Garden Centre Retail February 2024

February 2024

Are you allergy aware?

Learn the do’s and do nots for allergens on page 30

Going Electric

Are electric delivery vehicles a viable option?

Issue 74

Turning to Solar

Garsons teams up with Solarwatt for a PV install

Benchmarking in 2024

Andrew Burton highlights the importance of targets

15 - 16 October 2024 | ExCeL London

3,500 Visitors

150 Exhibitors

2024 speakers include...

Ian Hazon

Dries Jansen

Paul Playdell

Darren Conway

Coolings

Garden Center Advice BV

Playdell Smithyman

Lodge Service

Meet the likes of...

Ben Woodward and Felicity Mitchell MorePeople

Keith Bateman Davison Richards

The event for business growth in the garden retail sector In partnership with

gardencentreexpo.co.uk

@gardencentreexpo

“We’ve had our finger on the pulse of the UK garden retail sector since launching Garden Centre Retail magazine in March 2014. Combining these 10 years of experience, with another decade running leading trade exhibitions in the UK, we spotted a gap in the market for a content-led, editorially driven exhibition, bringing together educational, informative and inspirational opportunities for a two-day event” Luke Page, Portfolio director Garden Centre Expo 2024 is an unmissable event; an event which enables business professionals to make strong and valuable connections for the future development of garden retail – from startups, small and growing businesses to large organisations, both groups and independents.

You’ll be in good company, with thousands of like-minded professionals exhibiting, attending and speaking. Garden Centre Expo acts as a meeting place and information hub, for you, your colleagues and associates to view the latest products, materials, technology and services that matter to you in your work.

Register for free tickets

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM Make your appointment now!

Embrace the

Festive Magic & Celebrate the Season!

Contact us via

WWW.KAEMINGK.COM or contact your sales representative

NEC Spring Fair 4 – 7 February Hall 6 + 7 Stand 6A50-B51

Welcome

Welcome

I

’m going to be a bit indulgent for a moment. Firstly, welcome to the first Garden Centre Retail issue of 2024 – it’s a sign of what’s to come from the team here this year.

This year is set to be a big one for us. We’ve increased the number of issues, allowing us to provide even more cutting-edge, inspirational and actionable content for the year. There’s so much going on in the sector, and we feel like we’re perfectly placed to provide insight into many of the issues affecting each and every one of the businesses plying their trade in garden retail.

We’ll be building our plans on the pillars of business growth through effective product selection, sustainability, technology and innovation. We’ll be using those aforementioned buzzwords to give you guidance with every aspect of your business, from staffing and recruitment, operations and catering to collaboration, systems and processes, all of

which, we hope, you will be able to consider to help improve the market.

2024 also sees us launch a brand new trade exhibition, Garden Centre Expo. This expo promises to offer everything we do in print and online in a face to face setting, at London ExCeL in October. With a great line up of speakers already announced, and exhibitors from all over the country specialising in things such as solar energy, work management software, plants and catering equipment, Garden Centre Expo will be something totally new and different for the garden retailers. We look forward to seeing you there.

As always, we’re looking to work with more retailers, suppliers and consultants in this sector.

If you feel that you have some ideas that you would like to share with the rest of the industry, have a new initiative that you want to shout about, or you just want to showcase your wonderful business, please do get in touch.

Roll on 2024, big things are coming!

Eljays44 Ltd 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex, BN16 3DA

Joe Wilkinson

Printed by Stephens and George Ltd Published by ©Eljays44 Ltd

Joe Wilkinson Head of content

GARDEN CENTRE EXPO WILL BE SOMETHING TOTALLY NEW AND DIFFERENT gardencentreretail.com

EDITORIAL Head of content – Joe Wilkinson joe.wilkinson@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 587 Senior subeditor – Katrina Roy katrina.roy@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570 Subeditor – Sam Seaton sam.seaton@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570 Senior designer – Kirsty Turek kirsty.turek@eljays44.com ADVERTISING Portfolio director – Luke Page luke.page@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 580 Sales director – Rob Dwyer rob.dwyer@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 573 Event manager – Tom Glasby tom.glasby@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 959 391 MANAGEMENT Managing director – Jamie Wilkinson CIRCULATION Subscription enquiries info@eljays44.com Tel: 01903 777 570

Garden Centre Retail is published by Eljays44 Ltd. The 2024 subscription price is £125. Subscription records are maintained at Eljays44 Ltd, 3 Churchill Court, 112 The Street, Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3DA. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Eljays44 Ltd and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publishers. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for loss of, or damage to, non-commissioned photographs or manuscripts.

Whilst every effort has been made to maintain the integrity of our advertisers, we accept no responsibility for any problem, complaints, or subsequent litigation arising from readers’ responses to advertisements in the magazine. We also wish to emphasise that views expressed by editorial contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Reproduction of any part of this magazine is strictly forbidden.

Garden Centre Retail February 2024

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Contents

Con 8 ten 11

News A roundup of the latest industry news

GCA Conference The Garden Centre Association gives a preview of the upcoming GCA Conference

ts

13 18 22 24 27 30 34 36 40

Benchmarking your business in 2024 Andrew Burton discusses setting a benchmark for your garden centre

The power of buying groups We explore the impact buying groups can have on garden centres

Electric delivery vehicles Are electric delivery vehicles viable for garden centres?

Investing in solar panels Solarwatt shares Garsons Garden Centre’s case study

Houseplants Info on the nine most-Googled houseplants

Being allergy aware Laws and regulations to help your restaurant comply

Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair 2024 A look at the exhibition that took place in January

Christmas products A roundup of products available in the Christmas sector

Garden machinery products The latest mowers, blowers, vacs and trimmers

42 gardencentreretail.com

Decorative aggregate products All things gravel, stone and chippings

Garden Centre Retail February 2024

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News

News N

Notcutts appoints new marketing and customer experience director otcutts have announced the appointment of Jane Gray as their new marketing and customer experience director. Jane previously held the position of marketing manager at Notcutts and, with this appointment, steps up to join the company’s executive leadership team.

Prior to joining Notcutts in 2018, Jane worked with a number of

other organisations in marketing, PR and commercial positions. Commenting on her appointment, Gray says: “I’m delighted to take up this new role and lead this next important phase of Notcutts marketing and customer experience strategy.

The Notcutts brand is one I’ve worked with for some time now and I’m looking forward to leading its onward development and the new opportunities ahead.

As a family-owned business, Notcutts has

Yorkshire Garden Centres group levels up in sustainability training

T

he team at a Yorkshire Garden Centres group has achieved the bronze level of a national sustainability accreditation after becoming the first garden centre group to accredit its own Carbon Literacy Training.

Earlier in the year, the team at Yorkshire Garden Centres developed the training programme in conjunction with Manchester charity, The Carbon Literacy Project, in order to equip its team of 460 with the skills to contribute to becoming a carbon-neutral business and a Carbon Literate Organisation.

Yorkshire Garden Centres’ sustainability lead, Steph Harrison says: “The Carbon

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Garden Centre Retail February 2024

Literacy Project is based on the premise that, in order to cut carbon emissions by the kind of reductions demanded by science, then the culture needs to change alongside technology.

“Now we have the bronze award, we plan to roll out the Carbon Literacy workshops to all of our employees to reach the silver level.

“The project is one of many of our sustainability initiatives and will see our whole team do the training and make over 800 carbonreducing pledges that will impact waste stream management, new starter training, water-wise initiatives, sustainable travel policies and many other positive changes that our team can make.” yorkshiregardencentres.co.uk

wonderful values and a culture that I’m so pleased to be a part of.”

CEO Nick Burrows, adds: “Jane brings a wealth of experience and leadership qualities to this role, and I am delighted to have been able to make this internal appointment.

Personal and professional development of our colleagues is an important part of our company culture at Notcutts. I look forward to the positive impact and strategic vision Jane will bring to the future development of our marketing and customer experience strategy.” notcutts.co.uk

RHS endorses VegTrug raised bed

T

he RHS has announced its endorsement of VegTrug, a global leader in raised beds and products designed to help everyone enjoy a growyour-own lifestyle.

The endorsement covers most of the wide range of VegTrug products, with specific emphasis on the core item: the classic VegTrug, a planter that allows people to easily grow their own fruit, herbs and vegetables in the smallest spaces.

Paul Owen, co-founder and managing director of VegTrug, says: “As a sustainable lifestyle brand focused on bringing growyour-own to everyone we are delighted to be working with the RHS. This endorsement from the UK’s favourite gardening charity will be a wonderful inspiration for many people to start the New Year by enjoying the undoubted benefits of home growing.” rhs.org.uk vegtrug.com gardencentreretail.com

News

Henry Bell merchandising boost at Flowerland Garden Centre

F

lowerland was re-layed in only two days thanks to Henry Bell & Co’s innovative vertical merchandising concept, designed to grow the number of customers purchasing wild bird care products, maximise the potential of in-store floor space and drive an increase in market spend.

This reconfiguration of merchandise has provided an aesthetically pleasing and highly effective 21sqm store-within-store, dedicated to a broad range of Henry Bell Wild Bird Care feeds and accessories. Work was carried out by the brand’s skilled sales team with ongoing support from the Henry Bell head office.

