Centre Exclusive: Order nowand mix up to 6differentfurnitureranges on asingle container–ideal formaximising display, choice, andmargin.
CELTIC LEISUR
Pavingthe wayfor apositivesummer
Talking to garden centresandgrowersthis month,we’ve learnedthatalthoughthe endofMayandJune were quiet,theslower saleshaven’tdampenedthespiritsofwhat wasan extremelybusyspring.Afterseveralyearsofwhat hasfeltlikeanduphillstruggle,thefavourable weatherhas certainlyliftedthemood. Evenwith financialpressuresfromelsewhere,businesses arepushingonandinvestingintheirfutures.
Inthisissue, GTNhasanexclusiveinterviewwith RichardRedman,HeadofOnline Tradingat Robert Dyas.Heoffersinsights intowhythehigh street retailerfeelsnowistheright timetolaunchitsnew onlinegarden centre.
At MonktonElmGardenCentre,MikeLind tells
GTNwhy thedecision to revampandupdateits cateringfacilities wasthe rightone.Withmore than 400covers,the centreisnow preparedforthe busy future.
And,of course, thisissuehas an exclusivefocus onSOLEX2025with a26-page previewoffering everything youneed to knowabouttheshow takingplace at theNEC. Withbuoyant furnitureand bbq sales sofar, theshowwillhelp buyerssecurea positivesummer andbe readyandwaitingfor2026. We look forwardtoseeingasmany of youas we canatSOLEXanddon’tforget youcan keep up to date withSOLEXSunbringing youdaily news frombuildupandevery dayoftheshow. See youatSOLEX!
RichardRedman,HeadofOnline Trading at Robert Dyas,gives GTNexclusive insightintothebackground,theory andplanning behindthenew online sitegardencentre.co.uk.andtheopportunitiesitpresentsforsuppliers.
herearen’tmanyinthebusiness who wouldturntheirnoseup at securingthedomain gardencentre. co.uk,sowhenitwasoffered to Theo Paphitishesnappeditup.Althoughan avidsupporterofhighstreetretailing and smallbusinessesthroughtheTheo Paphitis RetailGroup (TPRG)including RobertDyas, Ryman,Boux Avenueand London Graphic Centre,thechancetoexpandgarden retailingdigitally wastoogood to miss.
The recentlaunchofthesite,gives TPRGtheperfectopportunity to grow itsgardenbusiness,whichuntilnow has beenjustoneofthecategories within the manyofferingsof RobertDyas,rubbing shoulderswithsalesofkettles,homewares and DIYmust haves.That’ssaid, itis acore sector,accounting forahealthyportion ofthebusiness,throughthehighstreet’s e-commerce channel(robertdyas.co.uk). Gardeningwill continue to be part of the RobertDyasonlineoffer,and thenew platformgivesTPRGthespace to further inspirekeengardenersthroughnew productsand alike-minded communityto ensuretheirgardensbloom.
Amuch-usedonlinesearch term ‘garden centre’swiftlybringsshoppers to thesite, wheretheywill findabreadth of range to rivalanytraditional,bricksandmortar garden centre.Googlewillbetheshop windowforthenewventure with itsown brandingandlogo,new toneof voice, andexpertadvice, buyingguidesand information.Ithasbeendesigned to delight shoppersalreadyin agardeningframeof mind,helping to providesolutionsforall theirgardeningneeds.
Theexpertise andsupportfor gardencentre.co.uk comes fromexisting
Robert Dyas teamsbutthereare novisual clues.Smallprint willrevealittobea development ofTPRGandsuppliers with products on both robertdyas.co.ukand gardencentre.co.ukwillfindthesame order managementsysteminplace.Products onbothsites will bepricedthesame,but witha widerselectionofgarden-focussed productsandsolutionsonthe new platform. Theethicsand valuesofRobert Dyas as abrand have beeninstilled andare thebackboneof gardencentre.co.uk.
Fullproduct range
RichardRedman, hasbeenwithRobert Dyas for25years,initiallyascategory managerforgardening(bolsteredby adegreeinplantsciences)andmore recently asHeadofOnline Tradingacross allsectors. Since2012,when Robert Dyas becamepart of theTPRG,investments havebeenmadein thehighstreet, and online businesses.“Theobelieves youcan haveboth. Our bricksandmortarhigh streetpropositionis core to Robert Dyas butwe'verealised thee-commerce channel isn'tgoingaway,andit'san increasingpart ofhowcustomerswanttofindproducts,” hesays.Infact,data fromTheOffice of National StatisticsshowthatinMarch 2025,26.3%of allretailsales were viathe internet. ComparedwithMarch2018, before Covid, when thefigurewas 17.3%.
Robert Dyashasbeenworkingto bolsterthe gardenproductofferingin readiness forthelaunch withbothstores andits websitebenefittingfromthe increase in choice.Covidgotin theway of gardencentre.co.uk’sdevelopmentsbut even so,hesays,thesitecouldn’tgolive untila comprehensiverange ofproducts
wasavailable.“Five yearsago,wedidn'tsell garden buildings,and they arenow amultimillion-poundcategory forus, andthree yearsago,wedidn’tsellliveplants,”hesays. ApartnershipwithThompson &Morgan nowmeansa comprehensiverange of seasonal plantsisavailable,andsofar,the 2025season hasbeenthe bestyet.
Havingthedomain name secureisn’t aguaranteeofsuccess,but research carriedoutonthe Robert Dyas website hashighlightedpeople wantingtobuy gardenproducts, willuse ‘gardencentre’ as theirsearchterm. “Wediscoveredahigh percentageofouronline orderscame from postcodesnowherenear aRobertDyas
store showing that our product range was resonating with customers online, as well as in-store,” says Richard. Although the
storeshowingthatourproduct range was resonatingwithcustomersonline,as well asin-store,” says Richard. Althoughthe brand remains strong onthehighstreet, itseemsshoppersarefinding thesite throughsearchesusing keywords,which arenotnecessarily‘Robert’or ‘Dyas’.
What to expect Gardeninghasbecome apopularpart of the RobertDyasonlineoffering,butas itis amassretailerthe websiteoffersa myriadofproductsproviding solutions forthehomeandgarden.Althoughthe leadinMayisusuallygardening,byJuly it couldbepaintthat’sheadingup thehome page.Beingabletogivegardeningits own platformongardencentre.co.ukandgive customersawiderangeofproductchoice, brings amultitudeofopportunities. “It allows us to enhanceone of our keyareas andgivesusmorespacetotalkaboutone setofproducts, even thoughthere aretens of thousandsofskus.Gardencentre.co.uk offerstheopportunity to developoutthe successfulgardeninglines,offeringmore rangeanddiversityofproductforbeginner gardenerstothoseexperiencedgardeners lookingforsomething morespecialfor theirgarden.”saysRichard.
By workingcloselywith keysuppliers and relyingontheirassetsandknowledge, RobertDyasaims to bringcustomers direct expertinformationsogardeningand‘how to’messages remainstrong.Richard said: “If we arenot talkingthesamelanguage, theendgoalgetsdiluted,and we arenot helpingourgreen-fingeredcustomersin the waywewant to.” Thisallleads to asoft, friendly toneof voicethat’slessprice point driven.
It willbe part of the gard centre community, thatjust happens tobe adigital version.
It will be part of the garden that just
butalsothe more uniqueandspecialist largeritems forthe garden.
“Itopens awholenewavenue offruitful conversationsformeandmy buyers to bringin newvendors.It’sanexciting new string to ourbow,buildingonour expertise in this area.”
appear on the new website. “We are to get the 365-day turnover to fulfil the expectations of garden centre customers,” says Richard.
Retail
“We've seen the gap in the market and have said that centres are missing a trick. If we don’t do it, someone else will. It will be interesting to see where the journey takes us,” says Richard. “Gardencentre.co.uk an evolution, not a replacement or ‘and/or’”, says Richard. “I'm excited because retail is tough. Everyone’s trying to enhance the game so from our point of view it’s how we reach another set of customers, grab that sale and continue to talk to that customer going forward.”
According to Richard, now is the perfect time for suppliers to TPRG, because gardencentre.co.uk will drive their products with a pure focus on the gardening
il evolution eseenthe gapin themarketand always said that garden centres are gatrick. If we don’tdoit, someone will.Itwillbeinteresting to see ethejourneytakesus,”says Richard. dencentre.co.uk is an evolution,nota placementor ‘and/or’”,saysRichard. “I'm excitedbecause retailistough. Everyone’s to enhancethe gameso from our pointof viewit’show we reachanotherset tomers,grabthat sale andcontinue to that customergoing forward.” cordingtoRichard,now is theperfect meforsuppliers to join TPRG,because ncentre.co.ukwilldrivetheirproducts apurefocusonthegardening marketplace.
“I want towork withindustryleading brandslike allthebricksandmortar garden centresdo,because they arethe customers Iambuyingfor. We'vegot adedicated teambringing on newsupplierswhoare obviouslyfocusingmore on gardeningnow becauseofthe newventure.It will bepart of thegardencentrecommunity thatjust happens to be adigital version.Itshouldbe amarriage madein heaven.”
This yearwillbe testandlearn for gardencentre.co.uk,“Theideaistogetit upandrunning,to startdoing somepaid search activitythrough Googleand socialmedia,”saysTanyaCarter, Head of MarketingatRobertDyas.“We willbuildup sales this year,sowewillhaveaclear viewfor Februarynextyearwhen we willdo abiggerpush.It’sagreattime to soft launch,whilststill in thegardenseason.”
It’sbeen over10yearssince GTNhas hadtheopportunity to pop over to AaltenineasternHolland to visitthe Kaemingkshowrooms.Inthattimethe scaleoftheKaemingkoperationhas grown enormouslybutthewelcome,thequality ofproductofferingandthewonderful Kaemingkhospitalityhasn’tchanged.It isofthehighestqualityandmakesfora memorableand rewardingvisitforthe hundredsofUKgarden centrebuyerswho makethetrip.
Morethan85 yearsagotheKaemingk familybusinesswascreatedasa small marketstallimportingandselling Christmas products,includinghand decoratedChristmasbaubles.
Then 30 yearsagothecurrentowners tookthebusinessoverfromthefamily andstartedmakingitfully international withmajorinvestmentsinthe showroom, logistical solutionsandmorerecentlyin IT tools.
PatrickBrinkcate,SalesManagerUK
andIrelandexplained:“Kaemingkis atruly internationalbusiness,supplying. We are totallyfocusedonmakingit an excellent experience to visittheshowroom where customerscan selectproduct ranges inaneasy to shop andinspirational environment.
“The main ideaforKaemingk for bothChristmasandSpringSummeris thatwewanttobea onestopshopfor seasonaldecorationsfor ourmostimport customer groups,the gardencentres andindependent retailers suchashome interiorandgiftshops.”
Theshowroom is vast,withthemed areas,specificproductgroup areas and plentyofvisual merchandisingideas all basedaround acentral meeting anddining areawhichcustomersandtheiraccount manageruse as abaseduringtheirvisit.
“Whenpeoplecome to theshowroom, they'remetwiththeirrep whoguides themthroughtheshowroomand the simpleprocess oforderingproducts
“Beforeshowroomopening the sales staff getsafulltwo-daytraining programme,organised by ourbuying departmentsothatweunderstand the thinking behindthethemes,whatis new, different,wherewehavethe best possiblepricing,new uniquedesignsand concepts andhow thedifferentproducts complementeachother.”
Showroom tour
Afull touroftheSpringSummer
Showroomisbestsplit intotwo parts, the themesfirst,andthenafteranexceptional showroomlunch,thespecificproduct areas.With roughly 7,000linestochoose from,mostcustomersstayovernightto come backfor afew more hoursordering before their returnjourney.
THEFIVETHEMES FORSPRING
SUMMER2026:
•Boutique Resort –Takemetothe tropics
•HelloSunshine–Liveinfull colour
•TastyGreens –Fromgarden to table
•Bella Vita –Whereevery dayisa holiday
•Cottage Love –Cherryevery moment
Each themeareastarts outsidewithawalk into indoorwherealltheitemsondisplay areKaemingkproducts. Colours, patterns anddesigns unique to Kaemingkcreated by thebuying teamwithplenty of wowdisplays build by theKaemingk deco team.
Patrickstartedour tour explaining“Every themeroomisset upmore or lessthesame. Allbasedonproductorproductgroups soit'seasy to identifywhat youare buying into.”
As we toured thethemes Patrick highlighted afew newconceptsthatare being well received already: “Pasta &tomato andFruti di MareinBellaVitahasexcited customers. Otherareasgetting alotof interestareour sustainableproductssuch as ourrecycledglassrange.Colourisalso becomingsomuchmore importantnow becausethere'sa lotofdoomand gloom. So,people trytofind away to have abitof
fun,enjoy life andthisis where colour helps.”
Sustainability seeps throughthe Kaemingk story, fromextensive solar panelsused to charge thefleetof warehouse logistic forklifts,the use of rivertransport to move containers from Rotterdam to Nijmegen savingthousandsof road kilometres, andincreaseduseof FSCcardboardfor packaging.
