Paula Parker leaves as Scotts reorganises

UK marketing director, Paula Parker, has left as Scotts Miracle-Gro cuts out a layer of management in the UK. Read more - members only

Paula Parker

Do sausages and bacon carry a greater risk of cancer than glyphosate?

Having classified glyphosate as being “probably carcinogenic to humans” the IARC has now classified processed meats such as bacon, sausages and burgers in the higher classification, “carcinogenic to humans”. Read more - members only

Diary

Glee new product winners announced

Vivid Arts, Wyevale Nurseries, Fallen fruits and Melcourt Industries were among the winners of the Glee new product awards. Read more - members only

Paul Newbitt with Vivid Arts' Miniature World

Vitax appoints new Irish distributor

Vitax - one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of garden and horticulture products - has appointed a new Irish distributor as part of its strategy to grow its presence across Ireland. Read more - members only

Tesco accused of confusion by Which?

A Which? Member has drawn attention to Tesco’s packaging of plant feed and weedkiller which look remarkably alike. Read more - members only

Uncertain future for Sinclair

Costs incurred during the commissioning of Ellesmere Port have led to a significant requirement to raise funds in the next few weeks.  The company is in discussion with third parties and major stakeholders.   Read more - members only

Taylors Bulbs invest in seed potatoes

Taylors Bulbs have announced a £200k investment in a new packing line and a further £160k investment in a 1400 tonne cold store facility both primarily for the supply of seed potatoes. Read more - members only

Vote now to recognise Gardening’s best buyers

Believing that good buyers have not been given the recognition they deserve, Glee is asking you to nominate people or teams that might qualify as the country’s best buyers for awards being introduced at the show. Read more - members only

Scotts calls time on Yeoman, Joseph Bentley and other Solus brands

Reports are circulating the trade, as yet unconfirmed, that Scotts Miracle-Gro has told its staff that all but one of the Solus brands are to be withdrawn from the market. Read more - members only

Expanding G Plants looks for sales personnel

G Plants has moved into new offices and warehousing covering 50,000 ft.² in Blackburn as part of a £600,000 expansion plan.  It is looking to recruit new sales personnel. Read more - members only

G Plants directors in the warehouse

Stax to open new, multi-channel trade centre

Stax called together over 200 suppliers to hear about a new multi-Channel trade centre, a new website and an autumn marketing campaign. Read more - members only

L-R Stax Directors: Simon Wright, Eddie Brady (Chairman), David Hibbert (MD), Nigel Wright

Toolbank digs into the garden market

Toolbank’s distribution agreement with Crest Garden has given it a platform to dig into the garden market. Garden centre buyers are being invited to register for the distributor’s spring trade shows. Read more - members only

Kent & Stowe tools from Crest Garden

B&Q’s horticultural buying team

B&Q highlights the new horticultural buying team it has assembled over the last year under Stephen Pitcher, director of seasonal. Read more - members only

Stephen Pitcher

More chat from the aisles of the Garden Press Event

A new website for Westland, Showa’s bio-degradable gardening gloves, Eden Project seeds, a 10,000 strong Facebook community of Garden Goddesses and Hozelock’s electric weed killer were some of the innovations on show at the Garden Press event. Read more - members only

Hozelock Thermal Weeder

Johnsons calls upon all suppliers to eliminate the use of unsuitable varieties in their lawn seed mixes

Continuing a campaign started last year DLF Trifolium accuses some competitors of continuing to cut corners by bulking out their lawn seed blends with unsuitable low grade seeds. Read more - members only

How Bonnington Plastics beat substitute sellers on Amazon

Bonnington Plastics offers to share with other manufacturers the tactics it used to beat the substitute sellers who were costing the company £50,000 a year. Read more - members only

Customers responding to this advert wrongly believed they were buying the genuine product

Garden retailers have less than 1 month to comply with SUD

The CPA reminds retailers they have one month to comply with the Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) regulations. To comply, staff should be certificated using a simple online training course. Read more - members only

Plants now take second place to catering

If August is wet plant sales prosper. If it is dry garden furniture sales do well. Last month was different. It was wet and dry in different areas and both categories flourished according to the latest GCA figures. But long term trend shows the proportional fall of traditional gardening. Read more - members only

Paradise Park

Warnings of wasps across the country

Local newspapers across the country have picked up a warning from Wyevale that homeowners can expect the ‘invasion’ of hungry wasps to continue for the next few weeks. Read more - members only

Jobs

B&Q responds to Which? Gardening’s campaign to date compost

B&Q is to test the lifespan of different formulations of compost in response to Which? Gardening’s campaign to date bags. Read more - members only

Stewart Plastics raises £11m for expansion

Stewart Group raises £11m to build stocks and invest in the latest, more efficient, pot making machines. Read more - members only

Hillier’s new garden centre team gets results

There has been a transformation at Hillier's garden centres in the last 18 months. Seven have a new look and feel and there is a new confidence in Hillier’s plant heritage. Read more - members only

Chris Francis with Hillier Heritage plants

Scotts puts Solus brands up for sale

After an extensive review of the Solus brands Scotts says that Chapelwood has a significant future but it will exit the remaining brands at the earliest opportunity. Read more - members only

Scotts brands

Sinclair FD steps down

Peter Williams steps down after 10 years as finance director at William Sinclair.  The company has appointed turnaround specialist, Sheryl Tye, as interim CFO. Read more - members only

Peter Williams

Kelkay completes its new plant and head office

Kelkay completes its new plant and head office with an investment of £1 million in machinery to secure its market leading position, says its managing director. Read more - members only

GMA to set new standards for growing media

As peat consumption looks to have gone up again, two new tools will demonstrate the industry's commitment to producing growing media that is fit for purpose and sourced with environmental consideration at heart. Read more - members only

William Sinclair chief exec departs with immediate effect

William Sinclair has announced the departure of Peter Rush as chief executive with immediate effect.  He is replaced by a turnaround specialist after a poor start to the spring.

Read more - members only

Peter Rush

Scotts to spend £7.5m on four TV adverts

Scotts Miracle-Gro is spending £7.5m this spring and summer on TV campaigns to drive customers in store.  The advertising will start to air week commencing 30th March. Read more - members only

Miracle-Gro Magic Start

Online retailers raise their profile

The growing presence of online retailers was clear at the Garden Press Event with two established sites and two newcomers, one launched at the show and one being mysterious about its launch plans. Read more - members only

Monthly plan from Garden Wants

What will the scribblers be viewing at Thursday’s Garden Press Event?

The country’s gardening press converge on the Barbican on Thursday to get fresh ideas to write about this spring.  What will catch their interest at the Garden Press Event? Read more - members only

Van Meuwen's Gigantomo

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