Tony Clare, Henry Bell wild bird care commercial director, says: “Flowerland, Iver, has been a customer for four years and during this time we have worked closely with the store manager and his staff. We have grown to know them and their customer-base extremely well and were delighted to implement the re-lay to boost sales and improve margin delivery.” henrybell.co.uk

Perrywood Tiptree raises £12,500 for charity

P

errywood Tiptree has raised and donated £12,500 to chosen charities in 2023. This includes donations to Abberton Rural Training, Hope for Tomorrow and Greenfingers Charity. These organisations are very closely linked to the Perrywood vision to inspire people of all ages to get more plants in their lives and enjoy gardens and gardening.

Money was raised throughout the year across a range of activities including a quiz night, an afternoon tea, raffles, a staff Christmas jumper day, as well as talks to gardening groups.

Over £4,600 of the overall total was raised by the Coffee Shop & Restaurant team. They encouraged customers to donate money to go

gardencentreretail.com

towards purchasing a new fridge for the mobile cancer unit ‘Maureen’, with the extra going towards new chemotherapy chairs.

Perrywood also donated over £7,000 worth of plants, gardening equipment and gift vouchers to local schools, charities and community groups. perrywood.co.uk

Apta launches new concept in cross-category merchandising

A

pta has launched a brand new planting bench merchandising display which includes three product zones.

This new merchandising display is designed to offer multiple benefits for both retailers and consumers.

The three zones can contain Apta pots and planters, Kelkay horticultural sands and grits and seasonal plants.

Apta has highlighted three key benefits, increasing average basket spend by making shopping easier, maximising the retail footprint and keeping stock refreshed to showcase seasonal planting.

Caroline Elliott, product and marketing director at the AMES Companies, says: “The Apta Planting Bench has been created to provide retailers with a functioning merchandising display. This isn’t about just sitting and looking pretty, instead it’s designed to work hard and offer flexibility that drives sales throughout the year. The option to stock multiple products with varying price points means there is a sales configuration for all types of shoppers.” apta.co.uk

Garden Centre Retail February 2024

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L IN E T RIM M E R S | HE D GE TR I MME R S | L AW N M OW E R S | GA R D E N B LOW E R S | C H A IN SAWS | TIL LERS

New for 2024 Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer

New Webb Eco-Friendly Cordless Garden Tools Now available to order from British garden equipment manufacturer Webb, is the new cordless Webb Eco range of garden equipment with long-lasting interchangeable advanced 20v Lithium-ion technology, for a more sustainable and versatile gardening experience.

Designed for optimal performance with a super-fast battery recharge, the new Webb Eco cordless garden machinery range provides an eco-friendly and cost-efficient alternative to traditional petrol options. Quiet to use and cordless in design, the new range offers complete freedom with no power cables to get in the way or hold you up. Furthermore, as all tools within the range have been designed to be used with the same, easily interchangeable 20v battery, valuable savings can be achieved in running costs.

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Featuring a cutting-edge range of lawnmowers, line trimmers, hedge trimmers, pruners, tillers and garden blowers, the innovative new Webb Eco range incorporates Lithium-ion batteries which hold their charge and don’t degrade in storage, which is an important consideration for choosing garden tools which may not be used daily.

Lightweight and durable, all products in the Webb Eco range can be easily stored in a garage or a garden shed, ready to use with minimum effort.

With low emissions and lower running and maintenance costs than petrol equivalents and no power cables to contend with, the new Webb Eco range gives you the freedom to complete a range of garden chores easily and effortlessly.

To find out more on the Webb Eco range and to purchase direct, please email sales@handys.co.uk or visit www.handys.co.uk

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New for 2024

New Webb Electric Rear Roller Range

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The lineup includes three meticulously designed models - the WEER33RR, WEER37RR, and WEER40RR - catering to varying lawn sizes and user preferences.

The WEER33RR, featuring a 1200w motor and 33cm cutting width, offers precision and style with its rear roller, weighing only 7.1kg and equipped with a 30-litre collection bag for easy maneuverability and a tidy finish. Stepping up, the WEER37RR, powered by a 1600w motor and boasting a 37cm cutting width, effortlessly creates professional striped finishes at 8.1kg, prioritising user convenience during operation and storage.

Finally, the WEER40RR stands as a powerhouse with an 1800w motor and a 40cm cutting width, offering adjustable heights, a 45-litre collection bag, and a manageable 12.7kg weight, providing precision, power, and versatility for a pristine lawn care experience.

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Opinions

Exploring The GCA’s 2024 CONFERENCE DISCOVER THE ENRICHING HIGHLIGHTS AWAITING YOU AT THE GCA’S 2024 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

T

he highlight of the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) year is without doubt our annual conference.

The venue changes from year to year to enable it to be more convenient for the geographical locations of some members. This year, it will be held at the De Vere Hotel in the Cotswolds Water Parks, with the main theme: The Future of Garden Centre Retailing. There will also be three supporting themes: environment

WITH A MAIN THEME OF THE ‘FUTURE OF GARDEN CENTRE RETAILING’ and sustainability; trends and insights; and health and wellbeing. These will be addressed by a dynamic line-up of speakers.

The planning for the conference taking place from 28-31 January has been undertaken by chairman Will Blake. gardencentreretail.com

The fun begins on the Sunday afternoon with a charity fundraising day. Funds will be raised for Greenfingers, Perennial and The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation. This year, it will involve a trip to see GCA associate member Melcourt Industries, where we’ll have a factory tour to view the production of their award-winning peatfree composts.

From there, we will move onto the Ramsbury Distillery and Brewery for a tour and tasting session of their fantastic gins, beers and spirits.

In the evening, there will be a dinner and the traditional Pansies (garden centre members) versus the Cabbages (associate members) contest, hosted by Guy Topping from Barton Grange Garden Centre.

This year’s conference is about the ‘future’, so, with a nod to the current and past, the fancy dress theme this year is ‘kings and queens’.

We’re looking forward to seeing just how creative everyone will be with this.

On Monday, the main events are presentations from our team of independent inspectors of their findings as they toured our members this spring and various awards are made.

We will also hear from this year’s group of Rising Stars who are always THE stars of the conference. This programme is sponsored by Westland Horticulture and mentored by our inspector Gordon Emslie, with eight meetings held in various horticultural locations to give the delegates a feel for the industry.

Our first 2024 conference speaker will be Josh McBain, global consultancy director at Foresight Factory, on ‘The Future of Garden Retailing’. He’ll be followed by Mark Stevenson and Ed Gillespie, speaking about the environment and sustainability.

On Tuesday, we’ll be welcoming Mark Berrisford-Smith, who was head of economics for HSBC’s commercial banking division, as well as bestselling author, broadcaster and neuroscience presenter, Dr Hannah Critchlow, who has been named as a ‘Rising Star in Life Sciences’. We’re also delighted to welcome back our motivational keynote speaker, Casper Craven.

The conference offers the chance to not only hear wonderful presentations, but also meet and network with fellow members. You can book tickets at gca.org.uk if you are a member. If not, please contact info@gca.org.uk.

About Peter Burks Peter Burks, CEO of the GCA, is a fully trained horticulturalist and has worked in directorial and senior management roles for over 40 years.

Peter helped set up/run the multi-awardwinning Sanders Garden World in Somerset.

He also became regional manager of the South West for Wyevale Garden Centres, and general manager for Trelawney’s in Cornwall, as well as managing Fermoy’s Garden Centre in Devon. gca.org.uk

Garden Centre Retail February 2024

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Opinions

Why benchmarking your garden centre

is so important BENCHMARKS ARE MORE THAN JUST STATISTICS – THEY’RE AN ESSENTIAL PARAMETER FOR UNDERSTANDING HOW YOUR BUSINESS COULD PERFORM

G

arden centres often compare themselves to other like for like garden centres, and when you do not know quite how well you are doing or what to do next, then checking to see what your peers are doing is a great tool and resource. This is referred to as benchmarking.

The garden centre industry is full of entrepreneurs and innovative minds, and these minds not only think about things but also take

THE GARDEN CENTRE INDUSTRY IS FULL OF ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

Hit a Six! Six things to consider when you benchmark your garden centre: Get a true picture of your business performance By analysing your results against industry feedback or compiled benchmarks, garden centre management can understand clear insights if their financial results are in line, overperforming or under-performing versus peers.

It is particularly important for businesses to understand their own unique selling points and proposition when considering benchmarking and it is important to ensure the metrics are relevant. For example, a garden centre with a strong plant offer and a small giftware offer cannot really be compared to a

destination centre with a huge giftware offer, so it is important you are measuring like for like.

It is something I have done for years, and at Pleydell Smithyman we use our own gathered data and industry data to compare benchmarked results versus individual performance, but we also understand the different propositions a garden centre can offer to ensure the results have best meaning. It is something I really encourage businesses to reflect on when benchmarking.

Be honest with yourself One of the most crucial factors when benchmarking your garden centre is to be clear about your true business performance and whilst not the case for many, it is

action! Taking action through gut feeling or experience is one way to create opportunities, however benchmarking gives confidence and clear transparency for opportunity is helping to articulate strengths and address areas for improvement throughout the business.