Afterthetouraroundthe themeareas, it’s time to visit thespecificproductdisplays featuring all of theproducts seenin the themes,plusmore!
TheKaemingk FlowerShop rangehas doubledinsizeinthree yearswith the flowersbecomingmorelifelike.“Weeven have real touchnow fortulipsand roses. Plus, we alsonowoffer completeflower andplant shopdisplays to make iteasier for gardencentres to maximisetheirsalesof artificialflowersandplants.”
Solarlights,pluginlights, pots, waterfeatures,outdoorfurniture,rugs, hammocksandparasolsallhavetheir own displayareas,inmanycasesgrouped by factorytomakedirect containerordering easier.
Patrickadds:“Weseeourselvesas aseasonalbusinessanddon'tclassify ourselvesas atypicalgardenfurnitureour outdoorpotterysupplier.Wefocusa lot moreonwhatisontrendwhichisclearly visibleinthedesignsanduseof colour.”
ThelastshowroomareaofSpring Summer2026 to be touredis Easter, always animportantandstrongarea for Kaemingk and itsUKcustomers.Andthere’snot just onedisplayofEasterproducts, there’s Easterforthe themesof Cottage Love, HelloSunshineand TastyGreen,plusa whole roomfullofeggs.
If youwouldliketofind out more aboutthe possibilities toworkwith Kaemingk, youcanscan theQR codebelow.
Didyou know that Kaemingkhave alreadystartedpickingorders for Christmas2025?
Niek Sanders, Kaemingk’s logistics managershowedusaroundthe main20,000sqmetres picking warehousewhereordersarealready beingcollated andthenstored away readytoadded to when further stockarrives.“Itispeakin the warehousenow andunloading up to 45 containersaday,” he explained, “Wepre-pack everythingnow, store itinoneof7otherwarehousesand by thetime thecustomer wants the productdelivered, we doanother pack, combinethe twoand then ship it to them.”
PatrickBrinkcateadded:“We're in amuchbetterpositionthan lastyear.We'vechangedafew thingsinourway oforderingin China,thelogistical processinour warehousesandasalittlebonus we tookadvantage of US ordering downturnsearlierin theyear,bring ourproductionforward where possible. We alreadyhaveover70% ofChristmas2025instockand will beatleastat95% by September. Sothat meanswhenpeopleexpect theirdelivery, they canexpect to receiveahighdelivery percentagein theirfirst drop.
Gardencentreteamsandcustomers th Kc andfreeadvice aboutusingpeat-freegrow ha theGCA,theRHSandindustry.
Garden centre teams and customers throughout the UK can now benefit from consistent and free advice about using peat-free growing media, thanks to a collaboration between
Navigatingawayfrompeat-basedgrowing mediahasbeentricky, withbothgarden centrestaff andtheircustomershaving to quicklylearnnewapproaches to handling differentmixes. Watering,feedingandselecting therightproducthaveall comeunderthe spotlightandwith2.8millioncubicmetresof baggedgrowingmedia(equivalent to about1,120 Olympicswimmingpools)soldthrough retail, shop floor teamshavebeenunderpressureto guidetheircustomersandhelpthemgrow the bestpossibleplants.
“It wasclear consumerswerestrugglingwith usingpeat-free compost and they alsodidn’t understandwhy we had to gopeatfree. We wanted to tryandexplain why we needed to change,”says PeterBurks,GCAChief Executive. “Wewantedthesamemessage andthesame wording to goout to everybody.”
BoththeGarden Centre Association (GCA)and RoyalHorticulturalSociety (RHS)are portsof call whenitcomes to providing adviceand have recognised theneedforinformation to be robust and consistent.By workingtogetherwiththe
industryand leaningondecades of research,new resourceshavebeencreated to benefiteveryone. Freevideos to postongarden centre websites andadownloadableleafletare nowavailableto all, plus theRHShascreated an emailservice for anyone to useif theywantextra advice orspecific information.
Free to downloadfromenrichtheearth.co.uk,this leafletandimages forsocialmediacanbeusedfreely by allgardencentres.
canmatchor evenoutperformpeat-basedmixes, and we hopethisservicewillhelpdispelany doubts byoffering practical,expertguidance.”
Spreadingthe word
ThroughfundingfromtheEsmee Fairbairn Foundation,theGCAandRHShavecreated threevideos ranginginrunningtimefromone minuteuptothreeminutes.Hosted by Mike Burks,ManagingDirectoroftheGardensGroup andNikkiBarker,RHS Peat-free Transition Project Co-ordinator,theypresenttipsonhowto choose,useandstoretherightproduct.“We’re hopinggarden centres willrunthe videosin their compostareas,andshop floors,orincludeiton their ownwebsites,”says Peter.
Enrichingtheearth
Some ofthe images available to helpboost socialmedia content.
Thevideos areboosted by anadvice leaflet createdearlierthisspring andavailableonline via another collaborative campaigncalled Enrich theEarth. Partnersrange fromenvironmental charitiesthrough to retailers andacademics workingtogether to transformgreen andfood wasteintonutrientrich compost and to boost peat-freegardening.It’shopedthedownloadable leafletwill be embeddedintosocialmedia platforms or printedfordisplayin till or compost
areasorgiven to customerswhentheybuy compost.In addition,there is aselectionof imagesforgarden centrestouse for socialmedia. Allthesesourcesleadcustomers to the ResponsibleSourcing Schemewebsiteand RHSpeat-freehub wheremoreinformation can befound.
Projectsare ongoing andthe GCAandRHS are in regulardiscussions, keeping tabs on the nature oftheenquiries coming in to ensure information remainsup to date.
Making themostoffreeinformation andadvice
Email
• peatfree@rhs.org.uk is afreeservice emailsetup by theRHS foranyone,including garden centreteams,whoneedadviceand tips ongardeningpeat-free.Itisespeciallyuseful forgarden centrecustomers whohavespecificortrickyquestions.
Videos
•Peat-freegardening advicefromthe GCA andRHSfor useon websitesor social media platforms
•Shorttipsbit.ly/RHSGCAtoptipspeatfree
•Longer advicebit.ly/RHSGCApeatfreetips
Leaflets
•Downloadable and printableleaflets plusimagesfor boostingsocialmedia contentare available fromEnrichtheEarth.Visit www.enrichtheearth.co.uk
Gravel,GritandGraft: The Hall brotherson the futureofDeco-Pak
Forovertwodecades,Deco-Pak hasstood as astapleof theUKgardenretaillandscape, offeringa broadportfolio of decorativeaggregates,creativelandscaping solutions, anda service model deeplyrootedinfamily values.Now, withthe next generationfirmlyatthehelm,brothersCraig andDavid Hallare steeringthe businessinto aboldnew chapter—one defined by innovation,agility, andambition.
WesatdownwithManaging DirectorCraigHall to explore thebusiness’srichlegacy,their sharedvision forthefuture,andwhya blend oftraditionandtransformationisthe winningformulaforsuccess.
Fromgarden roots to retail reinvention
“Deco-Pakhasalwaysbeen afamily business,”Craigexplains, recountingthe earlydaysalongsidehisbrotherDavid andtheirfather, whofirstmadehismark inthedecorativeaggregates worldinthe mid-1980swith abusinesscalled Cem-Pak. “Theindustrywasinour blood.When we launchedDeco-Pak, we saw arealgap
in the market for a supplier that combined innovative products with strong logistics and the business.
That spiritofhands-oninvolvement started young. “Ourschoolholidays were spenthelping outintheoffice orontheshop floor.Ivividly rememberdesigning POSdisplays forDad’s business,” Craig reflects.“At thetime, displays were anafterthought,but we began to see theirvalueinshapingthe customerexperience. That’salessonI’ve carried through eversince.”
Afamilybusiness–built on complementary strengths
Whilebothbrotherssharethe reinsatDecoPak, each bringsadistinctsetofstrengths to
thebusiness.
“My background is rooted in
“Mybackgroundis rooted in marketing, so my focus hasalwaysbeenonproduct development,packaging,and presentation— rightthrough to howeverythinglooks and feels in-store. Over time,that’sevolvedintoa realpassionfor process:identifying marginal gains, refiningoperationalefficiency,and continuouslyimprovinghowweproduce and deliver.David,ontheotherhand,isanatural with people. Hisbreadthof experienceinsales andsupply chaininstils real confidenceinour buyers.Whenhesayswe’ll deliver,heknows exactly howwe’llmakeithappen.”
Butsustainabilityisn’tjust atick-boxexercise. “Everything we do has to deliver realvalue to ourcustomers,”says Craig.“It’saboutmaking thebusinessmoreresilientand responsive, withoutcompromisingonserviceorquality.”
Thebrothersarealso reimaginingthe
company’s supplychainthrough a“sourceto-store”model. Amajordevelopmentthat promisestotransform everythingfrom procurement to delivery.
Meanwhile,theSignature Collectionsatisfies demand formoreluxuriousoutdoorliving aesthetics,andtheir expandingwinter fuel range continues to deliverstrongseasonal sales.
Deco-Pak’s growth mindsetisalsovisiblein the expansionofits EcoStoneline,whichmakes it easierfor consumers to makesustainable choices without compromisingondesignor quality.
Facingthefuture:from Brexitto blueskies
InanindustryhithardbyBrexit,global supply challenges,andenvironmental pressures,DecoPakhas remained remarkably nimble.
“We’ve built asupply chain basedontrust andlong-term relationships.That’shelpedus stayagile,” Craigsays. “Andwheretherehave beenhurdles,we’ve usedthem asopportunities to innovate;whetherthat’sswitching materials or findingefficiencies inlogistics.”
impact,areeasy to install,andpresent great value.”
“Year one underourleadership wasall aboutstabilisation. Year twohasbeenabout consolidation. Now, we’reentering agrowth phase,withthelong-termgoalof reclaiming ourpositionasthe UK’s numberone landscapingsupplier to garden retail.”
This ambitionisbeing backed by investment infacilities, arestructuredsupply chain, andproduct development thatblends retailinsightwithsustainability andlifestyle appeal.
There’s also alongview. While their children arestill young,Craig and David aren’t rulingout athirdgenerationof Halls joining thebusinessinthefuture. “They’ve already done afew weekend shifts,” Craig smiles.“If theydojoin us oneday,wehope to passon thesamevaluesthat shapedus —a strong workethicand acreativemindset fordoing thingsdifferently.”
Brothersinbusiness– andinbelief Whattiesitall together is trust. Notjust between CraigandDavid, but withinthe widerDeco-Pakteam.
“Seeingthe growthof both thebusiness andourpeopleisincredibly rewarding,” Craig says.
Even weatherpatterns,theperennial wildcardofthelandscaping market, aremet withstrategy andforesight. “A season can hingeon afew good weeksofsun. That’swhy foc creatingproductsthatoffer lasting
“Workingwith my brother means we bring asharedvisionand adeepunderstandingof each other’sstrengths.That’s made usbetter leaders,andit’swhat’sdriving Deco-Pak’s next chapter.”
we focus on creating products that o er
With gravel,gritand graft—and asharp eyeonthefuture—theHall brothers are provingthatDeco-Pak’sbest daysarestill to come.
nd out more
Findoutmore
At Deco-Pak,thefocusisnot justonsupplying aggregates butontransformingthe category, helping retailersoffer productsthatinspirecustomers and drive footfall.Through innovation,sustainability and aprovencommitmenttodependableservice,DecoPakispositioningitselfasthe supplierofchoicefor season2025and beyond.
Deco-Pak, the focus is not just on supplying but on transforming the category, retailers o products that inspire customers footfall. Through innovation, sustainability and a proven commitment to dependable service, DecoPak is positioning itself as the supplier of choice for season 2025 and
To findout morecontacttheDeco-Pakteamtoday by emailing sales@deco-pak.co.uk,calling (01422) 204394orvisitingwww.deco-pak.co.uk
find out more contact the Deco-Pak team today sales@deco-pak.co.uk, calling 204394 or visiting www.deco-pak.co.uk
Fieldsof gold
Eyesofthegardeningworldsee UKhorticulture at itsbestwhilethegarden centresectorisboosted by ahoardofgoldmedals.
Sumptuousplantsexquisitely displayedingardensat the RHS ChelseaFlowerShow, havefurther elevatedthegardeningfrenzy alreadybeing enjoyedbythesector thanks to the warm, dryspring.
Andwhilenaturalistic,wildlifegardens stilldominate,thegoodnewsisthatcolour continues to creepbackin. Particularly noticeablewereboltsofbright yellow, but strongpinksandblues were included in manyoftheborders temptingvisitors and televisionviewers to trysomething different.
Roses remainsteadfastwith Rose‘Wild Rover’,apredominantcultivarusedinJo Thompson’sTheGlasshouseGarden,selling outduringthe firstdayofthe show from thePeter Beales website.Other rosesused inthegardenelevatedtraditionalvarieties andincluded Rosa‘Charlesde Mills’thought to dateback to 1790,and‘TuscanySuperb’ from1837.
