, revenues and profit whilst minimising costs and wastage
- Have strong leadership and people management skills, obtained ideally from within a catering or restaurant environment
- Have an understanding of how to promote and develop the business
- Have an excellent understanding of restaurant operations (both in kitchens and front of house) with an ability to identify and implement any necessary improvements in service delivery
- Have an awareness of the relevant health and safety regulations relating to kitchens, equipment, food preparation and service
This is a Full Time / Permanent position with a salary negotiable on experience.
To apply for this role click here
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Garden Centre General Manager (ref:DS8379)
Location: Hampshire
Salary: £40,000 - £60,000
Date: 20 May
Job Type: Full-Time
Duration: Permanent
To be responsible for the management of the Garden Centre and to direct and lead a team of Department Managers, Team Leaders and Sales Assistants in delivering very high levels of customer experience to maximise sales and profits whilst minimising losses especially with stock.
The Role
Key Responsibilities:
- Ensure excellence of customer experience is continually delivered throughout the Garden Centre at all times.
- Ensure very high standards of store presentation and merchandising are maintained at all times.
- Achievement KPI targets for turnover, stock and losses are achieved throughout the store.
- Control of budgets by planning and managing resources effectively.
- Improve gross margins by reductions in waste and stock losses.
- Reduce overheads by keeping control of all costs and expenditure.
- To produce business reports and presentations to senior managers as required.
- To optimize stock availability by ensuring effective systems for replenishment are achieved.
- Seasonal and product promotions are planned and delivered.
- To recruit, motivate and develop an effective retail team complying with company procedures and ensuring individual performance is regularly reviewed through assessment and appraisal.
- To create an effective communication strategy, including team meetings and briefings to ensure accuracy of information across all employees.
- All Company Health & Safety procedures are adhered to and compliance with all statutory requirements.
The Candidate
For this role they are seeking:
- An experienced Retail Manager from either the garden centre, supermarket to high street retail sector.
- Be capable of giving the customer the best possible customer experience and be able to demonstrate this through past experience
- Candidates must have experience of working and managing large multi million pound centres.
- Be capable of managing a team of over 100 staff.
- Must have great commercial acumen, be an insightful and an instinctive retailer who does not need to be driven by head office instructions.
- Great communications skills and a target orientated, driven personality.
Salary: To attract the best! Mid £50's basic plus 10% Bonus, pension and health care
To apply for this role click here
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