And the winner is... Garden Centre Association annual awards

THE WINNERS of the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual awards were announced at its conference this week (January 24-27, 2016).

The awards were presented to the winners during two separate ceremonies at The Grand Hotel in Brighton on Monday, January 25 and Tuesday, January 26.

Iain Wylie, Chief Executive of the GCA, said: “Each year the standards just get higher and higher and our inspectors are constantly impressed with the progress they see across the board.

“During the past year our members have worked incredibly hard to reach and maintain the very highest of standards in garden centre retail excellence and I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone on their successes.”

The GCA represents nearly 200 garden centres nationwide.

Through sharing information and its inspection programme the GCA helps members to achieve high standards in customer service, plant quality and reliability.

Julian Winfield, the new Chairman of the GCA for 2016 and 2017 and Chief Executive at Haskins Garden Centres Ltd, said: “We’re a diligent, committed, enthusiastic and hardworking industry and these awards recognise the very best garden centres in the country. Well done and congratulations to all our winners.”

The full list of winners announced on Monday, January 25 are:

· Christmas Competition (Garden Centre category) sponsored by Gisela Graham – Castle Gardens
· Christmas Competition (Destination Garden Centre category) sponsored by Gisela Graham – Barton Grange Garden Centre
· Environment and Community Award – Planters, Tamworth
· Ruxley Rose (Garden Centre category) – Cowell’s Garden Centre
· Ruxley Rose (Destination Garden Centre category) – Squires Garden Centre, Twickenham
· Barton Grange Trophy for Creativity and Innovation – Webbs of Wychbold
· Customer Service Award – Best Customer Service – Burston Garden Centre
· The Indoor Lifestyle Award – Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer (Garden Centre category) – Squires Garden Centre, Shepperton
· The Indoor Lifestyle Award – Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer (Destination Garden Centre category) – Raemoir Garden Centre
· The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer (Garden Centre category) – Garden Wise Plant & Garden Centre
· The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer (Destination Garden Centre category) – Barton Grange Garden Centre
· Overall GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer – Barton Grange Garden Centre
· Dick Allen Award (Most Improved Garden Centre) – Hilltop Garden Centre
· The IFSE Award for Catering Excellence – Best Garden Centre Restaurant (Garden Centre Category) – Creative Gardens Donaghadee in Northern Ireland
· The IFSE Award for Catering Excellence – Best Garden Centre Restaurant (Destination Garden Centre Category) – Frosts, Woburn Sands
· Weber Outdoor Living Award – Best Outdoor Living Retailer (Garden Centre Category) – Sunshine Garden Centre
· Weber Outdoor Living Award – Best Outdoor Living Retailer (Destination Garden Centre Category) Van Hage Great Amwell

The full list of winners announced on Tuesday, January 26 are:

Garden Centres of Excellence (top 10 in alphabetical order not order of inspection scores):

1. Barton Grange Garden Centre
2. Bents Garden & Home
3. Burston Garden Centre
4. Cowell’s Garden Centre
5. Garden Wise Plant & Garden Centre
6. The Old Railway Line
7. Perrywood Garden Centre
8. Planters at Bretby
9. Poplars Nursery Garden Centre
10. Raemoir Garden Centre

The Worrall Cup:

The award for Best Marketing Campaign or Initiative was won by The Old Railway Line Garden Centre.

Associate of the Year:

Taylor’s Bulbs

Garden Centre of the Year:

· Garden Wise Plant & Garden Centre

Destination Garden Centre of the Year:

· Barton Grange Garden Centre

Source : Garden Centre Association Press Release