GCA releases strong results for February

The Garden Centre Association (GCA)’s Barometer of Trade figures for February showed a “very encouraging month” despite the poor weather. More than two-thirds of the categories recorded by garden centre members were up when compared to the same month in 2025, with clothing recording the largest increase – 10.48% – followed by food hall/farm shop on 9.69%. Catering showed an improvement of 8.58%.

'A very encouraging February'
Peter Burks, chief executive officer of the GCA, said: “Despite the poor weather, our members have again had a very encouraging February 2026, with the month being almost 7% up against last year and resulting in a year-to-date increase of 7.56%.

“Only two departments showed a decline in sales. There were good increases across all three gardening categories, plants, seeds and bulbs and gardening sundries. The non-gardening categories also showed up well, with good increases in gifts, clothing, food hall/farm shop and catering.

“We now move into some much more challenging figures year-on-year, as the sun started shining from early March last year and didn’t stop from then onwards.”

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