3rd Generation family member joins Zest
Sam Morgan has joined Zest Outdoor Living and parent company P & A Group, becoming the third generation of the Morgan family to commit to the business.
He is the son of P & A Group chairman Steve Morgan, formerly managing director of Zest and the group, and the grandson of founder Malcolm Morgan, a well-known figure in the garden industry. His arrival is part of a wider intake of talent that includes supply chain manager Darren Hill, strategic marketing and product lead Reza Yaghoubi, and commercial sales manager John Gomersall.
Rather than moving directly into management, Morgan has begun a structured programme across product development, manufacturing, sourcing, logistics, customer service, sales, marketing, HR and finance. Zest says the approach will give him a detailed understanding of how each function contributes to the customer experience.
I want to understand every part of the company
Morgan already has practical experience of the company, having helped to build Zest exhibition stands for several years and worked alongside the team during busy periods. He has also travelled with the sales team, setting up and merchandising displays in garden centres ahead of the 2026 season. At Solex and Glee he combined stand-building duties with meeting retailers, hearing their feedback and discussing market trends.
“I want to understand every part of the company before getting involved in big decisions,” he said. “Everything ultimately comes back to the customer and the end consumer. If you understand how every department contributes to that experience, you’re in a much stronger position to help the business grow.”
Two years spent travelling have also given Morgan a broader view of changing lifestyles, outdoor living and consumer expectations. He believes Zest products can be merchandised across related garden centre departments: its pizza oven table alongside barbecues, for example, or its Garden Bar and Two Stool Set within gifting and entertaining displays. He is also interested in using outdoor structures to create sheltered seating in garden centre cafés and food areas.
‘A different perspective’
Steve Morgan said the new generation brings a different perspective, combining extensive travel with an understanding of modern consumer trends and a willingness to learn from the ground up. Sam Morgan added that he was proud of what his family had built, but recognised that continued success depended on listening to customers and improving.
Zest was established in 2005 and supplies timber garden products through garden centres, online retailers, department stores and buying groups. Its range, designed at the company’s design.shed innovation centre in Saltney, includes furniture, arbours, arches, grow-your-own products and outdoor entertaining lines, made from softwood sourced from PEFC-certified forests.
The company says the appointment underlines its commitment to continuity, innovation, sustainability and closer relationships with retail customers.