WINNERS REVEALED: GARDEN CENTRE CATERING AWARDS

After months of nominations and an extensive shortlisting process, the winners of our Garden Centre Catering Awards 2022 have been crowned.

The awards were presented at our Garden Centre Catering Forum, which was held at Haberdashers Hall in London on Wednesday 12 October.

During the day, speakers shared their insight with attendees on a range of topics facing the sector, providing advice on mitigating the impacts of food inflation, using the psychology of social media to improve posts and cutting back on food waste.

The line-up included Tammy Woodhouse, chairman at the Garden Centre Association; Hannah Dean-Wood, engagement manager at Planet Mark; Jonathan Grant, head of technical sales at Zonal; and Karen Fewell, director at Digital Blonde and more.

The Garden Centre Catering Awards 2022 were then presented, with three awards handed out:

• Garden Centre Catering's Sustainability Award
• Independent Garden Centre Caterer of the Year
• Group Garden Centre Caterer of the Year

Garden Centre Catering's Sustainability Award, sponsored by Bewley's, went to Mulberry Cafe Bosworth's Garden Centre. 

Pictured left to right: Co-owner Tania, chef Wayne, and marketing assistant Saffron

Set within the Grade II listed walls of Elton House and Gardens, the cafe has an impressive on site community garden, the seasonal produce from which is used in the kitchen.

The Independent Garden Centre Caterer of the Year Award, sponsored and presented by Bells of Lazonby, was presented to the team behind The Potting Shed Cafe.

The Potting Shed Cafe, at Russells Garden Centre is renowned in the community for celebrating all things local: from working with local producers and suppliers, to supporting local businesses and charities.

The team from the Potting Shed Cafe

Their hard work in creating a welcoming space has resulted in rave reviews from customers, and having only opened in January the team has worked exceptionally hard to create such a fantastic space. This award is testament to their great work – long may it continue.

The third and final award of the day, presented by unox, was the Group Garden Centre Caterer of the Year Award. This was won by Caulders Garden Centres. As director of the group Mandy Barrie was unable to attend, the award was collected on her behalf by the editor of Garden Centre Catering magazine, Kimberley Montellier de Selincourt.

Award collected by sponsor Unox and editor of Garden Centre Catering magazine, on behalf of Caulders 

Renowned for its freshly-made meringues, strawberry tarts and cullen skink, Caulders has its own baking kitchen and team who make all the baked goods for its centres. Added to this, the group’s “less miles, more smiles” approach to local sourcing goes as far as much of the beef coming from the director’s own family farm.

For the latest garden centre catering news and features, you can follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

We look forward to seeing you at next year's awards and forum!

You may also be interested in…