MAGAZINE
Following a superb summer, autumn certainly seems to have arrived with a vengeance, almost as if someone flicked a seasonal switch straight after the August bank holiday. While we Brits do love a moan about the weather, the proliferation in precipitation won’t be regarded as being bad news for all.
Indeed, Peter Burks from the Garden Centre Association attributes the warmer weather as having contributed to sluggish sales over the summer period (page 50). The good news, however, is that catering continues to lead the way, having grown by 8.32% compared to the period a year previously. Not only that but foodhall/farm shop sales were close behind, up by 6.38%.
If you want to give your outlet an even bigger boost, you need to enter our Garden Centre Catering Awards ASAP. There are four categories to submit in – free of charge – though be warned, the deadline is 10th October.
And don’t just take my word for it. On page 12 I speak to Steph Harrison from Yorkshire Garden Centres about their win in the Sustainability section last year. She tells me: “This means a lot to our team. To have their efforts recognised helps to keep building the momentum.”
If you want to follow in their footsteps, go to gardencentrecateringawards.co.uk now. Good luck to all who enter!