Sectorsuccess
Well-knownnamesin thegardencentre sectoraddedmore goldmedalsandawards to theirlistincludingDavid AustinRoses, TaylorsBulbs,Raymond JEvison:Clematis (whichalso took The President’sAward), Dibley’s Nurseries,andBlueDiamondGarden Centres.
After agoldlast year foritsgardenwith theNational TrustonMain Avenue,Blue Diamondcreated awalk-throughfeaturein theGreat Pavilionandrepeateditswinning success.Itreceived agoldforits exhibit createdbyPeterDowleof LeafCreative, GloucestershirewithlotsofhelpfromBlue Diamond teams,and TreeoftheShowfor an Acerpalmatum‘Shishi-gastira’.Generating hugeamountsof interest,smallerplantswill beonsalethroughthegarden centres.
As wellaslaunchingtwonew roses, it alsohadtwo introductionsinthe finalof theRHSChelseaPlantofthe YearAward. Interestfor FuschiaMAMBO‘Kerfumam’
(PatioDancer Series),bred by Kerley &Co inCambridge, wasstrongwith visitors liking the combinationof compactbranchinghabit andlarge,classic palepink flowers.Perfect forpatio pots,italso blooms twoweeks earlierthanmanyothers, giving customers enjoyment for alonger period.
It’s second finalist,Hydrangea FAIRYTALE WHITE wasn’tin flower butplants infull bloomwillbehitting stores thismonthand areguaranteed to flyoutof theplanterias.
Inauguralsuccess
Adding to theSustainableGarden Product of the Yearaward2025was anew trophy to recognisesustainabilityacross awhole business.POTR,which makes flatpack pot coversandvasesfromindustrial and marine waste, impressedjudges and wonthe inaugural SustainableBusinessofthe Year award.
Founded by AndyFlynn,this young company wonthe garden productaward last year foritspot covers,with waterreservoir designedaroundthe conceptoforigami, and in theautumn wasthe recipientof the GIMA Seed Corn Fund.
“We’ve reinvented thehumble plantpot from thegroundupwithsustainabilityat
Right: Rosessteal the showinJoThompson’s TheGlasshouseGarden.
its core,” saysAndy.It’snot allaboutthe materials either.“Our products aredesigned backtofront,so we currentlygoing through BCorpaccreditation but aretacklingscope three becauseit accountsfor thingslike transportemissionsof your products. We knowthisisthebiggest problemforussoare tackling it now,”saysAndy.
Number crunchinghas revealeda consignmentof4000POTRpotscan fit onone pallet.The equivalentnumberof traditionalstoneor terracotta pots would needtwo40ft containersproducing2500kg of CO2compared to just 15kg for the single pallet.
Alongwith avase,new this year isa relationshipwith Waterhaul which collects andprocesses 100metric tonnesofmarine waste.In time forChelsea,POTRlaunched the SelfWateringOceanPotin three sizes andthisfirst productionrunusedjust5 metric tonnesof material.
“Weare removingthe wastefromthat fragilemarineecosystem andturningit into productsthathavelongevityandare useful andactuallyallowand caterfor plants to grow in thehome,”explainsAndy. Additionally,4%oftheprofitsgo backintoto fundbeach and ocean clean-up projects and eachpot comes with aQRcodewhich tells thepurchasertotrace wherethematerial camefrom.“Customerscanseeexactlywhat beachtheyare cleaningwiththeproduct theybuy.”
Andy Flynn fromPOTR, winnerofthe Sustainable Business oftheYear award,with the newSelf Watering OceanPot
his productsappeal to abroad demographic. “It worksreally well in alotof lifestylestores as wellas garden centres,”hesays.
Crownfor firstpink mockorange
WinningtheRHS Chelsea Plantofthe Year competition,is asure-fire wayofboosting sales.This timethe accolade went to adwarf mockorange, with agracefulhabitand showers of lightpink flowers.
Bred by Alan Postill, nowretiredbut whofor60 years waspropagatorat Hillier Nurseries, PhiladelphusPETITEPERFUME PINK,hasbeen many yearsinthemaking.His goal to create apink, compactvariety for the moderngardenis nowa realityandplants in3L potsareforsalethroughitsonlineand Hillier Garden Centres at £19.99.
Jointsecond placewent to Salvia TROPICOLOURSUNRISEexhibited by MiddletonNurseries,Staffordshireforits bright orange-redvarietyand Hosta‘Silly String’,supplied by Fairweathers Nursery, Hampshire, and displayed by Sienna Hosta, Surrey.This unusual varietyhas narrow blue leaves with wavy margins andisperfect for containersor ashady border.
SinceChelsea and Gleein2024,POTR haslaunchedintoarounda dozengarden centres.Andy explains thatbecauseof the design andgiftingpotential,
has launched into around a dozen garden centres. Andy that because of the and gifting potential,
Congratulations to Nutscene Twineforcreating anotherstand-outdisplay. Italso caughtthe eye ofClaireMatterson,RHSDirectorGeneral, who deemeditherfavourite standandpresentedher awardtoNutscene’sCEO Shona Young.
Pellymania
AlitexchoseChelsea to launch anew greenhouse designThe Wainscott and tocelebratethe wave ofinterest for pelargoniums,dubbedas‘Pellymania’invited Ed Boerfrom FibrexNurseriesanddesigner CathKidston.FibrexNurseriesgrowsaround 1500speciesandcultivarsofpelargoniums, whileCathKidstonhascreatedthe C. Atherleyrangeofbodyandbathproducts basedonthescentedleafforms whichis beingsoldinsomegardencentres.
Boththeplantsandthe C. Atherley productshaveagreat storytotellgarden centrecustomersindividuallybutwhen
Left:Ed Boers from Fibrex Nurseriesis keen to get pelargoniums intomore garden centres.
Fresh fromwinningthe Contemporary Giftcategory attheGiftofthe Year Awards 2025 forits CollectorScalloped IndoorWatering Can Range, Burgon&Ballhad threeofthe four coloursonshow. Alongside were newglazedpotsinstripy blueand redwhichadd to thepopularsnips,glovesand storagetins.
displayed together,createaninspiring narrative.
“I’vealwayslovedthem,”says Cath. “When Iwasluckyenough to getmy own greenhouse, Istarted tocollect them, particularlyallthe scented varietieswhich Iadore.”Cathhadthe ideaof bottlingthe scent so worked withanapothecarytomatch upthescentsincluding lemon,mint, rose and lavender,withessentialoils. Aftertwoyears, GeramiunNo.1 wasintroduced based on Pelargonium radens,followedbyGeranium
Dutch tool company Sneeboer Trading was awarded Sustainable Garden Trade Productof theYearfor itsGarden Scoop– all ofwhichsold outinthe firsttwo days oftheshow. Made by handinthe Bovenkarspel workshop thecompany combines techniques that have beenpassed down for morethana centurywith investment and development ininnovation, digitalisation and sustainability. They come witha 50-year warranty.
No.2 from Pelargoniumtomentosum (peppermint geranium).“For Chelsea, we’velaunchedGeraniumNo.3basedon Pelargonium ‘MableGrey,’ which has avery sherbetlemon,summeryscent andit’salso goodfor keepingthemozziesaway,” shesays. Ed BoersandhiswifeLaura,bought Fibrex Nurseriestwoyearsagoandhavebeen buildingupstock eversince. “Atthe moment we are95%mailorder,but we do want to pushoutintoadifferent direction[garden centres] probably withthe top100varieties,” hesays. CurrentlyFibrexpelargoniums are soldinBurfordGarden Company.
Rhododendronloversweretreated to an excellentdisplayofplants, someofwhich had neverbeforebeenexhibitedat theChelseashow. Atributetothe latePeter Cox, theexhibit by Glendoick Garden Centre, includesthe Scottish Mountain Serieswhich Peterbredwithhis son Ken(pictured),andthe Glendoick rangeofever greenazaleas. Thisisthefirst timeGlendoick has exhibitedat Chelsea.
DiscoverCeltic Leisure’s premiumpergolasand outdoorgardenfurniture collections —created specifically forthe British climateand customer. Fromourbest-selling SaturnPergola to the newRheaLED model,our modularstructuresoffer year-roundoutdoorliving, trustedbylandscapersand lovedbyhomeowners.
Centre Exclusive: Ordernow andmix up to 6differentfurnitureranges on asingle container–ideal formaximising display, choice, andmargin.
CELTIC LEISUR
It’sgoing to be abusySOLEX
Garden centreshavebeenbuzzingto farthisspringandearlysummerwith customers finallyable to enjoyspending time outsidein favourable weather. And withthe HTArecordinggarden centresalesupby21%and 22%inMarchandApril, andMaymuchquieter butstillup by 4%, comparedwith2024, we are, thankfully,seeingthisenjoyment being converted intosales,whichis awelcome boost forthesector.
Allofthisbodes forabusySOLEX,the Summer OutdoorLivingExhibitionattheNEC thismonth,for everythingoutdoorliving and cooking related.Notonlycanbuyersstockupon lastminutedealsforthisseason,but allthelatest trends,innovations and developmentswillbeon displayguaranteeingshop floorsandcustomers willbeontrendnext yearandbeyond.
SOLEX2025ismore than just an exhibitionspace;it isa dynamicshowcaseteemingwithversatileand cutting-edge outdoorlivingproducts,promisingtoinspire anddelightall whoattend.
Thistimelast year,wewerebemoaning yetanotherdisappointingsummer –just like theonesbeforeit– and warehouses were stillbrimmingwithleftoverstock. Fast forward 12 months,and we’vebeentreated to thebestspringsince2020!This yearwill surely be rememberedforits record-breaking warmth, dryness,andsunshine.April2025 wasofficially thesunnieston record,with temperatures well above averageand rainfallfarbelow.
So,whatdoesthisglorious weathermeanfor SOLEX?Itmeansexhibitorsandvisitorsalike willhavehad awhirlwind coupleofmonths. Someonementionedtheywere400%uponlast year –and Icouldn’t helpbutsmile.It’sfantastic news!Itmeans everyonewillarriveatSOLEX havinghad abrilliant yearso far, fullofoptimism and ready to dobusiness.Orderswillbeplaced, andperhaps,justperhaps,theindustrycan finally steady itself afteryearsofuncertainty.
Futureproofing
Of course, we allknowhow unpredictable the weathercanbe.Andwithclimatechange becomingan ever-greaterinfluenceonourlives–andourindustry– it’svital we prepareourselves
forthechallengesahead.Futureproofingiskey, as we’llfacenotonlymorerainfallbut also longer, more intenseheatwaves.
Adapting to thesechangesmeansoutdoor livingfurnituremust evolvetohandlebothwet andhot conditions.Whileconsumersmight
GinaHinde,SOLEX Event Director,islookingforward to welcomingexhibitorsand visitor to this year’s SOLEX.
not realiseit yet,they’ll soon be searching for weather-resistantoutdoorsolutions.Think coveredareas, rain andheat-proof materials, stylish andversatilebarbecuesand firepits, modularoutdoorkitchens, andentertainment spaces.Theseinnovationswillallowpeopleto enjoytheiroutdoorspaces allyear round,no matterthe weather.
That’swhyattendingSOLEX is anabsolute must.It’sthe perfectopportunity for buyers to discoverexcitingideasforoutdoor spaces thattheircustomerswilllove. Outdoor livingis booming, withhugeappeal acrossthe market. Peoplefromall walks of life areaspiring to createbeautifuloutdoorspaces, tailored to their budgetsandavailableareas, withfunctionality thatrivalstheirindoorsetups. Practical, durable, andlow-maintenancedesigns arethe way forward.
SOLEX 8-10 July2025 Hall 5.NEC, Birmingham www.solexexhibition.com
It’slights out,and awaywego!
Awards,anafterpartyandlive cookingmake SOLEX2025 an unforgettable experience.
Last yearsawthelaunchofour very firstSOLEXAwards &Afterparty Event –andwhat anightitturned out to be!Joined by the brilliantDion Dublin, we enjoyeddeliciousfood, fantastic company,andcheeredasSpain triumphed overFrance2-1.Tobehonest, weweren’tsurehow we were going to top suchanincredible evening–thebarwas setpretty high!
Well, believe it or not, we’ve managed
Well,believe itornot, we’vemanaged to doit!WiththeexcitementoftheF1Grand PrixatSilverstoneasourinspiration, we’re bringingallthe thrills andspillsof the racetrack to theVOX on Tuesday8th July. We’llbeoff thestartinggrid by 18:30with beer andbubbles,followedbytheone and only David“Crofty”Croftjoiningus for the evening to sharetheinsidetrackon allthingsF1andwillalsohelppresentthe prestigiousSOLEXAwards.
From 20:00, you’llbe treatedtoafeast inspired by racetracksfromaroundthe globe. Take yourpickfrom theShanghai InternationalCircuitOrientalBunHouse, theCircuitoftheAmericas Street Food, theSilverstoneChippyortheCircuit DeSpaFrancorchamps Belgium Waffle
Lad,AdamPurnell, to theLovingOutdoor Livingarea.Adam willspendtimewitheach ofourBBQ exhibitors(see the schedule), sharinghisexperthintsandtips to helpyou get theverybestoutofevery BBQ.