Benchmarking offers a reflection of where the business is against peers and the industry, enabling owners and managers to see their position in the market, make performance assessments and help create plans for the future. gardencentreretail.com

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Opinions

sometimes hard for owners and managers to take an objective view of their results. Having an open mind and being willing to take on feedback is essential!

Network and use experience Experience in understanding what to benchmark and how to identify the biggest opportunities is something all businesses should consider. Often

BEING WILLING TO TAKE ON FEEDBACK IS ESSENTIAL! garden centres can benchmark against criteria supplied within their networks and the HTA and GCA supply some great data. However when considering your own business it is important not only to compare overall headline data such as sales growth, but understanding things that are not often measured, such as car parking spaces, seats in your café, sales per m² or size of shop which are all key points to consider.

These sort of things all impact on potential performance, and it may be that a business needs to use an external resource or network to help understand this. When they get the results, it is then important to understand what the results mean and what you should do about them. The big aspect here is to ask for help in assessing your data and facilities if you need to.

help complete a SWOT to identify the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the business. Knowledge is power, and knowing how to apply it and where there is the most opportunity for improvement can support businesses set clear objectives and develop a strong strategic plan.

Understand the true value of your garden centre and business Knowing how a business is performing can support business owners to make short and long-term decisions in a strategic and calculated manner. By undertaking benchmarking, garden centre management can delve into ways to maximise opportunities and meet their longterm objectives.

Opportunities are not only about turnover and profit, they can also encompass aspects such as staff development, process improvements, diversification opportunities and many other aspects. An important consideration to make is ‘WHY’ you should take action, and if an opportunity is identified and there is an obvious reason to move forward, without overarching reasons not to, then grab the bull by the horns and go for it!

Look before you jump Let’s not hide from facts. Often many businesses have opportunities in a variety of areas, but they need to consider all aspects before they jump into them. Simply, do your homework, understand your threats and calculate the risks. Every decision potentially affects something personally, whether it is a business or a person. Make sure you are aware of what you are getting into or how it might affect you and your business. Things such as time, brand, proposition perception and risk all need considering.

Benchmarking is a key component when developing your business in every aspect.

A new year often creates reflection and thought about what is ahead. Don’t miss an opportunity by not using benchmarking – it might just make the difference you need.

About Andrew Burton Andrew works for Pleydell Smithyman as an Associate Director, focusing on garden centre and farm shop advice, with an overarching aim of business strategy and development. He provides site development and commercial & operational support. He sits on the Farm Retail Association Council, and previously on the Garden Centre Association Board. andrewb@pleydellsmithyman.co.uk

SWOT A key reason for benchmarking is to

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Garden Centre Retail February 2024

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WE CONNECT GENERATIONS ABOUT US Talen Tools is a manufacturer and supplier of tools for farmers, gardeners, construction workers and garden enthusiasts. Our range is particularly extensive and also includes wooden handles in all shapes and sizes. Our range includes axes, shovels, spades, brooms, pruning tools, rakes and hoes. In short, everything for gardening.

HISTORY in 1919 the great-grandfather of the current management started sawing and planing wooden handles for the scythes and hay rakes of the many farmers in his area. In the 1980s, the company also started to focus on a high quality range of garden tools for garden centers and hardware stores.

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Features

The Power of

COLLECTIVE BUYING INDEPENDENT GARDEN CENTRES DELVE INTO THE ADVANTAGES OF TEAMING UP WITH BUYING GROUPS TO FORTIFY THEIR MARKET STANDING

B

uying groups have been a highly successful feature of the garden retail scene with growth in the last decade, giving independent and smaller garden centres the extra edge that they need to compete effectively and position themselves for long-term success in the industry.

Joining a buying group allows garden centres to increase their negotiating power with strength in numbers. It also provides access to category expertise, networking opportunities, and information sharing, which can lead to collaborations and partnerships that can help propel the retailer’s business forward. We speak to leading buying groups and independent retailers to learn the benefits and growth behind collaborative working.

Who are the buying groups in our industry?

As of October 2023, Choice Marketing has expanded its nationwide network, now having 54 members. It operates as a buying and marketing group and functions as a cooperative.

The company has established relationships with over 200 suppliers in the garden, gift, greetings, and home and leisure sectors, utilising its buying power.

Mike Cook, national services manager at Choice, explains: “Garden centres join Choice to benefit from the strong industry relationships we’ve built with leading suppliers across the

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Garden Centre Retail February 2024

UK. We offer negotiations for terms and volume rebates, and all the monies go back to our members, helping to grow business and increase profitability. Additionally, we facilitate different category forums and provide access to a fullservice retail marketing agency for a customised marketing plan and promotional initiatives like leaflets, posters, signage, e-newsletters, and loyalty scheme for customer retention.”

Choice also holds a successful conference and trade show annually, in which 350 attendees hear about plans and garden trends for 2024, as well as explore the latest and greatest products and services offered by suppliers. The group also has a board of directors which meets a couple of times per year.

Another renowned buying collective is the Tillington Group, run by Robin Clark and chaired by Caroline Owen, managing director of Scotsdales Garden Centres. Currently comprising of 11 members, Tillington started in 1993 and celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023. Tillington comprises of 40 noncompeting centres including Scotsdales, Squire’s, Otter Nurseries, Whitehall, Frosts, Webbs, Bents, Hayes Garden World, Alton, and newest member Gates Garden Centre. All are independent and family-owned and noncompeting due to geographical location.

Buying teams are made up of specialists who oversee a product department. They then

make recommendations to the senior principals and negotiate with the supplier for the products which are then distributed across the whole group. Chair, Caroline Owen, explains: “The Tillington buying teams are split into different categories, for example: compost, chems and ferts, outdoor pots, lighting, and birdcare. This means that we have the best person for the job

BUYING TEAMS ARE MADE UP OF SPECIALISTS WHO OVERSEE A PRODUCT DEPARTMENT with the expertise for negotiating with suppliers.

Having just one category buyer negotiating results in a strong rapport with manufacturers to establish clear and fair supply agreements, whilst saving independent garden centres time in busy periods.

Caroline continues: “The Tillington buying teams share tips and best practices to ensure members learn from each other, and that supplier products enjoy the best possible execution on the shop floor. Category buyers gardencentreretail.com

gardencentreretail.com

The Association of Independent Stores (AIS) has around 30 garden centre members which has been its biggest growth area in recent times as garden centres strive for points of difference.

Georgina Kelly, director of marketing at AIS

GARDEN RETAILERS ACCESS VARIOUS BENEFITS, INCLUDING COST SAVINGS says: “Garden centre owners can elevate their businesses and enhance their bottom lines by working with AIS’s buying group. By joining AIS, garden centres can unlock a world of opportunities to enhance their businesses, boost profitability, stay ahead of the competition and achieve their full potential.

“Garden retailers access various benefits, including cost savings achieved by combining the buying power of its members. Members enjoy access to exclusive product lines, supplier introductions, preferential access to INDX shows, and various services such as digital marketing, procurement, and shipping

Features

meet regularly to discuss product best sellers and ensure members remain at the forefront of product trends and innovations.

Asked why buying groups are so popular and have grown in recent years, Caroline says: “A buying group gives the independents more strength against the multiple chains, rather than buying on their own. The members of Tillington work together, facilitate conversation, and share knowledge through community discussion to ensure each other operates efficiently and innovatively.”

Tillington has a marketing committee that meets twice a year to exchange successful ideas and share best practices for multichannel marketing. The focus is increasingly on emerging digital content to ensure that we reach the widest range of customers and drive footfall to member centres.

It also produces its own magazine, ‘Beautiful Gardens’, in collaboration with the marketing and editorial committees. They create unique content for each issue, with an estimated readership of over 40% of the UK’s gardening households. The magazine offers personalised content for each centre, bespoke deals, and “must-have” stock across the group for customers to access the best insights and products in stores.

The Prosper Buying Group has expanded its membership by adding three new members over the summer.

They now have a collective of nine members, which includes Aylett Nurseries, Barton Grange, Chessington Garden Centre, Cowell’s Garden Centre, Knights Garden Centres, Langlands, Perrywood, Stewarts and Tong. The group was founded more than 15 years ago by Roger Head of Forest Lodge, along with Martin Stewart and Richard Knight. It has continued to grow, upholding the close friendships and respect ethos initiated by Roger, with some of the independent garden centres in the industry.

solutions. AIS’s comprehensive online hub simplifies the buying process and fosters a sense of community among garden centre owners.”

The retailer’s view We spoke to some garden centres who are buying group members to find out more.

Caulders, owned by Colin and Mandy Barrie, are based in Scotland, and have nine garden centres with coffee shops. The small chain joined Choice Marketing about 10 years ago and director, Mandy tells us why: “We kept hearing great things about the benefits of being part of a buying group and decided to join one, after a lot of research we decided that Choice Marketing was a great fit for us. We seemed to spend a lot of time negotiating deals with suppliers and knew that we could benefit from far better buying power in a group.

“The buying power was probably the biggest reason we joined, however great deals and cost savings are only a small part of the story.

The sense of belonging, the camaraderie, the networking, and trust are invaluable, and a nice rebate cheque at the end of each year always puts a smile on Colin’s face.”

