HTA reports improved trading figures
Non-gardening categories, such as catering, continue to perform strongly.
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Market Update for September 2024 has revealed that garden centre sales were up by 8% compared to August 2023, while garden category sales were up 7%. Non-gardening categories, such as catering, continue to perform strongly, underlining the strengths of garden centres as destinations.
'The resilience of garden centres'
Fran Barnes, chief executive of the HTA, said: "Consumer confidence is supported by continued wage growth relative to inflation in the cost of goods. Pay growth was 5.1%, which exceeded inflation and boosts – which means the pound in the consumer’s pocket, to some extent, is going further than a year ago. The industry continues to face cost pressures due to trade and labour, and even though global shipping costs fell substantially in August, they remain high compared to a year ago.
“Our report shows the resilience of garden centres and their strength as community destinations, which we expect to see grow especially in the autumn months and before Christmas, although this doesn’t take away from how difficult 2024 has been for our retailers.”
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