Adam is atruemaster of ‘fire cookery’. WinnerofHestonBlumenthal’s Netflix andChannel4 show CrazyDelicious, and acriticonMasterChef: TheProfessionals, Adamhasbeendescribed as ‘oneof the leadersin theUKstreet foodandpop-up scene.’
We’re also thrilled to o er four
Station. We’realsothrilledtoofferfour F1SilverstoneSimulators –and we hope everyonehasago!Thetopfour racers will battleitoutforthecovetedLOFACupina final race,completewithlivecommentary from Sky’stopF1 Commentator.
We can’twaittosharethishigh-octane eveningofnetworking,fun,andfantastic foodwith you!
Andthere youhaveit– twodayspacked with excitement,entertainment, and expert insights! Whether you’re revvingupwith F1thrillsonTuesdaynightor takinga more laid-back approach with fireand flavour on Wednesday,there’ssomethingfor everyone to enjoy.
And there you have it – two days packed with excitement, entertainment, and expert Whether you’re revving up with F1 thrills on Tuesday night or taking a more laid-back with fire and on Wednesday, there’s something for everyone to
• 11:00– 11:30–PRIMOGRILL
• 11:45– 12:15 –GRILLSTREAM
• 12:30 –13:00 –ENDERS
• 13:15 –13:45 –BLACKSTONE
• 14:00 –14:30 –KADAI
• 14:45–15:15 –CHARBROIL
• 15:30–16:00 –BRAMBLECREST
Crofty will be sharing the thrills and spills from theworldofF1motor racing.
Celebratingits25thanniversary,Bramblecrest’s Head of Sales,Tim Pennellreflects on thekeyachievements of theBritish-ownedand designedgarden furniture brand. Fromitslongest-standingand favourite range, product innovationsto itsnew employee-ownedfuture, wehear howtheyhaveshapedthecompany’spathtosuccess.
Weare nothingwithoutour people,”beginsTim,before anall-companyshotatthe Cotswold HQ.Homesince2008,the WW2 HangaratAstonDownBusinessParkis partofitsheritage. Always aCotswoldbased company,thetwofoundersstarted off thebackofanunexpectedvisit toa Javanesepotfactory during their travels. They decidedtoshipandsellintheUK to such asuccess,thatin2000,Bramblecrest wasborn.
Industrymilestones
“When youputitall together,allthehard work istheretosee,”commentsTim. Now synonymouswith excellenceinquality, comfort,durability,andoutstanding customer care, Bramblecrestlaunchedthedualheightadjustabletableinthe UK during2017,bringing afreshapproachtooutdoordining,with adjustablesettings foreitheralowcoffee table or acasualdiningheight. In 2023,thebusinesstookthebold moveto transition to anEmployeeOwnership Trust,
meaningit canprovideopportunities forits employees,remainindependent, resilient, sustainably financed and maintain excellent customer service. “Weare so proud to bean employee-ownedbusiness.Wecaredeeply aboutourpeople,ourvalues, andthe future we’rebuilding together.There’smuch moreto come,”saysTimenthusiastically.
Standingthetestoftime
Celebrated foritsongoinginnovationin product design,thebrandunveiled new collectionsthisseasoninon-trend mocha andsage tones,whilealso expandingits use of cutting-edgematerialssuch as heat transfer‘wood-effect’ surfaces and highperformancesyntheticrope.
Thisseasonalso markedthelaunchof three newcollectionsin collaboration with The RoyalHorticulturalSociety(RHS).
Another standout innovationisthe introductionofeco-fabricscraftedusing recycledplasticbottles. Thesematerialsnot onlyoffer asustainablesolution by reducing plastic wasteandminimisingenvironmental impact, buttheyalsoprovideexceptional durability,ensuringlong-lastingperformance and reliabilityin everydayuse.
Tim adds:“Overthepastfewyears, we’ve seen arealshiftinwhatcustomersexpect -fromsustainablematerials to smarter, multi-functionaldesigns.Innovationisn’tjust aboutnew products;it’saboutadapting to howpeopleliveand relax outdoors. We’re constantly evolving to stayahead of those trends.”
TheBramblecrest way
ensure thattheyhaveallthe tools required to maximisesuccess.
“Fromoffering extensivein-storePOS andproduct training,adedicated account managerand abespoke online portal, to ongoinginvestmentinmarketingand PR.This demonstrates that we’relisteninganddirectly responding to customer feedbackand evolving businessneeds,”continues Tim.
Bramblecrestalso remains committed to environmental responsibilityandanongoing partnershipwith Ecologi,theUK’s mosttrusted climateactionplatform.Timadds,“Through ourinvestment in reforestation, we are dedicated to carbonreduction. We’redelighted to beapproaching amajor milestone— supportingtheplantingofour 100,000thtree worldwide,withonetreeplanted for everyset sold.”
Bramblecrest is set to unveil aseries of excitingproduct launchesatSOLEX,includingan all-new outdoor rope range,brand newoutdoor kitchen range and its ‘greenest product’ yet, aGlobal RecycledStandardcertified Textilene chair.
boardofthe Leisure andOutdoorFurniture Association,the UK-basedtrade body representingthe outdoorleisureindustry. Bramblecresthas wonseveral industry awards,includingtheGoldAwardfor ‘Greatest Outdoor LeisureSupplierof the Year’atthe GTNAwards,Best Stand atSOLEX,and fivestar tradestandaward winnerattheRHSChelseaFlowerShowin 2021and2025 -thehighestaccoladefora tradestand.“Weare alwaysmoving forward andthat’sthe waywelikeit,”concludesTim.
Visit Bramblecrest at SOLEX (8th–10th July) formore informationabout their
Since the beginning, the company has focused retailers while developing a reputable and well-known brand, grounded in and
Sincethebeginning,the companyhasfocused onbuildinglong-standing relationshipswith national retailerswhiledeveloping areputable and well-knownbrand,groundedin quality and customersatisfaction.
“We’re always refiningthe waywework to bettersupportour trade customersto
Since joining in 2005, Tim has spent two decades developing strong, trusted relationships with a diverse range of customer accounts. He also serves as a director on the
Sincejoiningin2005, Timhasspent ,t lationshipswith angeofcustom ea ir
st
product collections and pricing. Alternatively, contact their sales team at
GTNbringsyouan exclusivepreview of some ofthenewproducts andoutdoorliving innovationbeingunveiledatSOLEX2025.
Sixnewcollectionsin the Alexander Roselineup Backin1994, Alexander Rosehad avision to bringonlythehighestqualitygardenfurniture to theUK; to givecustomersa widechoice ofstylesanddesigns,whether woodenor weaveormetal,inboth contemporary and traditionalstyles.Eachpiecehasbeenlovingly designedandcraftedwith practicalityand comfortatthe very forefront.Alexander Rosealso wantedtheir collectionstonotonly look beautifulandinviting,but to confidently beable to withstandthe elements of the unpredictableUKweather.Theseare the qualitiesthatAlexander Roseisstill known for today,some30 yearslater.Sitback, relax and enjoyyouroutdoorspacetothefullest!
Stand550
Eleganceandinnovation fromNorfolk Leisure
NorfolkLeisureisexcited to unveilanextensive lineup of newgardenfurniture,accessories, andpergolas.This year’s showcasefeatures more newproducts than ever before,with freshcollections thatblendcomfort,durability, anddesignexcellence—perfectlytailored formodernoutdoorliving.Expectinnovative features,thoughtfulfunctionality,andstriking newcolourpalettes that reflect thelatest lifestyletrends.Fromsleek contemporary seating to versatile shadesolutionsand eyecatchingaccessories, there’ssomething to inspireevery outdoorspace. Withleading brandsincludingLIFEOutdoorLiving, Norfolk Collection, Royce, Keter, andOoni,theSOLEX standbringstogetherthebestinoutdoor innovation andelegance.
Stand 440
Lifetimeguaranteefor Rotospa hottubs
RotoSpa is theUK’sonlyhottub manufacturer, afamily- owned businesswithovertwo decades ofexperience. We have suppliedthousands of hottubsthroughouttheUKand Europe. At SOLEXexplorehow RotoSpa can helpyour businessgeneratenew revenue streams with strong margins! RotoSpahottubsaremadein theUKfortheUKproviding maximumquality andunbeatablevalue formoney.The most energyefficienthot tub on themarkettheyare: built to lastand come withalifetimeguarantee; 100%recyclable;trulyportable; professional hydrotherapybycleverdesign. We use aunique manufacturingprocess that nootherhot tub manufacturerin theworlduses, to createa product that willlastyou alifetime,andnot costingthe earth.Hottubsmade rightin theUK.
Stand660
Char-broil caters for alloutdoor cooking enthusiasts
Char-broilisa leading brand in thegrillingindustry known forinnovation,quality, and performance. With awide rangeofgas,charcoal,and electricgrills, they cater to alltypes ofoutdoor cooking enthusiasts.Their durable constructionandadvanced technology make them apopular choiceamong consumers fordelicious barbecueexperiences.
Char-Broil reallyis‘the smartest waytoBBQ’.
Stand615
Alexander Rosewillbeshowcasingahugevariety ofthebest quality outdoor furnitureatSolexandintroducing6stunningnew collectionsincluding thebeauty ofnatural Teak,the finestquality weaveanddurableandspace savingmetal ranges. To findoutmorevisit us in Hall5,stand550.
With aheritagespanning over50 years, GalleryDirectbrings awealth ofdesign expertiseand industryknowledgetoevery product.Theiraward-winningOutdoor Living Collection combinesstyle, durability, and comfort-conveying the eleganceof indoor livingoutside. Alongsidetheiroutdoor furnitureranges areelegantparasols, shade solutions,atmosphericfirepits, and decorativelighting,textilesandaccessories –designed to seamlessly create complete and cohesive outdoor living spaces. Gallery Direct unites timelessdesign withhighquality weather-resistantmaterials to ensurelonglasting appeal,and for addedpeace ofmind all core outdoor ranges aresupplied with extended warrantiesofuptothree years. Stand 612
Supremostyle redefines outdoor luxury
Supremois thrilled to introduceour 2026 collectionofnew rangesfeaturinginnovative designsandmaterialsatSOLEX. Ourlatest offeringspromise to redefineoutdoorluxury, combiningexquisitedetailwithunmatched functionality. Craftedfrommaterials that evokeindoorstyle outdoors,ourproducts offerenduring beautyand resilientelegance. This collectionincludeselegantdiningsets, luxuriouslounges,versatile modulardesigns, and cutting-edge pergolas, catering to everystyle andbudget.Customerscanexpect alineup that inspiresandinvigoratesthesector,transforming buying options.Discovertheseexpertlycrafted pieces,wherecraftsmanshipmeetsstyle and outdoorluxurybegins.
Stand200
Competitionwinning flavours from BBQGourmet
Ourgoalissimple, to bring youthe very best,craftedwithcare andonly usingnatural ingredientsthatareasclean as theyare delicious. BBQ Gourmet isdedicated to promoting real BBQ andistheUKsleadingimporterofAmerican BBQ rubs, sauces, brines and injections. We supplyall thefamous brands youknowandlove including: Lane’s,BluesHog; Meat Church;Hardcore Carnivore;Sucklebusters;HeathRiles;SlapYa Mama; TexasPepperJelly;Killer Hogs; Rufus Teague;Plowboys; 2Gringos Chupacabra and manymore! MostlyMSGand gluten free andvegan friendly. Our productsgiveyou thefreedomtodo it your way. Whether yourdinnertableisin your home,outside by the grill,orstanding with aplate at aBBQ event, we want youtoloveyourfood and thetimeyouspendwithfriends andfamily.
Stand350
Garden Impressions setsthe trend
Thenew2026UKcollectionfromGarden Impressionswillbeshowcased at thisSOLEX. With over250 newproductlines,ourvast range continues to leadtheway andsetthe trendsinthe ever-developingoutdoor living sector.Weare aonestopsolutionforall yourgardenfurniturerequirements:lounging suites,diningsuites,parasols,rugs,heating, lighting,weather covers.Comeand seeus, we arerightinfrontoftheentrance!
Stand300
Zest’s trend-led timbersolutions
At SOLEX, Zestwillshowcasean extended collectionofinnovativetimber outdoor entertainingproducts designed to inspirethe creationof‘ontrend’outdoor rooms. Discover showoffers andtrend-led solutions for today’s outdoorliving consumer and explorethe latestadditions to the award-winning Terraza OutdoorKitchen, including anew Kitchen IslandSetand CornerSet ideal foran Egg BBQ.Alsoonshoware newversatile modular outdoorKitchenunits, agardenshelter,and theimpressiveLudlowCorner Pergola—ideal forthe younger market. Completing the line-up in anew richbrown finishis thestylishLara BenchandJerseyArbour.The display will highlightlifestyleimageryand video content to support retailers’sales.