At the other end of the UK, Gardentime is based in Dartmouth and is also part of Choice.

Chris Varlow, managing director says: “Having met up with Michelle de Lavis Trafford this year to discuss Choice Marketing as an option

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for Gardentime, we were delighted to accept the offer to join. We love the structure and organisation of the group and we’ve been impressed with communication, as well as the improved supplier terms and pricing on offer.

“There’s a vast array of expertise and knowledge within the group and in a challenging economic climate, we certainly feel that we are stronger together.”

Another advocate of buying groups and Choice Marketing is Laura Jackson, director of Swarkestone Nursery. She explains: “The main reason we joined Choice was to give our business a competitive advantage. We felt we could get better pricing from our suppliers, whilst remaining an independent garden centre.

With our collective members, there is strength in numbers. We no longer need to spend time haggling prices at trade shows or during pre-season discussions.

We simply let a supplier know that we are a member of Choice, and we get a special price list, rebate, or better terms, which have already been negotiated in-house by Choice saving us a lot of time.

“We also share management information and tips with centres nationwide, which helps us all boost our businesses.”

Tim Armstrong, director of Highfield Garden World decided to join Choice in 2018, and also comments: “We felt that we needed more input to help with our growth and Choice seemed the ideal partner. Members retain their total independence and Choice facilitates the move to more generous buying terms and rebates.

COLLABORATIVE WORKING OFFERS BENEFITS THAT CAN POSITIVELY IMPACT INDEPENDENT GARDEN RETAIL BUSINESSES There is also a fantastic rapport with industry suppliers that an individual centre may not be able to achieve. Behind the scenes, Michelle and 20

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Mike do a fantastic job of keeping the various forums such as Plants, Sundries and Furniture in order.

“Forums are held a couple of times per year, and I am on the Sundries Forum which has been a very beneficial experience. The group also runs several popular ‘WhatsApp’ chats, and these are a great help as you can ask members for information or advice.”

Tillington members Bents and Squire’s have also found that collaborative working offers benefits that can positively impact independent garden retail businesses. Darran Oakley, purchasing director of Squire’s Garden Centre, comments: “We have been a member of Tillington for over 25 years. Members have a shared, mutual understanding and respect of each other and the way we operate. In some cases, there are very established relationships between families, which precede the current generation of business owners – and so built on something extremely solid.

“Aside from this unique fellowship, there are undoubted business benefits. Tillington enables members to optimise the skills of individual buyers within the group for the benefit of all members. I am the chairman of the sundries buying committee at Tillington – specifically chemicals, fertilisers, compost. By liaising with wholesalers, it can free up time for each business’ in-house team.

“From a marketing perspective, the magazine is a great platform for us to work together and acts as a brilliant vehicle to promote products to our customers.

“We benefit from the sharing of individual business experience and best practices, camaraderie within the industry and being supported by a wider team beyond our home management colleagues.”

Matthew Bent, director of Bents Garden & Home echoes this sentiment: “We are also involved with Tillington, which has had a very positive impact on all areas of the Bents business. As an independent garden centre, it is great to be able to work with, share ideas and learn from other similar businesses within the industry whilst also benefitting from the joint buying power it provides. Although there is a strong focus on collaboration, we have also been able to retain our independent values, which make us who we are.

“As the product group chairman for Christmas, I can share Bents’ experience and expertise in this area with other independents who can learn from our extensive history, and likewise we can learn from others. We have benefited hugely from our membership and look forward to being part of Tillington for years to come, working together to strengthen our offering and help set ourselves apart from larger multinationals.” gardencentreretail.com

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Features

A SILENT Revolution

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SUSTAINABLE RISE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE FLEETS

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ith sustainability set to be the top buzzword of 2024 for the garden retail sector, and with e-commerce becoming more popular than ever in this market, one way garden centres can marry these two initiatives is with electric delivery vehicles. Garden Centre Retail investigates whether adding electric vehicles to a garden centre’s fleet is genuinely viable.

With increasing consumer demand and the greater availability of electric models, the number of electric cars in the UK is growing at

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a rapid rate. As of the end of December 2023, there are now more than 975,000 fully electric cars driving on UK roads and a further 590,000 plug-in hybrids.

Nearly 315,000 battery-electric cars were registered in 2023, a growth of 18% on the number registered in 2022. In December 2023, 19.7% of all new car registrations were electric cars, with 27,841 new electric cars registered.

As of the end of December 2023, there were more than 55,000 electric vans in the UK. And it’s grocery titan Tesco that is leading the way in terms of the UK supermarket delivery vehicles.

In August 2023, the business unveiled its 500th electric van.

The van will go into service at the supermarket’s Sheffield Extra store, making it the first store in Yorkshire to have a fully electric fleet. The store runs 14 home delivery vans, making 2,500 deliveries each week.

Since Tesco introduced its first EV home delivery van in 2020 in Greater London, the electric vehicles powered by clean green energy have replaced 15 million diesel delivery miles.

More than 30 Tesco stores and centres are now operating fully electric home delivery vans across the UK, helping improve air quality in urban areas and reducing emissions.

Tesco’s fleet of 5,500 home delivery vans deliver to 150,000 customers across the UK every single day. As part of its ambition to become carbon neutral in the UK by 2035, Tesco has committed to operating a fully electric home delivery fleet in the UK by the end of 2030. By moving the whole UK delivery fleet to clean green electric power, it would be equivalent to taking 22,000 cars off the road each year. gardencentreretail.com

MANY CENTRES HAVE INSTALLED EV CHARGING POINTS IN THEIR CAR PARKS FOR USE BY THEIR CUSTOMERS Decarbonisation Minister Jesse Norman said that: “Electric vehicles are a key part of the UK’s move to a Green growth economy. It is great to see businesses like Tesco embrace this technology to help make supermarket deliveries more sustainable. For its part the Government has supported over 40,000 electric vans and

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HGVs across the UK through the Plug-in Van Grant, supporting businesses and individuals to decarbonise.”

So far, the garden centre market hasn’t done much in joining the electric vehicle bandwagon – many centres have installed EV charging points in their car parks for use by their customers, but it seems that Squire’s Garden Centres are leading the way in adding electric to their own fleet.

Last year, Squire’s acquired three electric vehicles initially, with these based at the Twickenham, Stanmore and Long Ditton centres, where they will be used primarily for home deliveries to local communities. Complete with redesigned livery, the new vans provide a zero emission home delivery service, to reassure customers that they are shopping in a more sustainable way. Three further e-vehicles are planned to join Squire’s fleet during 2024.

The new vehicles are designed for use in urban locations, suited to ‘stop-start driving’ conditions. The vehicles will be used by centres

included in or close to the expanded ULEZ scheme and in high volume traffic zones where the full benefits of emission-free e-vehicles are realised.

Sarah Squire, Chairman of Squire’s Garden Centres, comments: “My grandfather, D.J.Squire introduced the first vehicles to a very young business in 1930s. Who could have imagined 87 years later, we would be making deliveries using electricity.

Our new electric delivery vehicles perfectly illustrate how the business has adapted to new challenges and how, as a family business, we continue to evolve.

“The introduction of our electric vehicles is the latest initiative to help us be a cleaner, ‘greener’ business. We continue to look at ways we can be more sustainable in many areas across the business – and our move to start introducing e-vehicles is just the latest initiative.

Using e-vehicles within our centre network and for home deliveries will make a significant contribution to reducing our carbon footprint, as well as saving fuel costs across the business.”

Ross McEwan, Squire’s Sustainability Manager, comments: “We have made a commitment to accelerate electrifying our fleet of home delivery vehicles, moving from a trial of one van to purchasing three. The introduction of these electric vehicles sees us removing three diesel equivalents from our roads, replacing 1000’s of miles with emission free travel.

“Approximately 10% of our total business emissions come from our own transport, so this has been an important target to address.

For the customer, these new e-vehicles mean they can be confident they are shopping in a more sustainable way, helping reduce their own carbon footprint.”

Last year, the total number of electric vans sold in the UK picked up significantly. One factor here is increased demand for the option, but the upwards trend is also thanks to a large number of new models coming to market, seeing what was once a very small choice of models expand dramatically.

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Jason Tarry, Tesco CEO UK & ROI, said: “The delivery of our 500th EV home delivery van to our Sheffield Extra store is an important landmark as we move towards a fully electric fleet across the UK by 2030.

“Making this change will reduce our carbon emissions as a business, improve the air quality for the communities we serve in Sheffield, and help us reach our commitment to be carbon neutral in our own operations by 2035.”

Features

Partnering for the future with Solarwatt

S

SOLAR PANELS HELPED AN AWARD-WINNING HORTICULTURAL RETAILER MAKE ENERGY COST SAVINGS OF OVER £75,000 WITHIN MONTHS

olarwatt premium partner, Eco Energy Environment, recently completed impressive, highquality solar projects for a thriving commercial business rolling out cutting-edge solar solutions across multiple sites in the South East, helping them make the right investment in sustainable solar energy.

