HTA warns of GMOs in Petunias
Following reports of genetically modified petunias being sold in Finland, the HTA has alerted the UK authorities to their existence in the UK supply chain. Read more - members only
HTA warns of GMOs in Petunias
Following reports of genetically modified petunias being sold in Finland, the HTA has alerted the UK authorities to their existence in the UK supply chain. Read more - members only
HTA to review structure before recruiting a new CX
The HTA is to carry out a review before deciding on how to replace Carol Paris, the chief executive who left last month. Read more - members only
Amazon buyers are to address the next BHETA forum
BHETA’s next networking forum is to feature two of Amazon’s category leaders, who will be sharing the latest information on how digital innovation is fuelling the Amazon business and the opportunities that this presents to suppliers. Read more - members only
Mike Lind is to be the next GCA chairman
Mike Lind is to succeed Julian Winfield as GCA chairman at the beginning of 2018. He says he wants to make the GCA more relevant. This is at a time when it represents only a small proportion of garden centres… read the Gardenforum comment. Read more - members only
The industry prepares for a bigger Garden Re-Leaf Day
Garden Re-Leaf day on 17th March will see outside participants join the garden industry as it celebrates the start of the gardening season and aims to beat the £140,000 raised last year for Greenfingers charity. Read more - members only
Allensmore installs climate control as it continues to invest
Having grown 55% Allensmore Nurseries invests in climate control but says Brexit means they face an uncertain period. Read more - members only
DIY multiples have majority share of Internet gardening sales
A new AMA report says Internet garden sales grew by an estimated 24% within the last year and that DIY multiples account for the majority share. Read more - members only
GCA moves HQ to Chester
The GCA has moved offices to Chester, nearer to the home of Iain Wylie, the association’s chief executive. But the recent solid working relationship with the HTA remains. Read more - members only
Choice earns a record £1.3m in supplier rebates
Choice Marketing reveals that members will share £1.3m from supplier rebates as the buying group looks for new members. Read more - members only
Pershore to install hydroponics lab
Pershore College adds to the growing interest in hydroponics and indoor gardening by introducing a hydroponics lab to teach future students the new growing techniques. Read more - members only
GCA looks for new inspectors
The GCA has started its search for 3 inspectors to replace Alyson Haywood, Andy Campbell and Ian Boardman who will stand down after next January’s conference. Read more - members only
Longacres buys Bybrook Barn
Longacres has bought Bybrook Barn Garden Centre in Ashford, Kent. This will be the third centre in the emerging group. Read more - members only
3 of the 4 GCA inspectors step down
Ian Boardman, Andy Campbell and newly appointed Alyson Haywood are standing down from their roles as GCA inspectors this year (2016). Only Roger Crookes will continue as the GCA begins the search for replacements. Read more - members only
Busy first day at the National Plant Show
Leading buyers, including a relieved Dobbies team, made an early start at the HTA National Plants show at Stoneleigh. New services were launched and some were concerned about exchange rates after the referendum vote. Read more - members only
News from the aisles of Chelsea
Taylors Bulbs presented Royal Celebration to Her Majesty the Queen. There was Gold for the new Hillier regime. Guy Hands is pleased with progress of new management team. Minister inspects industry’s Sun Flower Square collaboration. Read more - members only
Dobbies to launch national online garden centre
Dobbies is to launch an online store early next year serving the whole of the UK following an agreement with the Ocado Group’s Speciality Stores. Read more - members only
Threat of rates being charged on growers is lifted
Lobbying by the HTA and the NFU has been successful in lifting the threat of growers being charged rates, which could have amounted to hundreds of thousands of pounds. Read more - members only
Crowders' multi-channel e-commerce platform is for sale
Quinton Edwards is offering www.crowders.co.uk for sale. It would suit a garden centre looking to develop its multi-channel capability without the risk of building its own website. Read more - members only
Gardman to move to a new DC in Daventry
Gardman will move to a new DC in Daventry before the end of this year giving it the infrastructure to grow and the capacity to absorb acquisitions. Read more - members only
2016 - a year of change
2016 saw second tier garden centre chains and independents invest as Wyevale consolidated. Homebase and Argos are sold. The HTA moved offices and moved to become the lead association for all gardening related businesses. Glyphosate, Xylella and the weather made frequent headlines. Scotts and Bayer looked for a way out of distributing consumer garden chemicals. Read our review – open to all. Read more - open to all
HTA launches the Nursery Supply Show in 2017
The HTA has unveiled a new Nursery Supply Show to run in parallel with the National Plant show in June. Read more - members only
Why are gardening brands ignoring QVC?
Richard Jackson, the gardening guru on QVC, asked why many garden brands ignore QVC when so many famous brands in other sectors sell through it. Read more - members only
GCA opens up e-learning packages to HTA members
The HTA and GCA have formed a training partnership that will give HTA members access to the 90 GROW e-learning modules. Read more - members only
Tree planting marks first event at the new HTA offices
A ceremonial tree planting to mark the 25th anniversary of the ENA, was the first event to be held at the new HTA offices, which look set to become a central hub for the industry. Read more - members only
Delegate numbers hit 250 for Bunnings BHETA Forum
250 delegates from the DIY, garden and housewares sector as well as members of the media are set to to attend the BHETA Networking Forum. Read more - members only
How Perennial helped over 1200 people last year
Perennial helped over 1,200 people last year battling illness, financial hardship, bereavement and disability. Read some of their stories. Read more - members only
Best brains in horticulture booked for GrowQuip
The Commercial Horticulture Association is bringing together the best brains in horticulture, many of whom have their own strategic success stories, to provide all growers with help in overcoming at least some of the problems they face in the day to day running of their businesses at Growquip in October. Read more - members only
Turn old stock into gold for Greenfingers
Old stock donated by Scotts, Wyevale Nurseries and Wyevale Garden Centres has raised £2,300 at auction for Greenfingers. The charity is asking any company with unwanted stock to donate it to Turn Old into Gold. Read more - members only
B&Q sales up 3.6% like-for-like
Kingfisher figures for February to April show B&Q sales up 3.6% excluding impact of 10 more store closures. However seasonal sales were sharply lower. Read more - members only
Malcolm Scott Consultants has joined a well known firm of Midlands surveyors
Malcolm Scott Consultants has completed a deal to join Harris Lamb that will secure the long term future of the business and extend the services it can offer garden centres. Read more - members only