Stand650
Bringingculinary visionstolife
Unleashyourculinaryimagination withtheCabinex PROseries, an invitation to transform youroutdoor spaceintoabespokeculinaryhaven. Crafted to reflect yourunique style,this collectionoffers anarray of modular unitsand premium barbecuegrills, empowering youto designtheoutdoor kitchenof your dreams.ThenewPRO range elevates the classicand premiumseries with innovativeadditions,includinga versatile corner and Kamadomodule. This expandedlineupallowsfor limitlessconfigurations, giving you the flexibility to createanoutdoor kitchenthatnotonly meets your cookingneeds butalso amplifies your outdoorliving experience. Enhance your designwith anarray of fresh, sophisticateddoor colours -Black, RusticIronbark,TitaniumGrey,and Golden Oakand bring yourvision to lifeeffortlesslyusing ourintuitive onlinedesigner app.
Stand400
On-trendqualityfrom Pacific Pacificis aleadingUKsupplier ofoutdoor furnitureandaccessories,offeringhighquality,on-trendproductswithdedicated salessupport forourtradepartners. We’reproud to havebeennamedthe 2025 Big FurnitureAwardsBestSupplier for GardenandOutdoorFurniture.Pacific’s OutdoorLiving Collectionincludes arange ofoutdoorfurniture, Cosifirepitsand lanterns,Platinumparasolsandpergolas. OurbreathableAerocover rangeprovides year-roundprotectionforall yourgarden furniture andaccessories. We lookforward to showcasing our newrangesand competitivepricingstructure,providing superbqualityalongwith abreadthof outdoorlivingsolutions.
Stand420
Attention to detailfor25 years
Celebrating25 yearsofbringingfriendsandfamiliestogether outdoors, Bramblecresthasbecome afirmfixtureinBritishgardens. Recognisedfor quality, service, anddesignexcellence,Bramblecrestappliesits signature standardstoevery detail –fromconsideredcomfortand stylishsilhouettes to practicalfeaturesbuilt to last. Lookingaheadto2026, the collections continue to evolvewithfresh,on-trend colourways,organicforms andelegant updatestotimeless favourites.Bramblecrest isalsoproud to introduceits all-newoutdoorkitchen range –wherecontemporarydesignmeets everyday functionality, creatingtheultimate outdoordiningexperience.
Stand210
Pagodafrom MunroImporters
We acquired the Pagodabrandnamein2014 and have strived to introduce newand exciting productstothe ranges. Weoffer acomprehensiverangeof varied materialsincludingsyntheticwicker, aluminium, Textilene, paddedanddecorativesets to suitall outdoor spaces. Along withshading to complementour furniture. These rangesarechosenbyour skilledstaff withyouin mind. Ouroffice inChina,establishedin1997, is constantly visitingfactories to ensureexcellentquality and modern products forthe comingseasons. Greatcareistaken ininspecting everyshipmentusing AQLInternational samplingbeforeshipment.
Stand430
Making acontemporarystatement
Trans-ContinentalGroupofferscontemporarystatement pieces, timelessclassics andtrend ledcollectionsunderthebrands ofHelios, SunTimeandNewGarden. We areproud to betrusted suppliers to leadingretailersandgarden centressuchasJohnLewis,Hillier, Freemans andmanymore.Our values encompass: trend-leddesign; modernaestheticswithwide appeal; sustainablematerials; responsible sourcedwood andeco-friendlyfinishes;qualityand value; handcrafted techniques; robustperformance andcompetitive pricing.Welook forward to exhibiting ourspecially selected outdoor living 2026 collections,whichhave alreadyhadagreat reactionat ourshowroom previews, andofferingSOLEXvisitors exclusive prices.
Stand670
REASONS TOUSEFIREPITS UKWITHIN YOUR OUTDOOR LEISUREDEPARTMENT
•Allproducts hand-made in Britain
•Qualityproductsbuilttolast
•Support forBritishmanufacturing
•Factory provides localrural jobs
•Employmentfor skilledmetalworkers
•Competitive pricing
•Distinctiveproducts forwarmth, comfort– and cooking over fire
Thisinspiringnewrangehasbeenthoughtfully and meticulously curated, withanunwaveringfocus on comfort,innovativedesign,and exceptional quality.The 2026 collectionshowcases astunningarray of fresh designs,introducessophisticatednewcolourpalettes, and includes extendedlines of some of ourmostpopular andbest-selling ranges—ensuring aperfect blendof familiarityand innovation.
Createdtoelevate outdoorlivingspaces, theHartman 2026collection offersretailers adistinctive andexciting point of difference.Withtrend-led styling, enhanced durability,and arefinedaesthetic,thecollectionis tailored to meetthe evolving tastes of today’sconsumer.
Whether you’rean independentcentreorpartofa largergroup, we’vestructuredour offertosupport your businesswithstrongmargins,andtrustedtradeservice.
Visit us onStand250 at SOLEX –yourexclusive opportunitytoexperience our2026 collection of beautifullycraftedgarden furniturein person.
Cast aluminium has seen a strong resurgence across all demographics in recent years and it continues to gain momentum with today’s consumer Known for its timeless aesthetic, outstanding durability, and lasting comfort, cast aluminium furniture remains a highly commercial and dependable category for garden centre and retail partners
For 2026, Hartman proudly introduces Avebury a striking new addition to our cast aluminium offering Designed to resonate with a broad customer base, Avebury blends classic elegance with contemporary detail, making it a standout piece in any outdoor furniture display
Now available in an appealing new colourways, Avebury elevates the category further, offering buyers a fresh, eye-catching alternative that enhances your in-store or online assortment
As a market leader in cast aluminium furniture, Hartman is proud to expand its portfolio with this exciting new range crafted not only to meet consumer demand but to drive margin and offer a clear point of differentiation for our trade partners
HEXLiving:Lasting.L
HEXLivingis afamilybusinesswitha mission to bring theindoorsoutdoorswith engineering excellence.
Limitless. Luxury
Let’stravelbackto2020fora moment, to the days ofthe pandemic,which reshapeddailylife in ways nooneexpected.Asthe world slowed down,sodid we.
With restrictions keepingmanyof us at home,gardensbecame aplace of refuge,a preciousescape from the indoors.And from thereon, the demandfor well-designed, functionaloutdoorlivingproductsgrew.
Bringing thecomfort ofthe indoors, outdoors
Havinggrownupinanengineeringfamily, MartinSmith,nowCEO ofHEXLiving,partof TheHEX Group,understandsmetal workslike thebackofhis hand. Martin quickly realised the outdoor living market lackedthelevel ofquality, durabilityand designhebelieved outdoor productsshoulddeliver—durable and synonymouswithindoor comfort.
HEX LivingatSOLEX 2025
This year,HEXLiving isunveiling newproductsat SOLEX,a first forits product portfolio,set to enhanceoutdoor living and entertaining.Eachproduct combines luxurydesign, premiummaterials, and British craftsmanship.
Morethan just abrand, HEX Livingis afamilybusinesswith amission: to bring the indoors outdoorswith engineering excellence. Yourcustomersaren’t justinvestingin their gardens -they’re investingin acentrepiece formemories which willlasta lifetime.
With over30years ofengineering and manufacturingexpertise, Martin Smith and PaulClews,Managing Director ofHEXLiving,set acleargoaltobring engineeringexcellencetotheBritish outdoor living market. So that’s what theydid.
Arange of contemporary outdoor living
As gardenstorageisanimportant featureinany outdoor space, HEXLiving launchedits first collectionin2022,a sleek,durable rangeofoutdoor storage solutions. Fromgardensheds with integratedorganisationlayoutsandbuiltindrainage, to sleek wheelie bin storage designed to hide yourbinsawayinstyle without restricting functionality—this firstcollection filledall cornersof the outdoorstoragemarket.
Butitdidn’tstopthere.With an emphasisonall-year-roundoutdoor
living,MartinandPaul were seton fulfilling everyseasonalneed. Forthose coolermonths,HEXLivinglaunched agas-controlled firepit,perfect for extending eveningsoutdoors,and gardenpergolas to provideprotection fromthe unpredictable weather our countryisknownfor, ensuringoutdoor entertainingcan continuedespitethe windand rain.
Today,HEX Livinghasgrownits portfolio to includestunninggarden furniture, contemporary outdoordining setsandoutdoor kitchens.TheBuckley outdoor kitchen range,themost recently launched collection,boastsitems from barbecueunitsandsmokers to sinks, coolers and functionalbarareas.Allsix layoutsarethoughtfully designed to suit avarietyoflifestylesandare asstunning asthey arefunctional,offeringthefinest alfrescoexperience.TheBuckleycan alsobecustomised to suit bespoke requirements.
Designedfor life:Britishmade, Britishmanufactured
In today’sera ofmodernmanufacturing andmassproduction,quality isoften compromised by theallureofcheap overseas prices.ButforHEXLiving,asabusinessborn andbuiltinBritain,itmakessuretokeepits production processunderone roof.This allowsformoresustainableand improved alternativestooverseasimports, providing areliablenationwide supplythroughout production.
Whilstdelivering thehighest quality and moderndesigns, HEXLivingproductsalso offer customersexceptionaldurability—this isdue to their uniquegalvanisationprocess whichadds extra protection to metal. This
“Quality is atthe core of everything we do,” saysPaulClews.“Ourcustomers want lifetimeluxury,andthat’sexactly what we deliver.Webelieve inmakingproducts that arebuiltproperlyand stand the testof time.”
HEXLiving.Builttolast. Designed to impress. Perfectfor your customers.
DiscoverCeltic Leisure’spremiumpergolas and outdoorgardenfurniture collectionscreated specificallyfortheBritishclimateand customer. Designed in Britain;fastUKdelivery;builtforretailsuccess.Fromour bestsellingSaturn Pergola to thenew Rhea LEDmodel, our modularstructures offer year-roundoutdoorliving,trusted by landscapersandlovedby homeowners.AlsolaunchingatSOLEXourcuratedrange of high-quality gardenfurniture, combining timeless stylewith commercial flexibility. Garden centrescantakeadvantage ofourexclusiveoffer to ordernow andmixup to sixdifferentfurniture rangeson asingle container –ideal formaximising display,choiceandmargin.Visitus at SOLEXtoexplore partnership opportunities,POSpackagesandin-storedisplay support. Stand330
DebutforChurnet Valley
Churnet ValleyGarden Furnitureare lookingforward to showcasingtheir beautiful,durable and classic woodengardenfurniturerangesfor the first timeatSOLEXthisyear. Designed andhandmadeintheUK,theirpremium outdoorfurnitureismade to standthe testof time.Offeringtwo distinct ranges: aheavy-duty Tanalisedrangeprotected against rotfor up to 20 years, and apre-treatedValleyCollection,withits stunning goldenoak oil finish.Theyare totally committed to sustainability, asallproductsare now FSC® Certified and madefromhigh-qualityScandinavian redwood,ensuring the well-beingofforestsforgenerations to come. Letthemimpress youand boost yoursuccess withyear-roundpre-seasontrade pricingon palletdeals anddedicatedsupportfromexperiencedregional salesagents. Stand760
Introducing the WGardenLiving collection for 2026—a premiumrange of outdoor leisure products that redefine sophistication, comfort,and value. Designed with thorough attention to detail, our latest collectionsblend timeless craftsmanship with innovative materials,offering arefined selection of classic open weave designsand fusion elements,alongside our bestselling rangesinweave, metal, andwood. Enhancing every outdoorspace, W GardenLiving also offers an extensive range of complementaryaccessories,
including parasols, bases,soft furnishings,and outdoorheating— each providingexciting add-on sales opportunities.Withacommitment to premiumquality at competitive prices, we empower retailers to maximise theirsales potentialwhile deliveringexceptional products to their customers.
At theheart of WGardenLivingisour unwavering dedication to service and merchandising support, acorevalue driven by Woodlodge, afamily-run businesssince1987. Our expert sales
team remains committed to fostering strong partnerships with retail garden centres,ensuringoutstandingcustomer service without compromisingintegrity True to our ethos, we focus on sales to Garden Centres only,prioritising relationshipsthat alignwitha premium gardenfurnitureexperience. Experience outdoorlivingelevated— welcome to WGardenLiving 2026.
To book appointmentsfor the showroom or SOLEX, pleasecontact your local salesrepresentative or email showroom@woodlodge.co.uk
Darosharesits2026 collection
Daroisdelighted to shareapreview of its2026collection atSOLEX, featuringexcitingnewdevelopmentsacrossoutdoor andindoor living. Highlightsincludebrand-newoutdoorfurniture ranges andmodular kitchenandBBQunits,designedforstylish, flexiblegardenspaces.A newcollectionof innovative indoor-outdoorfabricsoffer durability and eleganceinanysetting.FindoutmoreaboutDaro’sExpressDelivery Serviceandfrom stockservice, meetingthegrowingdemandsofthe customer to ensurefastturnaroundtimeswhilststillproviding abespoke choice. The indoorfurniturecollection continuestoprovidetimeless appealforall-year-roundsales, complemented by abeautifulselection of UKmadesoftfurnishings.