Garsons is an award-winning business that started life as a mixed farm more than 150 years ago by George Henry Thompson, supplying fresh crops to London’s Borough Market. Today, Garsons has evolved into an award-winning destination garden centre, farm shop and restaurant in Esher, Surrey opening a second site in Titchfield, Hampshire in 1999. Today, Garsons is led by fourth and fifth generations of the Thompson family. Together they are 24

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committed to driving environmental change at Garsons. creating a bright and sustainable future for their business and the local communities they serve.

Solarwatt products and partnerships drive quality results Eco Energy Environment has been providing solar energy solutions since 2007 and was consulted by Garsons because of its wealth of commercial installation experience and expertise. It prides itself on collaborating with high-quality manufacturers that offer highperformance, best-in-class products that give customers peace of mind.

As a European manufacturing pioneer and market leader in solar technology for the last 30 years, Solarwatt is renowned for its German

quality standards. Across Europe, more than 600,000 private households and companies use photovoltaic systems from the Dresden company to generate clean solar power themselves.

Solarwatt’s solar panels continue to be trusted by installation partners to get the very best results for their customer’s solar energy switchover.

“Solarwatt panels had been recommended several times, and it was that European, German quality, which led the way to the relationship we have. The open dialogue between us, Eco Energy and Solarwatt has helped, and it is an ongoing relationship that will continue,” said Ben Thompson, Director, Garsons.

As long-standing customers, Solarwatt was proud to award Eco Energy Environment with Premium Partner status for their loyal dedication to providing quality products and gardencentreretail.com

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all weather conditions and mechanical stresses, so they will continue generating sustainable energy for Garsons, long into the future.

Project challenges require meticulous planning by a trusted installation team Commissioned Apr 23’ • System size: 251.01 kWp (562x Panel vision pure and 72x Panel vision black) • 234,595 kWh (as estimated through PVSol) • 673 mWh actual consumption to end of 2023 (data taken from Fronius Solar Web) • 1 89 mWh production and 160 mWh self consumption (data taken from Fronius Solar Web) To help meet their client’s objectives, Eco Energy Environment chose solar panels from Solarwatt’s premium-quality Glass-Glass Panel vision series selected for performance reliability, energy yield and aesthetics. Using the Panel vision pure for the bulk of the design and introducing the Panel vision black in an in-roof setting on the farm shop to compliment the sleek slate aesthetic. This type of highconsumption site requires high-performance, versatile modules that suit the needs of the complex system design with multiple rooftop structures (slate, metal, trapezoidal) needing the

meticulous planning of varying string designs over multiple inverters. Commenting on the installation process, Dai said: “It takes a skilled team pulling together to overcome project challenges and get the job done.”

Long-term investment, reaping cost-savings within a few months of installation Soon after completion at Garsons Esher, the new solar system was quick to bear fruit with initial calculations showing they have saved a third of that energy requirement to date translating to a substantial cost-saving to the client of over £75,000 so far.

Delighted with the early results and reflecting on the positive customer reactions so far, Ben Thompson commented: “We’ve had a good response from our customers, I think they want to see that we are investing in improving our environmental credentials. We would recommend Eco Energy and Solarwatt, and we have a second installation underway now at our other site. Results so far since we went live at Esher have been strong. That’s quite rewarding to see that energy cost-saving.”

Garsons completed their large-scale solar implementation at Esher quickly and efficiently without disruption to business operations, and they can now look forward to a brighter future making greater savings and generating sustainable clean energy for generations to come.

Solarwatt will be exhibiting at the Garden Centre Expo later this year on 15-16 October 2024 at ExCeL London.

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services. Delivering highly skilled, professional, end-to-end services from consultation and system design to quality product selection and implementation – working in partnership with their clients and with trusted manufacturers like us, in pursuit of the best outcomes for their customers. Talking of the ongoing partnership, Managing director, of Eco Energy Environment, Yen Dai, said: “It’s been a terrific relationship because of Solarwatt’s quality product portfolio, it’s a partnership that works for all of us, as well as the end client.”

Designed and tested in Germany, Solarwatt Glass-Glass Panel vision modules come with industry-leading 30-year warranties and are the perfect profile for this type of commercial installation. “Our Glass-Glass panels come with a 30-year performance warranty and 30-year linear performance warranty which guarantees 87% left in the panel at year 30” said Neal Goddard, Sales Director UK & Ireland.

The precious solar cells are encapsulated on both sides with robust toughened glass panes, making them significantly more durable than conventional Glass-Foil solar panels. As Glass-Glass panels consist of two layers of tempered glass it also makes them inherently more fire-resistant.

They are designed and tested for resilience to the highest European manufacturing standards and offer optimal protection against

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Cherry Lane and Formbar: Revolutionising

THE RETAIL EXPERIENCE

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FORMBAR BECOMES PROUDLY ASSOCIATED WITH CHERRY LANE GARDEN CENTRES

ormbar is proud to be associated with Cherry Lane Garden Centres. With an expanding footprint across East Anglia, Yorkshire, and the Midlands, Cherry Lane has carved a niche for itself by delivering exceptional value to its customers. Cherry Lane Garden Centres set themselves apart with their strong brand identity, thoughtful layout, quality product presentation, and knowledgeable staff.

At the forefront of innovation in customer service and retail solutions, Formbar always showcases its latest products at trade exhibitons. At Glee 2021, the Hybrid Garden Centre Trolley was the latest trolley to 26

Garden Centre Retail February 2024

be unveiled. This event also featured our range of all-plastic shopping and flatbed trolleys, a line that has been well-received by garden centres since its introduction in 2018. It was here that the Cherry Lane team was captivated by our range of trolleys, marking the beginning of a significant conversation about the future of shopping efficiency in their centres. The discussion revealed that many existing trolleys and baskets in Cherry Lane centres were a mix of various models and makes, some of which were not up to the mark in terms of modern customer needs. Recognising this, Cherry Lane has been proactive in its approach to enhance customer satisfaction. As part of its comprehensive re-fitting programme, Formbar’s trolleys and baskets were incorporated.

Formbar’s baskets, crafted from recycled plastic and featuring the Cherry Lane logo, are not just tools for shopping but symbols of sustainability and brand pride. The trolleys are available in two models: the 110L hybrid with a lower platform and the 175L all-plastic shopping trolley for larger shopping needs.

Cherry Lane expressed its satisfaction with Formbar’s service, highlighting how the new trolleys and baskets have not only resolved a logistical issue for its customers but have also streamlined Cherry Lane’s operations by establishing Formbar as a reliable, single supplier for its needs.

Contact Formbar info@formbar.co.uk 01235 850368

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Features

What are the

NINE MOST POPULAR houseplants in the UK?

POTTED PLANTS ARE STILL A HUGE SELLER – HERE ARE SOME TRENDING OPTIONS AS WE BEGIN 2024

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t’s no secret, houseplant popularity in the UK has soared to dizzy heights over the past five years. Whether it’s because of the unwavering instagrammable nature of them, or they’ve been used as a gateway into caring for something else other than oneself, most offices and houses now contain a number of varying species that adds a point of interest to any interior. gardencentreretail.com

In 2022, Brits spent on average of £306 on houseplants, and 4% of all Brits purchased a houseplant. Houseplant sales grew by 50% between 2019 and 2021, which could be an indication of the importance of mental health through the pandemic.

Recently, David Wilson Homes undertook some research into the most popular houseplant searches on Google, and here are the results:

League table of Google searches in the last year 1. A loe Vera (594,000 searches) 2. Ivy (486,000 searches) = Peace Lily (486,000 searches) = Snake Plant (486,000 searches) = Spider Plant (486,000 searches) 6. Chinese Money Plant (266,000 searches) 7. Air Plant (217,200 searches) = Jade Plant (217,200 searches) = Philodendron (217,200 searches)

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Features Aloe Vera Aloe vera Aloe vera is a slow-growing, stemless succulent with thick, fleshy, green leaves. Known for its medicinal purposes, aloe vera is often kept in kitchens to help soothe burns caused from cooking.

Aloe prefers bright, indirect sunlight, is unlikely to ever grow more than one metre tall and has air purifying properties. It is non-toxic and can withstand temperatures of no lower than 10c.

All different varieties of aloe needs a welldraining soil, and if the roots are left sitting in water, root rot can develop.

English Ivy Hedera helix An air-purifying and fast-growing plant, English Ivy is perfect for hanging pots, or on the edge of shelves to allow the foliage to trail.

It is low maintenance, has no requirement for bright light as it performs well in lower or medium light levels, and is perfect for customers that may be more forgetful with their watering patterns.

English Ivy has previously been given a hard time due to its invasive nature when outside, but it adds a different element to many other houseplants in an interior setting.

Snake Plant Sansevieria The snake plant, also known as mother in law’s tongue, is a very hardy houseplant, with stiff, sword-life leaves.

Snake plants are very easy to care for, and can tolerate a lot of neglect from those that forget about it.

They can survive low light levels and drought, and have few insect problems.

NASA research has even shown that snake plants are able to help keep the air inside your home clean, removing toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene.

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Peace Lily Spathiphyllum The peace lily is one of the most instantly recognisable houseplants commercially available.

It’s air purification properties are second to none, and it’s striking white flowers sitting on top of dense, dark green foliage makes this variety an instant favourite.