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Excitingopportunities from Garden FurnitureGlobal
At Garden FurnitureGlobal, we partnerwith someof themostexperienced andinnovativedesignersand manufacturersofoutdoorleisureproducts. We arealwaysseekingnewinnovativeproducts andstrategicpartnershipsto bringexcitingopportunities to theUKmarket.Ourmany yearsofexperience in theoutdoorlivingindustryenablesus to bringourcustomersexcitingnew linesatthemost competitiveprices.Weworkhardtokeepour operating costs to aminimumandpasson thesesavingsinourverycompetitive trade prices.Ourproductsinclude topofthe range luxurygarden furnituresets, outdoorkitchensandstateoftheartbarbeques.Ourfurniture products includeboth100%aluminiumandfashionable resinweave designs. Stand 630
Parasolperfection
Instashade returnstoSOLEXwithits fullrange ofpremium commercialgradeparasols,trustedbycafés,hotels, restaurants, andhospitality venuesacrosstheUK. Combiningsleekdesign withlastingdurability,each parasol is built to withstandheavyuse andunpredictable weather,without compromisingonstyle.From compactmodelstolarge-scale shade solutions, Instashadeoffersoptionsforevery outdoorspace. Allparasols aremadewithmarine-gradematerials andare easy to operate, making them idealfor high-demandcommercialenvironments.If you’re looking to elevate your outdoorofferingwithpractical,design-ledsolutions,visit Instashadetoexplorethefull range.
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Guaranteeingeleganceandstyle
With aproduct rangeencompassing everythingfrom various ranges ofgardenfurnituretoglassstyleTiffanylighting,you’llappreciatethat MinsterStylishLivingisnoordinarysupplier. Afamily concernsetin the delightfulNottinghamshire marketandminster town of Southwell,Minster StylishLivingwasestablishedin1978. Thebusiness hasenjoyeda natural, sustained andsteadygrowthsince then,developing and consolidating tradelinks acrossEurope,Indiaand theFarEast.Minster StylishLiving todayhasanunrivalled selectionofelegant, finequalityandoftenunusual garden furnitureand furnishing accessories.
DiscoverHillInteriorscraftedpremium living spacesatSOLEX. Their extensiverangenowboastsexceptionaloutdoor furniture, showcasingthe finestmaterials: HDPE wicker,hardwood feet, powder-coated aluminiumframes,and durableOlefinfabric. Experienceenduringqualityandtimelessstyle.
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Elevatingoutdoorliving
Hartmanislaunchingitsinspiring2026 outdoorliving collectionatSOLEX. Thoughtfully andmeticulouslycurated, withanunwaveringfocuson comfort, innovativedesign,andexceptional quality.The2026 collectionshowcases astunningarray of freshdesigns, introduces sophisticatednewcolour palettes,andincludesextendedlines of some ofthemostpopularand bestselling ranges—ensuring aperfect blend offamiliarityandinnovation.Created to elevateoutdoorlivingspaces,the Hartman2026 collectionoffersretailersa distinctiveandexciting pointofdifference. Withtrend-ledstyling,enhanced durability,and arefinedaesthetic,the collectionistailored to meetthe evolving tastesof today’s consumer.
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Winning stylefromLeisureGrow
LeisureGrow is aUKfamily-run business with apassionfor quality craftsmanship, smartdesign,andlasting comfort. We’ve grownfromhumblebeginnings to become oneofthe UK’s leading names inoutdoor living –trusted by garden centres, retailers, and homesacrossthe country. From awardwinning barbecuesand garden furniture to year-roundgardenlighting solutions, everything we designis builtaround one simpleidea:lifeisbetteroutdoors. Besure to see ourSmashGrill Go –Winner ofBest GasBBQ2025,and our SanctuaryGazebo –Winnerof BestGarden Shade2025atthe IdealHomeAwards.
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TGIMA Charity Golf Day delivers another winning round for the Greenfingers Charity.
he annual GIMA Charity Golf Day teed
off instyle onThursday 5thJune, at Belton Woods Golf, Spa and Hotel in Grantham for a day of sporting competition, networking, andfundraising – all inaid of the Greenfingers Charity
The Premier Decorations team of Jack “Fall Guy” Gates, Pravin “Teflon” Patel, Rolf “The Grunt” Hunt and Scott “Scheffler” McCabe won the first GIMA Charity Golf Day Best Dressed Team Award, selected by GIMA President Kate Ebbens. Pureprint Imprint won the golf competition.
The “Wooden Spoon” award was sportingly acceptedby the Homefire/ Rocketgro/Potting Shed team who, despite a sterling effort, found themselves at the bottomof theleaderboard.
With 23 teamsmadeup of suppliers, retailers and colleagues from across the industry, the event combined sporting spirit with charitable generosity, raising a fantastic sum to help Greenfingers continue its mission of creating magical gardens for children’s hospices across the UK
New-for-2025, the Yellow Ball Challenge –kindly sponsored by Vitax - saw Team GIMA take home the win with 37 points, closely followed by Woodloge 2 and Smart Garden 2 with 36 and 33 points respectively
Best Dressed Team
Following a day on the course, participants gathered for a well-earned post-round buffet, awards presentation, and charity auction, where the camaraderie continued late into theevening
This year’s sponsors list included Pureprint Imprint, Durstons, Smart Garden Products, Hornby George PR, Meadow View Stone, Eco Fuego, Webb Garden Power, Vitax, Homefire, Spear & Jackson, Gardena, Woolcool, Keter, Outtrade, Greenman Tools, Glee, Yard Force, CM Ventures, Toolbank, Decco, Woodlodge and Primeur Together these brands sponsored everything from the on-course banners, drinks stations, spot and hole prizes, plus also kindly providing prizes for the raffle and auction
Also new for 2025, this award added a touch of flair to the fairway, with the team from Premier Decoration receiving this year’s accolade thanks to some rather eye-catching attire Also,recognised for their sartorial choices were theteams from SmartGarden 1 and Zest Outdoor Living.
After the event, GIMA Director Vicky Nuttall said: “It’s always incredible to see the industry come together to support Greenfingers
Pureprint Imprint emerged victorious at the 2025 GIMA Golf Day, taking the title with ascore of 86 points. Hot ontheir heels were Smart Garden 2 in second place with 85 points,wwhileWoodlodge 2 secured astrong third with84 points.
Aday madepossible by generous sponsors andsupporters
GIMAishugely grateeful to all sponsors annd donorswhomade theeventsuch asuccess.
The 2025 event was one of the best yet with almost 100 golfers coming together for a day of fantastic golfing, wonderful company and –most importantly – a brilliant fundraising total foracauseclose to all of our hearts. Thank you to every golfer, sponsor, and donor who contributed.”
T To seemore events upcomingat GIMA, or formore information regarding membership, pleasevisit www.gima.org.uk.
• Longest Drive: Jonny Hotson (GIMA)
• Nearest Pin 2nd: ArronRutherford (Imprint)
• Nearest Pin5th: Richard Newton (Woodlodge)
• Straightest Drive: Andrew Fitzmaurice(MorePeople)
• Nearest Pin17th: Ryan Mason (Andersons & Mulch)
• Beat the Pro: Neil Lafford (Hex); James Parr (Smart Garden);Jonathon Payling(Gardena/Husqvana);Neil Blake(Woodlodge) Daniel McAlpin(Glee/LBCBoots);Chris Clements (Vitax);ScottMcCabe(Premier Decs);Phil Park (Evergreen); Nick Griffin(Evergreen);AndrewFitzmaurice (MorePeople)
IGNITE
Followingthe incredible successof the Kindling Cracker™ firewood splitter& Espegardfirepits& accessories -nowa customer favourite at leading retailers likeBlueDiamond, Lakeland, Waitrose Garden, PolhillGarden Centre,and Burford GardenCo- we’re thrilledtoexpandour rangeof premium outdoorliving products.
This late summer, preparefor even moresales momentumwith thelaunch of oursleek,clean-burningNordicEmbers fire pits and compact,high-performanceO-Grillportablegasgrills.These eye-catching, easy-to-use additionsareperfectfor enhancing cozy eveningsandattracting outdoorlifestyleshoppers.
Trustedbytop gardencentres and designedtoimpress,our productsdeliver exceptionalquality, style,and value -giving your customersmore reasons to buyand your businessmore reasons tocelebrate.
Addressing the demandfor amore efficient anduser-friendly hosestorage solution, GARDENAintroducesthe DualHoseBox—an innovative productdesigned to enhanceeaseofuse, flexibility, and comfortfor gardeners.The launchmarks asignificant expansion and investmentinthe wateringcategorywithin the UKmarket.
TheDualHoseBoxcomes pre-assembledwith afree1.5-meter connectionhose;so youcan enjoy all25 metersofincludedhose.Thehoseboxoffers versatility andconveniencewhichcanbeattached to the wall easilyand removedwithjustonehand. Alternatively,thelightweighthoseboxcanbeused on the ground andtransportedaround the garden usingthecarry handle.
As everyexperiencedgardener knows,winding yourhose comfortablywithout knottingor kinking
thehosecanbetricky;GARDENA’s Dual Hose Boxfeatures acomfortable, foldablecrankhandle and integratedhoseguideforeffortless, kink-free retraction.
The slim, compactandaffordableDual Hose Box comes witha five-yearwarranty andis perfect for mediumsizedgardens.
TheDualHoseBoxincludes a25m hose, all necessaryconnectors, connectionhoseand spraynozzlewhichcanbeusedfor bothcleaning and irrigation.The UV-provenhoseboxcan beleftoutside all summerlong,withoutriskof discolourationorthehose splitting.
Thenew DualHoseBoxis availableonafullpallet display, whichstocks30hosereels. Formoreinformationabout GARDENA,head to www. gardena.com/uk.
Starsinthemaking
Thorough aseriesofworkshops,includingavisit to Westland’s Ellesmere Portfacility, thisyear’s RisingStars candidatesaregainingfromexpert guidancetohelpthemdevelopprojects in theirowncentres.
AfteraninitialmeetinginApril,the nine garden centreteammemberstaking part intheRisingStarsprogramme, sponsoredbyWestlandHorticulture and supportedbytheGCA,are makinggreat progress.
Eachhas comeupwithanideaforaparticular project to boostsales withintheir owncentres to benefittheir ownpersonalcareerdevelopment and confidence,plusthebottom lineoftheir gardencentres. Coachingvia aseriesofworkshops by GordonEmslie is helpingenhanceandhone personal andpresentationskills,whilevisits to variouslocations, includingEllesmerePortin May,willgrow theirknowledgeandbroadentheir understandingofthegarden centre sector. WorkshopsinCambridgeinJune,Allensmore NurseriesandGleeinSeptemberwillget candidates readyforthe‘Dragon’sDen’ presentationsinOctoberwhere finalists willbe chosen.
At theGCA ConferenceinJanuary 2026,each finalistwillpresentthe resultsoftheirprojects
onstage,with the winnerchosen byvotes from conference delegates.
Char Sait
Haskins Ferndown
• Project: WildlifeGardening
Throughthe creationof awildlifecalendar/ planner,Char’s projectwillhighlight theimportance andencourage the implementationofwildlifegardening.Four seasonsofgardeningguidancewillbenefit avarietyofwildlifeatcrucial timesof the year,marryingthebenefitsofgardeningfor ourselvesaswellastheenvironmentand future ofourwildlifeinthemostefficient and sustainable ways possible.
AaronCaffarelli
ThetfordGardenCentre
• Project:CircleofLife
Responding to thelossofnatural habitatfrom thelargenumber of newhouses beingbuilt around East Cambridgeshireand Norfolk, Aaron iscreating asmall gardenwithinthe centre.With hedgehog andinsecthouses, abirdtable,anda waterfeature,itwillalsoinclude aselectionof locallygrownplants to attractinsects,birds,and wildlife.
Louise Lockwood PlantersTamworth
• Project: Buzzingfor abettertomorrow!
Louiseistacklingthedeclineinbeenumbers by educatingthe youngergenerationandlearning to bebeekeeper. Focusingonthe conservation ofbees,theprojectwilldrive linkedsalesof honey, plants, meadandotherbee friendly products. Louisewillalsovisitlocalprimary schools to helpthemcreatebee friendlyspaces andbee themed artworktodisplayinstore. A‘Bee Weekend’ linkedtoWorldBeeDaywill includeactivitiessuchaspainting, tastingsand specialoffers.
inspirationalbaskets Lewis hascreated to encouragecustomers to have agoathome.
JoeJones
BGCIrtonGarden Centre
• Project: Grow Your WayTo5A-Day
JessSalter
BGCGloucesterGardenCentre
• Project: CuptoCompost
Through apassion for coffee,Jess ispromotingthe gardeningbenefits of recycled coffee groundsfromthe restaurant. Coffee groundswill be baggedanddisplayed to showhow to use coffeein compost and acomparisonof growing hydrangeaswith andwithout coffee enriched compost to showhow theacidity inthesoilcanhelpturn flowersfrompink blue.Linked salesandsignageswillencoura gardeners to tryitathome.
LewisO’Neill
BGCGloucesterGardenCentre
• Project: HangingAbout
Lewisiscreating abundle of everythingneeded to makepollinator-promoting hangingbaskets.Adopting amarketstallapproach, itwillbesold inareas includingBestBuywhich, due to aone-waysystem, receives100%footfall. The stallwillbedecorated with
Ewan’s projectwillfocuson ways to conserve andsavewater,whileeducatingpeopleonhow to waterefficientlyandsustainablyespecially if they areusing peat-freegrowingmedia. Throughouttheplanteria andstore,Ewanwill use floodbenches,capillarymattingand water butts andlinkthese to educationaldisplays which explain howpeat-freecompostdriesout quicker and is harder to re-wetonce dried.
DuncanSchofield
BGCHarrowGarden Centre
• Project: TheRocksAreAlive
Duncan’sworkin thehardlandscapingarea, has fuelledhis belief that rockeriesare an excellent additiontoagardenastheylookbeautifuland providehomes fora variety ofinsects andother creatures. Bybuilding asmall rockerywith adisplayabout theirvalue inpromoting biodiversity, Duncan willdrive educationontheeffectthatdifferent rock and pavingtypes have on waterrunoff and water conservation.
Robert Ede SquiresFrensham
• Project: TheBirds &The Bees
Robert iscreating amodernlifestyledisplayon apallet,soitismobile andremainsconsistent even whenmoved. It willahouseor courtyard scenewithwaterfeatures,wildflowers,bug hotelsandbirdfeedersandincludea shoppable socustomerscanpurchasetheproducts included.Itwillbeeasyaccessforimpulsesales, andalsoverytrackableforsalesreporting.
Forthefirsttimein years, we’vehadbusy garden centretradingthroughoutthe springintosummerandnowit’stimefor yourcatering teams to makethe mostof the holidayperiodwithexceptional food,drink and customerservice.
That’swhy we arebringing back GTN’s GreatestAwardsforgarden centre catering to celebrateallthatis greataboutfood& drink acrossUKgardencentres. GTN’sGreatest Food &Drink TeamGarden CentreTeamAwardswill beannouncedandpresentedaspart of Food@ GleeattheNEConWednesday17thSeptember 2025.
TheGreatestGarden Centre Food& Drink Team
Frommid-Julythrough to theend of August youcangiveyour cateringandfoodretailteams aboost by gettingyourcustomers tovote for them as oneofTheGreatestTeamsinGarden Centre Food &Drink.
Votingwill be on-line, as we doforour GreatestChristmas Awards,linkedtoaQRcode andbyvotingforms youcanprint outand place on tablesin your café/restaurant.
Thewinnerswillbethe teamswiththemost votes, with separateawardsfor differentsizesof centre andregional awards too.
Winnersofthelast GTN’sGreatest Catering Team Awardsin 2017
TheGreatestGarden CentreAfternoonTea Award
Whatanaccoladetowin!Inthepastwe’ve beenout onthe road to meet afternoontea teams, but this year we’reinvitinggarden centres fromacrossthe countryto bringtheirafternoon teas to Gleeon Wednesday17th September,assemble themfordisplayfromlunchtime onwards, to bejudged by apanel ofexpertjudgesin traditionalvillagefete/WI style.
Thewinners, overalland regional,willbechosen by the judges,alongwithextraawardsfor The Greatest Garden CentreSconeandThe GreatestGarden Centre Traybake.
TheGreatestGarden CentreCatering SupportTeam
When we last ranGTN’sGreatestCatering Team Awards in2017,oneofthemosthighlyregardedawardswasfor TheGreatest WashUp Team,thesupport teamthat keeps yourcateringserviceflowingthroughthepeaksandallday long. Thisyearwe’dliketogiveaccolades to TheGreatest CateringSupportTeam,betheywashup,cleaners, IT supportstaff ormarketing teamsthatarebehindthescenes addingthatextrabitof greatnessfor yourcustomers.
Howtoenter
To enter GTN’sGreatest Food &DrinkGarden CentreTeamAwards 2025,justsendan e-mail to trevor@pottingshedpress.co.ukstatingwhich awards youwouldliketoenter andwewillsend youfull entrydetails,alongwithlinksfortheon-line voting,poster and votingformartworks.
Adeliciousnewchapter for theUK’sleading garden retail tradeshow
Glee returnsforits51steditionwithanexcitingand flavourful new additionthisSeptember –Food @Glee. Abrand-newsector is settotransform theshowexperience,offeringgarden centresand retail buyers theopportunitytoexplorethe growingworld of food anddrinkingardenretail.
Food @Gleeistheexcitingnew areadedicatedtothe profitable opportunities andextendeddwelltime that astrongF&Bofferingbrings to your gardencentre. Whether you’re exploring retailoptions like food halls andfarm shops,orhospitality ventures from cosy cafés to food trucksand fine dining restaurants, theopportunities are endless–and growing! As consumers increasinglyview gardencentres as destinationsforfamilydaysout,social dining andleisurely browsing,thisarea deliverstheeducationandinspiration youneed to capitaliseonthistrendand boostyourprofits.
Discoverinspiring exhibitorsready to support your F&Bambitions, from concept to service,alongsidethenew dedicatedFeed YourBusinessStage –whereprofitisalwaysonthemenu. Thisstageservesupexpertinsightsand practicalstrategies to help youimplement, refineandgrow profitable F&Boperations that’ll transformyourgarden centre intoa must-visitdestination.
Feed YourBusinessStagewhereprofit isalwaysonthe menu
Thursday 18th -Planting the Perfect Kitchen: Food ServiceDesign
Thursday 18th –‘Retail Ready:Creating Irresistible FoodHalls that Sell’
This newchapterfor Glee reflects the evolutionofthe garden retail sector and itscustomers’expectations. Foodisnot justanadd-on– it’s akey ingredientin creatingthriving, multi-sensoryretail environments.Whether it’sagraband-gooffering,afullcafé menu,or acuratedin-storefoodhall, Food@ Glee is whereideas willcometolife, collaborationswillbesparked,and futuresuccess stories will beborn.
Glee 2025 promises garden buyers anunrivalled opportunitytodiscover an exceptionalmix ofnew, returning andlong-standingexhibitors. From freshinnovationtotrustedfavourites, theshowisthe ultimatedestinationto explorethe latestproducts,connect with industry leaders,andgainvaluable insightsintoemergingtrends. Make suretomark your diariesfor 16th–18th September2025 andbepartofthe eventthatcontinuestodefine thefuture ofgarden retail.
Formoreinformation or to register your interest in exhibiting,visit www.gleebirmingham.comor call 0203 3545 9752.
Awardwinning AfternoonTeaat GreenPastures
Tasty investment
After recentlyopeningitsnew restaurant,MikeLind, ManagingDirectorofMonktonElm Garden Centre Somerset,talksaboutwhy,inuncertaintimes,it made theinvestmentandhisplanstomaximiseonthe space.
Itwas10 yearsagothatMonktonElm Garden Centre took amassive move andexpanded its restaurantwith anew purpose-builtbuilding. At thetimeit was ahugeandsuccessfuldevelopmentand theglassandmetalbuilding wasstate of theart.
MikeLind,ManagingDirector,sayssince then,the teamlearntthatthreethings provedtofundamentallywrong -the servicestyleandfacilities in thekitchen, thehighlevelsofnoise,andtheexcessive anduncontrollableheatinthesummer.
“Weneeded to looktochange, to giv aroadmap forthefuture,”hesays.W
thehelpofPlaydellSmithyman,the te MonktonElm were abletoaddress allth challengesandinAprilthis year,openedits refurbished 400 coverrestaurant.
Planstomakethe changes started sometwoyears ago,well before Governmentannounced thelatest increases to theminimum wageand NationalInsurancecontributions.
“Weconsideredtheimpactof budget but tooktheviewthatinthe
MikeLindsays
the catering investmenthas given Monkton ElmGarden Centrearoadmap forthe future.
face ofanonslaught, youcan'tjustbatten downthehatches. We hadagreatdesign sodecidedtocontinuewith theinvestment strategy to generateadditionalrevenue for thebusinessasopposed to buryingour headsinthesand,”saysMike.
“Wewentthroughvarious consultations withstaff to lookathow we could reduce thecost of runningthe business,but we tookthepositive decisionofaimingfor growth. We arealwayslookingathow we canbemoreefficientand buildon ourlocal, communityorientatedfamily business model to generate additional revenue.
“We'revery, very luckyto straddle hospitality,retail,events,andbea destination centre.Thereare lotsof reasonswhy alocal communitycomes to agarden centreand we wanted to make makefoodandhospitalityarealcentral pointfor coming to visitus. We wantfood andbeverage to be 25%-30%of garden centreturnover, andifwedo that well,the
spinoff to customerswhen they'rehere will continue to help usgrow.”
Practicalities
The refit wasmajor,covering960m2, and aftermuchdeliberation, it wasdecided to carryouttheworksfromJanuaryto March, andclosethefacilitycompletely.In its place,atemporary kitchen wassetup with100coversin theareatraditionally usedforseasonalplant sales.
March, and close the facility completely. In
“The building window between January before the peak season, but take the hit on the revenue, or see if there
“Thebuilding windowbetweenJanuary andMarchmeantwecouldopenjust before thepeakseason,but we wondered whethertodoitinstages, to closeitand takethe hitonthe revenue,orsee if there wasanywhere, we could have apop-up restaurant?
year's takings over 13 weeks and I’m
“Weset atarget to achieve70%of last year'stakings over13weeks andI’m pleased to sayweexceeded thattarget,”says Mike.“It wasaninterestingjourney, not withoutits problems, but we got through it,largelydowntoWendy Tyzack [Foodand BeverageManager]andher team.”
Refurbishmentchangesincluded loweringtheceiling,fixing in acoustic panelsand bringingingreeneryandfoliage to absorbsound.Anairsourceheatpump wasfavouredovertheoriginalunderfloor heating whichalsoimprovedthe centre’s environmental footprint. An outdoor seatingareawas coveredandis nowThe Garden Room.
Afterstudying thecustomerjourney anddesignof thekitchen,alarger kitchen andre-modellingoftheserviceareaand customerseating space wasimplemented. “Wehadquite specificreasonsform makingthechangesand anticipateitwill give us alotofgrowth over thenextfew years. We have 400 coversinside,plusa fewoutside,andthe kitchenhas been set
up to deal withthat sort of volume in terms ofcapacity.Itshouldgiveusalot more strengthandresiliencetobuild akey part offuturegardencentrerevenue,”Mike explains.
Maximisinginvestment
Part of thenew building’sdesignincluded thefacilityfor eventsandMonkton Elmhas lotsplanned.Already,the gardencentrehas athrivinggardeningclubwhichmeetsonce amonth,and this spring,forthefirsttime, therestaurantservedasafunctionfor the firstGlee Roadshowevent. But to make the mostof thefacilities, theteam arelooking athowtheybest bring inpeopleoutsideof traditionalopening hours.
theentranceaspossible.So,webuiltthe restaurantattheoppositeside to the entrance.Butthisdoesn’thelpwhenwe want to bringcustomerswhoareonly cominghereforan eveningactivity.They havetocomeallthe waythroughthe wholeshopwhichmeansitneeds to be openandstaffed. We'llprobablybring peopleinthroughtheplantarea,butthen do we need to haveacovered walkway becauseit'sprobablygoing to be raining? There's amyriadofchallengesbutit is something we wouldliketodo.”
“Wewant to beapproachableasa placewhere peoplecan comeeitherfora businessevent, afamily event,orsomesort oflocal community event.Asabusiness we strivetomakeourcustomersfeel welcome.”
Thiswillundoubtedlyshiftthe demographicofthecustomer base and withinthefirstfewweeks ofopening,this isalreadybeingseen. “Apartfromthe curiosityfactor,amuch widerageprofile hasvisited, andthisissomething we want to encourage.”Thisis evenwithout the newoutdoorplayareaopening.
Spreadingthe word
MonktonElm’s44,000strongloyaltycard
customerbase wastheobviousplace to starttomarket thenew restaurant.A cautious approachwastakenbecausebuild datescan easilyshift,somessagesfocused on ‘coming soon’. Theteam alsowanted to ensure everything ransmoothlybefore making abigannouncement.Astrongplan torampupmarketingisinplace which included abreakfastofferinginMayand aseries of staged events overthe nextsix months.“Alot hasbeendrivenaroundour existingcustomer base andlookingafter ourcustomers wholook afterus,”says Mike.
Oncethe restaurant hasluredcustomers in,theskillistoencourage them to buy fromotherdepartments. “Ithinkit'sa failingif acustomerwho comesherehas afabulousexperiencewiththefood and coffee,but they don'tpicksomethingup on theirway out,”saysMike.
Strengthinthebrand
Withtheaimofsecuring up to 30% of turnoverfromthe restaurant, canMike seea timewhen thewords ‘garden centre’ aredroppedfromthebusiness name?Theansweris absolutelynot. “Weare extraordinarilyprivileged to be in thegardencentresector,and Iwould fight toothand nail ifit wasjustcalled Monkton Elmand nothavethestrapline of beingagardencentre.It wouldbea real step backwards. We areproud to be Monkton ElmGardenCentre&Restaurant. People willalways come to agarden centreexpecting theretobesomeform of hospitalitybutnot to referenceusas agardencentreissomething Icouldn’t entertan.Being agardencentresetsus apart fromsomany other retail entities outthere.It'sgot arealsynergy witha very largecustomerbaseandisour point ofdifference againstsomeofthe big, nationals.The experienceweoffer asan independentgardencentre is quiteunique, andsomething we reallywanttohighlight.”