Another houseplant that is easy to care for, peace lillies have a tell-tale sign of droopy leaves when it gets thirsty.

Incidentally, peace lily plants are a fantastic desktop plant, and have the ability to filter out harmful toxins found throughout the home.

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Features Air Plants Tillandsia A quirky plant, these do not need soil to grow and thrive, instead they take all the nutrients they need from the air, and from host plants they dig their roots into in the wild.

Another houseplant with a striking look, air plants allow budding horticulturists to display a variety of different tillandsia species in creative and innovative ways.

There are hundreds of species and varieties of air plants. They usually have narrow, lance-like leaves that grow in a rosette pattern with new growth appearing from the centre.

Jade Plant Crassula ovata With the appearance of a tree, jade plants are a long-living, easy to propagate and popular houseplant, with very little in the way of specific care required.

Jade plants require a spot in full sun, free-draining soil and are prone to overwatering, so only require a drink when the top two inches or so of soil feel dry to the touch.

Jade plants are easy to propagate from leaf cuttings, simply take a leaf from the plant, let the cut end callous over for a couple of days, and lay on top of free-draining soil.

Chinese Money Plant Pilea peperomioides Probably the most popular houseplant on Instagram, the Chinese money plant has a striking appearance, with strong, round green leaves atop of stalks, sticking out from a stem.

Chinese money plants are fast growing, and often produce offshoots at a rapid rate. It’s easy going when it comes to a watering routine, and only needs to be watered when the soil is dry to the touch.

It needs a position which has a lot of bright, natural light, but prefers not to be in direct contact with the sun’s rays. It’s also pet and baby-safe.

Philodendron Philodendron The philodendron genus of plants has hundreds of different varieties, all of which have large, eye-catching foliage, split between climbing and non-climbing plants.

This species needs well-draining soil and a home in indirect sunlight. The heart shaped leaves do not like direct sunlight to touch them. Philodendrons are not particularly thirsty plants.

In terms of pests, aphids, mealybugs and spider mites have been known to affect philodendrons, and these are toxic to animals and humans alike.

Spider Plant Chlorophytum comosum Known as the spider plant due to the way it reproduces offspring from spiderlike tendrils, it is a forgiving houseplant that looks good in a hanging pot.

The spider plant is fast establishing and can grow to spread 2.5 feet. It prefers a full or partially shady spot. It requires free-draining soil, and can deal with a neglectful owner on occasion.

Spider plants have a reputation for being unkillable, and although that’s not strictly true, they are tough plants and are rarely affected by any pests or diseases.

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Prep your centre for...

ALLERGIES

IN OCTOBER 2021, THE UK GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED NATASHA’S LAW, TO PROTECT ALLERGY SUFFERERS AND GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE IN THE FOOD THEY BUY. HOW CAN GARDEN CENTRES MAKE SURE THEY COMPLY AND MAKE RESTAURANTS SAFE FOR SUFFERERS?

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ollowing the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, a teenager who died after suffering an allergic reaction to a baguette she

Garden Centre Retail February 2024

purchased at Pret a Manger, the government confirmed stronger laws would be implemented to protect those with allergies and give them greater confidence in the food they buy.

A Statutory Instrument (SI) was laid in Parliament on 5 September 2019 which tightened the rules by requiring these foods to carry a full list of ingredients – known as ‘Natasha’s Law’. gardencentreretail.com

Best practice It is important to manage allergens effectively in your food business to ensure food is safe for customers with food allergies. This involves including allergen information when menu planning and having good food preparation and hygiene practices in place to avoid crosscontamination in your kitchen.

Allergen ingredient recording You need to make sure that you know what is in the food you provide. You can do this by recording allergen ingredient information in a written format. Allergen ingredients information should be: • recorded on product specification sheets • included on ingredients labels and ingredients should be kept in original or labelled containers • included in recipes or explanations of the dishes provided – you need to consider the impact when recipes change • up to date.

gardencentreretail.com

Avoiding allergen cross-contamination It is important for food businesses to take steps to avoid cross-contamination in food preparation to protect customers with a food allergy.

There are a number of actions you can take to prevent cross-contamination with allergens.

These include: • c leaning utensils before each usage, especially

Features

Food Minister Zac Goldsmith said at the time: “This is a significant moment for the millions of allergy sufferers in England and a fitting tribute to Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse’s tireless campaigning.

The introduction of this law will make it easier for allergy sufferers to make clear, safe choices when buying food.”

But what did that mean for restaurants and retailers? The reforms cover labelling requirements for foods that are prepared and packed on the same premises from which they are sold – such as a packaged sandwich or salad made by staff earlier in the day and placed on a shelf for purchase.

You must provide allergen information in writing if you sell or provide food to your customers directly. This could be either: • A full allergen information on a menu, chalkboard or in an information pack.

• a written notice placed in a clearly visible position explaining how your customers can obtain this information.

When allergen information is provided as part of a conversation with a customer, this can be backed up by written information. This would ensure that it is accurate and consistent.

You can display this allergy and intolerance sign to quickly tell any customers how they can find allergy information, or create your own. if they were used to prepare meals containing allergens • washing hands thoroughly between preparing dishes with and without certain allergens • storing ingredients and prepared foods separately in closed and labelled containers • keeping ingredients that contain allergens separate from other ingredients Allergen cross-contamination can also happen through using the same cooking oil. To cook gluten-free chips, you can’t use the same oil which has been previously used for cooking battered fish. If you can’t avoid crosscontamination, you should inform customers that you can’t provide an allergen-free dish.

Enforcement and penalties Apart from the possibility of making a customer seriously ill, you could also face the risk of

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financial and reputational damage to your food business if you fail to comply with allergen information requirements.

Local authorities actively enforce allergen information regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in action being taken by the local authority.

If you fail to act on advice given by the local authority, an improvement notice may be issued. If you do not meet the requirements of this notice, you will be ultimately be issued with a penalty.

You have 14 days to appeal an improvement notice from the date the notice was issued. In some cases businesses may also face prosecution.

Food businesses need to tell customers if any food they provide contain any of the listed allergens as an ingredient.

Consumers may be allergic or have intolerance to other ingredients, but only the 14 allergens are required to be declared as allergens by food law.

Milk

Tree nuts(such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts)

Molluscs (such as mussels and oysters)

Peanuts Mustard

Lupin

Sulphur dioxide and sulphites (if the sulphur dioxide and sulphites are at a concentration of more than ten parts per million)

Soybeans Eggs Crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs and lobsters)

Cereals containing gluten (such as wheat, barley and oats) Celery

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Fish

Sesame

For more information on allergy awareness, visit food.gov.uk

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Harrogate Christmas and Gift Fair 2024

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HARROGATE’S 2024 EDITION RETURNED TO GREAT FANFARE – HERE ARE THE TOP OFFERINGS AND THE BEST NEW RANGES SHOWN

eturning to the Harrogate Convention Centre from 14-17 January 2024, The Harrogate Christmas and Gift Fair once again showcased the best of the best in seasonal retail.

This year, there were plenty of new ranges to see, with a few standout themes for the 2024 season. Notably, the show welcomed back a number of exhibitors with greetings card, crackers and gift-wrapping ranges. Personalised products also took pride of place this year, with everything from baubles and tree decorations to key rings, mugs, and plaques.

Among the popular nutcrackers and gonks, there was a notable trend of festive dinosaurs; and lots of non-scary autumn Halloween themed products from door wreaths to artificial pumpkins. Many exhibitors refreshed colourways with traditional reds, stylish silver and white, and lots of pastel ranges with ice cream pinks and blues.

This year, there were even food products and gifts, which proved popular with visitors. Hanan Samara of Terra Rossa, a specialist which imports traditional Arabian olive oils, herbs 34

Garden Centre Retail February 2024

and spices and produces hand-made traditional sauces and relishes in the UK, comments: “We have had a lot of interest in our products from garden centres with food halls and farm shops too. Our product range includes sauces and spreads with delicious flavours of the Levant and luxurious infused extra virgin olive oils.

These are attractively packaged which makes them perfect gifts the whole year round.”

The quality and diversity of products available was bigger and better than ever before, with lots of new colourways and themes for Christmas, personalised ranges, items for pets and even babies.

For example, Ziggle showcased a range of cute products with babies in mind including bibs, hats, socks, slippers, headbands, toys and tree decorations.

Ziggle’s Jonathan Graham says: “The show is a great match for our products, and we have already received orders from garden centre and destination shop buyers.”

Another slightly different product at the show this year was Santa’s Gin. Tim Lewis of the company explained: “Gin has increased in popularity hugely in recent years and we’ve

come up with some great festive flavours. This includes strawberry and vanilla and Christmas cookie – and of course our original with hints of juniper, pine, vanilla, orange, cranberries, and some Christmas magic too. We’ve received lots of orders from licensed garden centres.”

Those seeking ethnic and sustainable ranges got glimpses with Bollywood Christmas offering some beautiful decorations made from wood, leather, paper, and glass; and also, Namaste UK with an ethical range embracing traditional artisan skills from Nepal.

For more information on the Harrogate Christmas and Gift Fair 2024, visit the website at: harrogatefair.com.