ForMonktonElmtheextra100 spaces aregoing to beimportantinlightofthe1500new homes planned nearby,asistheneed to work outhow newcustomers aregoing to engagewiththe gardencentreinthe coming years. It’s expected more people willalsowalk,cycleor usepublic transport to reachthe centre,which means looking atthe productmixastheenvironment aroundevolves. Keyconsiderationsareitems likeheavy bags ofgrowing media. “Wewant to continue to bethe centreofthe communityand encourage people to engageandcometous throughwhatevermeanspossible,andnotjust in acar,” saysMike.
Foliageand acoustic roof panels have helpeddampen thenoiselevels.
The Garden Room opened in May
Roses of success
New plantsaplenty at the RHSChelsea FlowerShowbut rosesstealtheheadlines.
Onesure-fire place to seeunusual, newand excitingplants for any planteriaisChelsea’sGreat Pavilion.Inaddition to theentrantsinthe RHS ChelseaPlant of theYear competition, thepavilion wasthe placeto see aflurry of newrosevarieties too.
Royalroses
Stealingthe limelightdue avisitfromKing Charleswas Rosa‘The Kings Rose’from David Austin Roses.Unusualfor David Austin, this varietyhas asingle,open bloom,soperfectforattractingpollinators, andbi-colourpetals.
Rosa‘Catherine’sRose’ fromHarkness Roses.
Rosa‘TheEltonJohnAIDS Foundation Rose’fromHarkness Rosesis thefirstin aseries forthe foundation.Otherswill follow with namesbased onoraroundEltonJohnalbums includinga purpleclimbertocoincide with WorldAidsDayin December.£5fromeachsale willbe donated to the foundation.
Itwas 12 years inthemaking, andas it wassuch aprestigiouslaunch,the company keptitunder wrapsuntilthe daybeforethe flowershow. Martinsays stockislimitedinthis first year.“But plants were delivered to around80 garden centres,sotheygottheChelsea look,”hesays.
ThePrincessofWalesnow alsohasa rosednamedafterher,thanks to anew launchfromHarknessRoses.Initially
available onlineandlaterthroughgarden centres, Rosa‘Catherine’sRose’ isa repeat flowering floribundawithclusters ofup to 15blooms. Amid to darkpink, flowers also have astrongtraditional rosefragrance butwith ahint of mango, andwhenopenfullyarepollinator friendly.Fromeach sale, £5willgotothe Royal MarsdenCancerCharity andplants willfeature in newwellbeinggardens beingchampioned by thePrincess.
ClassicLine
Extremelylong-lasting
Strongluminosity
Dense flowering
Upright growth
Flowering untilspring (No tyingupoftheflower)
Strongluminosity
Dense flowering
Uprightgrowth
Left:The work of MuscularDystrophyUKwillbenefitfrom salesofRosa‘Stronger Together’withred flowers anda whitecentre. Availablethrough Blue DiamondGarden Centres,itisjoinedbyRosa‘Vianne’s Chocolat’ ahighly fragranthybridteawith dark crimson blooms.
Flowering untiloctober (No tyingupofthe flower)
Light pink Rosa ‘LindaLee’willaddsoftnesstoany border.From PeterBeales, this repeat-flowering formhaslightpink to cream, fragrant, opendoubleflowers andis highlyscented.
I’m oftenaskedwhat Italkabout when Imeet Parliamentariansonbehalf of theEnvironmental HorticultureGroup (EHG).Itissometimes easier to say what we don’ttalkabout.The important thingisthatweAREtalkingand as aresultI feelweare starting to seeactions,andweall know howmuchlouder they arethanwords!
Thespeedatwhichenvironmental horticulturecanmakeatangible difference to thegrowthoftheUK (nopunintended) isof realinterest to thegovernmentand opposition.Whilst industriesacrossthe country, andindeed world,are striving to reducetheirenvironmentalimpact,the worldofenvironmentalhorticulture should be encouragedandallowedtomakeabigger impact.Withoutthetreesandplants we createthe world wouldstopbreathingvery quickly.
Agoodexampleofaction wasthe announcement, afew monthsago,byWes Streeting,SecretaryofStateforHealth andSocialCare,relatingtoadditional fundingforChildren’sHospicesacross the country. Part ofthemoney wasringfencedforgreenspacesatthehospices. Thatacknowledgementofthe huge value derivedfromplants,openspacesand fresh air wouldnothavehappened afew years ago,whichevergovernment wasinpower.I hadtheopportunity to meet WesStreeting in Westminstera fewweeksago,and gave himareal,andcurrentexampleofhow that money isbeingput to gooduseat ahospice wheretheGreenfingersCharityiscurrently building akitchengarden.
Global, floralstage
TheRHSChelsea FlowerShowisthegreatest flowershowinthe world.Oneofthe wonderfulthingsitdoes isprovideuswith theperfectopportunitytospeakwithmany fromthe PalaceofWestminsterand this year wasnoexception. At 6am,(yes6AM), on the Tuesdaymorningtheyarrivefor abreakfast
TheBaroness Janet Fookesisanadvocateofthe horticulturalindustryand Clematis‘BaronessFookes’waslaunchedatthe RHSChelseaFlowerShowto recognise herunwavering support. Bred by Raymond Evison,itproducesa prolificdisplayofpurple/bluepetalswith adarkerbar.
briefing andguided tour oftheshowbefore thegatesopen.Therecordturnout ofMPs, Lords& Ladies wasgreat to seeand even more importantwas howengagedtheyall were.
Itold themabouta young family Imet just thenight before.Ofhowsittingunder atreeona sunny dayenjoyingdappled sunshine wasaproduct ofenvironmental horticulture. Howlyingonthe grassand watching birds, beesandbutterfliesinthe garden wasaproduct ofenvironmental horticulture.How lettingabubblingfountain run waterbetweenthechildren’sfingers was abenefitofenvironmental horticulture and howpleasure gained from crushingherbs between thefingers andsmellingthemwas againthankstoenvironmental horticulture. Allofthathadbeen happening,forthis particularfamily, forthe last fiveyearsfrom within ahospicegarden.
Nobodycandenythe greatthings environmental horticulturedelivers sothe ask Ialwaysmake,whicheverdepartment Iamfacing, is letusdowhat we do so well,remove thebarriersandletusgrowa greenerBritain. Oh, andwhatdon’twetalkabout…sport! I made that mistakeearly on with aminister whenIthoughtIwouldbreaktheiceby tellinghim Ioften watchedhislocal rugby team.Herepliedwith ‘neverwatch them,I’m afootballman!’,lessonlearnt!!
Findoutmore
To downloadthelatest EHG reports visit:hta.org.uk/missiongreengrowth Pleaselet me knowofany issues youwant raised by theEnvironmentalHorticulture Group. Email: boyd@theboydpartnership.co.uk
Retailshiftsand springachievements
spring achievements
WillArmitage, HTAPresident
Well,spring2025didn’t disappoint.WhileMay’s performancewasslightly stifledbythechangein weather,itwasmore likelya reflectionofthestrongtradingin MarchandApril -customershadgotinearly this year.Now,witha bitofluckandanother shiftinthe weather,thosesamecustomers will havedonealltheworkintheirgardens andbelookingforward to spendingas muchtimethereaspossibleduringthe summermonths,andhopefully,yourgarden furnituresaleswillbetrendingpositively too. I’msuremanyof youwillbeheading over to SOLEX to get your rangessortedout fornextseason.
Iknowmanybusinessesoutthereare sopleasedand relievedtohavefinallyhad thespring we needed,but withthecurrent highcostofemployment,it wouldbe very easy to loseallthosegains overthenextfew quietermonths. We’reseeingsomemajor shiftsin retail,asmanysupermarketsare changingtheirofferingsand removinghighwagecustomerservicepositions. Inotice that Tescoisalsonowlooking to reduce its openinghours in abid to reduce costs. Ifeel this governmentisforcingus to changethe lookandfeelofleisureretailandcatering. We need to findtheinnovationtokeepit our own.
Bordertradechanges
Ihope youhaveallseenthetradepressand nationalmedia reportingontheHTA’srecent achievements inhelping to gettheUK/EU SanitaryPhytosanitaryAgreementchanged, and Iwouldliketotakethisopportunity to thankallthemembersoftheHTA. Thisisnotjustthefacesinthemedia,the presenceintheHousesof Parliament,orthe evidencegiven to highlightthenightmare thishasbeenforthepast fiveyears,but to allthe companiesouttherewhoselland redeemtheHTAGarden GiftCards -this iswhat youare contributing to!And to the HTAteamwhohavekeptthishighonthe government’sagendalongbefore itbecame
As your HTApresident, Iwasfortunate enough to havebeen invited by the RHS President to attend the President’sLunchat theRHS’sChelseaFlowerShow. This reallyis oneoftheindustry’sbestshopwindows.A chancefordesigners, growers,landscapers, influencers,the media, celebritiesand most importantly,the gardenersandgardenfans thatlook to ourfabulousgardencentres and nurseries to providethemwiththe goods to makeithappen.Andit’snotjusthere in the UK.TheBoardBiaofIreland to invite me to itsfamousflowershow, BordBia BloominDublin—anincredible meldingof food,farming,andhorticulture, and avery different atmosphere.Butthegardensat both eventswereincredible,well-designed andperfectlyexecuted.
And theseasondoesn’t stopthere. The HTANational Plant ShowatNAECStoneleigh in mid-June wasafantasticopportunity for thetrade to come together,see thebest newplants, explore innovationand connect
withsuppliers andpeers from acrossthe industry. If youdidn’tmanagetovisit this year,Iencourage youtomakeadateinyour diaryfor 17th -18thJune2026.
Findoutmore
TheHorticultural Trades Association istheUKindustry’s leading membership organisationand welcomesall sectorsofenvironmental horticulture. To learnmore,please visit www.hta.org.uk or to enquire aboutmembership pleaseemail: membership@hta.org.uk
At BordBia Bloomin Dublin, agreat shopwindow forhorticulture.
Breakingrecords and buildinggrowth
Vicky
Nuttall, Directorof GIMA
It’shardtobelievewe’re already halfway through 2025,but perhapsevenharder to believe just howmany recordshavebeen broken in these six shortmonths. From record membershipnumbers to unprecedented levels of product innovation and industry engagement, this year is shaping up to be one of the most significantinGIMA’s history.
The standout milestone, of course,isour membershipgrowth. Forthe first timeever, GIMA is nowhome to 200member companies. That’snot just anumber. It’sa powerful reflection of our industry’s confidenceinthe workwedo. To be representing such awideranging,diverse group of businesses -across everyproduct category and scale -isahuge honour.Italso speaks volumes aboutthe importanceofstrong,connectedcommunities in asector that continues to navigatechange and opportunity in equal measure
This supportisperhaps moreimportant thanever. With theclosureof severalwellknown retail names, thefirst half of 2025 has presentedsome real challenges, but it’salso opened doors. Through ourongoing work with members,we’ve helped identify and establish newchannelstomarket, filling the gaps left behind and turningdisruptioninto progress. It’saclear example of thevalue that GIMA delivers, not just in good times, butasa constant,proactivesupport system whatever the marketlooks like.
Innovation, too, has reachednew heights. By thetime youread this, our 2025GIMA Awards judging day will likely havetaken place,and 200
plus entries submitted,our judging panel had theirwork cut outfor them.Morethan200 isastaggering number of newproducts being broughttomarket, and reflectsthe remarkable investmentinR&D,sustainability and design being made by ourmembers. The winners, of course,are under lock and keyuntil ourawards night on 6th November,but there’s still time to make your mark.Nominations remain open for ourprestigious Supplier of the Year and
Export Achievement awards,soifyou haven’t yetput yourself or another deserving business forward, now’sthe time!
Maintaining momentum
Looking ahead to Glee, the momentum continues.The GIMA BusinessVillage is set to break its ownrecords thisyear, with over 50 brandsjoining us at the NEC. That’sour largest-ever presenceatthe showand aclear sign of the appetitefor visibility,connection, and collaboration.With our hostedBuyer Connect meetingsalso returning, it’sshaping up to be afantastic platform forretailers and suppliersalike. If you’re abuyer andwant to meet engaged,forward-thinking businesses, we’d love to haveyou involved.
So yes, the pace of 2025 has been rapid, but it’salsobeen remarkable. We’renot just keeping up;we’re pushing forward, growing stronger,and setting newbenchmarks along the way. Thank youtoour members forbeing such an integralpartofthis journey. If the first half is anythingtogoby, the secondhalf is going to be even more exciting
Find outmore
Anybusinesses interested in joining GIMAcan contact the GIMA team at 01959 564947 orinfo@gima.org.uk. Full details regarding GIMA’s multiple-memberbenefits canbefound at www.gima.org.uk