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NATIONAL FREEHOLD LAND REQUIREMENT 1.2 – 2 acre sites close to major towns on major arterial routes with amenities in close proximity

Over 500 models available from stock

(C2 use). Residential Care Major well-funded and experienced developer and operator Quick decisions and excellent land values

Please send sites to Ian Blackett at ianblackett@btconnect.com or call Ian on 07808 895013 All information treated in strictest confidence

Please contact us for our trade catalogue: Tel 01460 75686 www.classiccanes.co.uk

New and second hand aluminium benching: Fixed, Semi rolling, mobile and sales benches.

VALEKA BV • Heliniumweg 14 • 3133 AX Vlaardingen, The Netherlands Tel: +31-10 599 74 02 • info@valeka.nl • www.valeka.nl

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• Latest news • Online features • Special focuses • And more...

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Products

Products Christmas PREPARE YOUR 2024 HOLIDAY STOCK WITH THESE HIGH-QUALITY DECORATIVE BASKET-FILLERS AND GIFTING SHELF STARS Glass tealight holders Ivyline Help your customers bring some twinkle to their festive table settings with these coloured glass tealight holders from Ivyline. With their curved design, metallic sheen and antique effect, these home accents will illuminate any festive decor with style.

Available in two sizes and in silver, gold, navy and evergreen colours.

RRP From £29.99 ivylinegb.co.uk

Merry Christmas Candle and Bath Bundle The English Soap Company The Merry Christmas Candle and Bath Bundle is perfect for fans of fresh, winter greenery-style fragrances. The soaps are enriched with shea butter and vegetable glycerine to keep your skin feeling soft and cared for. The candles are hand-poured using soy wax for a clean and even burn, with a long-lasting aroma.

RRP £19 theenglishsoapcompany.com

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250ml Olive Oil Infused with Lemon Terra Rossa Made by infusing Jordanian lemons and first cold pressed EVOO. Fantastic with fish, chicken and drizzled over salads and rice. Sweet enough for baking bread to cakes and crepe suzettes. Brush on during cooking for that incredible flavour.

RRP £9.25 terra-rossa.com

12 Days of Christmas Carafe 500ml Milford Collection This attractive glass carafe is beautifully decorated using traditional sandblasting techniques. All decoration is completed by hand in the UK. Each hand etched glass piece arrives wrapped in tissue paper and in a high-quality printed gift box, making it the perfect gift.

Dimensions are 16.5cm high x 10cm diameter.

RRP POA milfordcollection.com

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Products Embroidered Nutcracker Best Years Nutcrackers are said to bring good luck to a family and to protect the home, according to German traditional folklore. They are said to watch over the family and keep evil spirits away and are a symbol of strength and power. Although Best Years cannot guarantee that this embroidered nutcracker will protect homes, they hope little ones will love these nutcracker soft toys that are soft enough for cuddles and are perfect for imaginative play.

RRP £16.99 bestyears.co.uk

Lukas Stargazer Midnight Blue Bobbin’ Gonk Fountasia Lukas Stargazer has a passion for the starlight world at night – he watches stars for many hours, they are such an amazing sight! If you ask him, he will tell you the name of every single star. As the Gonk expert on astrology, he is the most knowledgeable by far. These free standing Gonks are made with bouncy metal frames and soft, plushy fabric. Measurements: H: 156cm x W: 54cm x D: 42cm.

RRP £24.99 fountasia.com

6ft Green Pre-Lit Slim Line Christmas Tree Benross This tree stands at 6ft tall and comes with a metal base which enables easy access to pop the tree up straight away and ensure that the tree is fully supported. There are 560 tips on the tree overall which will ensure plenty of decorations and lights to be added, alongside the lights which are already fitted on the tree. As the tree is artificial it takes away the need to constantly sweep up dropped needles, without compromising on the look of the tree.

RRP £82.50 benross.com

Terracotta Decoration – Stocking Namaste UK This handmade terracotta stocking decoration is to hang from the Christmas tree. Natural, chemical-free, sustainable clay is custom moulded and tied with rustic, sustainable jute string. The textured image has a plain terracotta reverse. Traditional and timeless, make this seasonal décor part of your annual festivity. Combine with other hanging terracotta ornaments in the range for an authentic eco-friendly display. Alternatively, share the delightful simplicity by giving as little eco gifts.

RRP £3.95 namaste-uk.com

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Promotion

Q&A with Product and Marketing Director

CAROLINE ELLIOTT

F

irst launched at Glee 2023 to critical acclaim, AMES Tools is fast becoming one of the most exciting launches to hit the garden retail sector for many years. Combining world-class tool expertise, a heritage few others can boast, and a dedicated team passionately advocating for the brand’s multiple ‘market firsts’, quality of construction and breadth of range, AMES Tools is “the one to watch” in the year ahead. Here, AMES Tools Product and Marketing Director, Caroline Elliott, talks us

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through the AMES Tools difference and how this range has come into being.

Can you introduce us to AMES Tools?

AMES Tools is a brand new range of tools, introduced to the UK by the AMES Companies, home to wellknown brands including Kelkay, Apta and La Hacienda. We’re a global business with 250 years’ collective experience in tool design and manufacture, and the complete range of 50 garden tools launches into retailers starting January 2024. The take up has already been excellent, with garden-centre-exclusive tools now arriving with hundreds of retailers nationwide.

The brand consists of both carbon steel and stainless-steel collections, can you explain the difference between the two?

The new AMES Tools range features both carbon (24 tools) and stainless (26 tools) options, with aesthetics and price point key differentiators between carbon steel and stainless steel.

Stainless steel tools have a natural shine and metallic finish, requiring no further treatment to protect from corrosion because the metal is inherently rust-resistant. This metal boasts less soil adhesion and easy cleaning, which keeps them looking new for years to come when properly maintained. For these reasons, stainless steel tends to be more expensive than carbon and is generally the preferred gardencentreretail.com

AMES Tools innovation has created a number of market-firsts. Can you outline what these key design features and functional benefits are?

Our carbon steel spade and fork heads have been stamped from one piece of material using a uniquely designed AMES mould. This cuts out traditional welding, which fixes together multiple pieces of metal, creating a point of weakness at every join prone to failure with misuse or overloading. AMES Tools’ tempered steel and one-piece construction makes them much less likely to deform or snap.

The Comfort Step™ is a distinctive foot tread on AMES Tools spades and shovels, designed to give increased power and leverage while digging. We’ve combined it with FSCcertified ash wood handles to offer improved longevity versus larch wood, which other brands choose.

Our spade and fork handles also sit further down into the metal shank and are double riveted to finish. This gives 45% more strength versus a single rivet, whilst the special arch design of the Extra Wide Leaf Rake allows almost 50% more leaves to be collected for fast and efficient tidying.

Finally, the designs provide gardeners with tools they can trust, comfortable to use, remain strong under pressure, and are all covered by a market leading 15-year guarantee across both our carbon and stainless ranges.

Bringing a new range to market is a long and complicated progress. What was the process that enabled you and your team to create AMES Tools? gardencentreretail.com

The most important factor in research and development is listening to the voice of the consumer. We ran focus groups with gardeners to try and understand their pain points when it comes to gardening.

One that stood out to us was a lady who gardened in her flip flops! With that knowledge we developed the ‘Comfort Step™’.

We knew that designing a larger foot tread would aid in making digging more comfortable for the consumer, whilst also adding the perforated holes to give them added grip, no matter what type of footwear they chose to garden in.

How has the AMES Tools offering been positioned within the marketplace?

AMES Tools have been carefully curated to sit mid-range, bringing a level of innovation that’s currently missing from this affordable price point: our Comfort Step™ Spades, ExtraWide Leaf Rake and Double-Sided Soil Rake offer customer-centric designs that benefit the user. It’s important to us to make gardening more accessible and easier for our consumers, whilst giving them the confidence that their tools are built to last. We offer a breadth of choice and excellent guarantee no matter their budget.

Our stainless-steel tools have a slightly higher price point than the carbon steel

Promotion

choice of seasoned gardeners who shop for traditional garden tools. Carbon steel tools in the market are available at a cheaper price point than stainless, perfect for the beginner gardener. Carbon steel tools typically require a rust-resistant coating to be added on top of the natural metal – which is why you find green and grey painted tools in other ranges.

We’ve also spent a long time developing our packaging to highlight the features and benefits of each item, so customers can easily find the right tool for the job and learn how to use it most efficiently. Tools are on display with strong branding and sleek hanging systems; all put together by the AMES merchandising team who deliver, unload, and set up for retailers as standard.

The AMES Tools website and marketing plans are designed to push consumers into store, with all retailers listed on the website with easy and clear information on location and contact details.

With competitive commercial packages and a nationwide sales team, now is the time for retailers to act – both their orders and deliveries can be linked with those through landscaping supplier Kelkay, which is also part of the AMES Companies.

How do you want consumers to view the range?

AMES has such a rich history, with 250 years of tools expertise, and I want our customers to trust our knowledge and expertise in bringing them the best quality tools. In addition, we are there to support them with easy to access content, with the help of David Domoney, on how to pick the right tool for the job, in doing so we are aiming to delight our customers.

collection but remain in line with other tool suppliers in the marketplace.

What advice do you have for retailers seeking to stock AMES Tools?

Consumers seek education on knowing what the right tool is for the task they are looking to complete. This is why we have partnered with David Domoney as brand ambassador to help us inspire and educate with free-to-use content.

About AMES Tools To stay up to date with all things AMES Tools, including accessing the dedicated trade portal where you will find a comprehensive image library, POS guide and Product Database alongside the 2024 catalogue, please visit ames-tools.co.uk.

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Products

Products Garden Machinery EXPLORE THE LATEST PRODUCTS THAT ARE REVOLUTIONISING THE WAY YOU CARE FOR YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE RMA 448 VC Cordless Lawn Mower (self-propelled) Stihl The RMA 448 VC is a powerful cordless lawn mower with a 46cm cutting width and vario speed drive. The speed is easily adjusted from 0-4.5km per hour using the lever on the handle.

The mono-comfort handlebar is heightadjustable and allows easy access to the grass catcher box. It can also be folded over for compact storage in one easy movement.

RRP £625 stihl.co.uk

DUR181 18v LXT Line Trimmer Makita The Makita DUR181 line trimmer is compatible with all 18v LXT batteries. It features a 260mm diameter cutting head and is lightweight and well balanced. The main shaft has an adjustment range of 180mm for comfortable height adjustment and the strimming head has a five position pivoting head for perfect working posture. The single line head is bump feed and features a metal bump head for longer life.

RRP £131 makitauk.com

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Garden Centre Retail February 2024

HGE 18-50 Cordless Hedge Trimmer Kärcher The Kärcher HGE 18-50 cordless hedge trimmer makes it easy and safe to trim hedges and complete other pruning tasks in the garden. The HGE 18-50 is lightweight, and a rotatable handle adds to the comfort. The hedge trimmer incorporates a saw function to tackle thicker branches, and the built-in blade protector makes it easy to use against the edge of buildings. It’s compatible with Kärcher 18V 2.5ah or 5.0ah batteries, and it features an LCD screen to show the battery power remaining.

RRP £139.99 karcher.co.uk

PowerVac 300V Flymo Perfect for medium sized gardens, the 3000W Power Vac 3000V has a blow speed of 310km/h. It has a collection capacity of 45 litres and a shredding ratio of 16:1. Weighing only 4.8kg in blow mode, the Power Vac 3000V also features a variable speed control and powerful fan.

RRP £64 flymo.com/uk

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Products

Eco cordless garden machinery range Webb Designed for optimal performance with a super-fast battery recharge, the new Web Eco cordless garden machinery range provides an eco-friendly and cost-efficient alternative to traditional petrol options. Quiet to use and cordless in design, the new range offers complete freedom with no power cables to get in the way or hold you up. Furthermore, as all tools within the range have been designed to be used with the same, easily interchangeable 20v battery, valuable savings can be achieved in running costs.

RRP From £32.99 handys.co.uk Indego S 500 Robotic Mower Bosch The Indego S 500 with LogiCut maps a lawn and cuts in parallel lines. It starts every full lawn mowing session with a BorderCut, ensuring a neat finish, right up to the edge of the lawn area. With the AUTO Calendar Function, the robotic mower automatically calculates a tailored mowing schedule suited to any lawn. With MultiArea, it can save up to three lawn areas in its memory.

RRP From £780 bosch-diy.com

WEV20PHT

Webb 20V 50cm (20”) Cordless Long Reach Hedge Trimmer (2AH Battery and Charger)

£129.99

WEV20B4

Webb 20V 4ah Battery (Compatible with all Webb 20v Machinery)

£89.99

WEV20LM33B4

Webb 20V 33cm (14”) Cordless Rotary Lawnmower (4AH Battery and Charger)

£199.99

WEV20X2LM43B4X

Webb 40V (2 x 20V) 43cm (17”) Cordless Rotary Lawnmower (2 x 4AH Battery and Charger)

£299.99

WEV20LTB2

Webb 20V 25cm (10”) Cordless Linetrimmer (2AH Battery and Charger)

£89.99

WEV20HTB2

Webb 20V 50cm (20”) Cordless Hedge Trimmer (2AH Battery and Charger)

£99.99

WEV20CS25B4

Webb 20V 25cm (10”) Cordless Chainsaw (4AH Battery and Charger)

£149.99

WEV20PSB2

Webb 20V 15cm (6”) Cordless Pruning Saw (2AH Battery and Charger)

£99.99

WEV20EXTPSB2

Webb 20V 15cm (6”) Cordless Pruing Saw with Extension Pole (2AH Battery and Charger)

£139.99

WEV20ABB4

Webb 20v 160mph Cordless Axial Blower (4ah Battery and Charger)

£89.99

WEV20TILB2

Webb 20V 20cm (8”) Cordless Tiller (2AH Battery and Charger)

£129.99

WEV20PSHTB2

Webb 20V 50cm (20”) Cordless Long Reach Hedge Trimmer and Pruner attachment (2AH Battery and Charger)

£99.99

WEV20PHT20B2

Webb 20V 50cm (20”) Cordless Long Reach Hedge Trimmer (2AH Battery and Charger)

£129.99

WEV20C1.5

Webb 20V 1.5A Slide On Charger

£32.99

WEV20DPC

Webb 20V 2.4A Dual Port Charger £44.99

While stocks last

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40V Tiller Greenworks The 40V Cultivator from Greenworks is the perfect tool for preparing beds and borders. It turns soil, digs in compost and breaks compacted ground with ease. The 40V system gives more than enough power and performance for most UK gardens.

RRP £199 greenworkstools.co.uk

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Products

Products Decorative Aggregate FOR GARDENERS MAKING LARGER-SCALE CHANGES TO SPACES, CONSIDER THESE VARIETIES OF DECORATIVE AGGREGATE Candy Fusion Pebbles Kelkay 25 – 40mm pebbles in soft, natural grey marble, pastel pink and white, specifically created in response to both retailer and consumer demand. Perfect for borders, patios, around decking, walkways, and as a pot topper. Fish safe these pebbles can also be used in ponds. Candy Fusion adds texture and definition outdoor spaces and enjoy a stunning high shine when wet. Available in both large and bulk bags.

RRP £14.99 kelkay.com

Harbour Grey Chippings Kelkay Another example of how Kelkay brings to market in direct response to retailer and consumer demand, Harbour Grey is a decorative surface covering, ideal for paths, around ponds and used with cacti or alpines, where drier conditions are required. 10mm – 20mm chippings of Harbour Grey is also suitable as a pot topper and for use on beds and borders.

Available in both large and bulk bags.

RRP £6.99 kelkay.com

Cotswold Chippings The Heritage Stone Co A classic and enchanting addition to your landscaping repertoire. Immerse yourself in the rich heritage of the Cotswold countryside with this exquisite gravel, as it lends a touch of rustic charm and elegance to your outdoor spaces. An ideal aggregate offering for landscaping and garden needs.

Long lasting and low maintenance Cotswold chippings is perfect for all driveways, garden borders and paths.

RRP £5.99 deco-pak.co.uk

Alpine Gold Gravel Pot Topping 5kg Woodlodge Decorative pot toppers and grit help to retain moisture and improve drainage, protect from frost and improve the appearance of potted plants. Top dressing pots.

This product is great for alpines and rockeries, and suitable for cacti and succulents.

It’s lime free, retains moisture and helps improve drainage for potted plants.

RRP £3.99 woodlodge.co.uk

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Garden Centre Retail February 2024

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Products Flamingo Gravel 14mm-20mm Stone Warehouse Flamingo® Gravel 14-20mm, also known as Pastel Pink, is an attractive blend of peach, pink, white and bluish grey stones that deepen in colour when wet. Flamingo garden gravel is one of our most popular premium products, with a natural sparkle in the sunshine, perfect for making a bold statement or brightening your garden gravel project. Suitable for gravel driveways, gravel paths, lawn borders and raised flower beds.

RRP £8.99 (20kg) stonewarehouse.co.uk

Alpine Gold 3-8mm Meadow View Stone Alpine Gold is a small angular decorative chipping suitable for general ground coverage and can also be used in water features, being a fish friendly product.

This light and bright material is a mixture of gold, cream and buff chippings and will lighten up any landscaping project.

Great for creating alpine gardens and rockeries.

RRP £5.00 meadowviewstone.co.uk

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Country Cream Gravel 15-25mm Altico Products Altico Country Cream is a sourced in Yorkshire and is a popular choice for driveways, borders, paths and many other landscaping applications. The warm neutral tones work well when combined with similar coloured garden features. The cream element ensures these stones have a light, bright appearance, which is really useful in shady or dark areas around the garden and also provides a nice backdrop for foliage and planting.

RRP £6.99 altico.co.uk

Duck Egg Cobbles Meadow View Stone Duck Egg Cobbles® are a superior natural rounded lightblue/grey cobble that exudes quality. With its smooth surface texture these subtly coloured cobbles deepen in colour when wet. Being a fish friendly product, Duck Egg Cobbles® are perfect for water features and are appealing for internal design and external design in a variety of landscaping applications. An exclusive product to Meadow View Stone.

RRP £14.99 meadowviewstone.co.uk

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