GCA Unveils 2023 North Thames Award Winners

THE GARDEN Centre Association (GCA) yesterday (Thursday, July 13) unveiled its winners for the North Thames region during a presentation at Poplars Garden Centre in Bedfordshire. 

Perrywood Garden Centre, Tiptree won Garden Centre of the Year in the Destination Garden Centre (DGC) category while Perrywood, Sudbury picked up the accolade in the Garden Centre (GC) category. 

Peter Burks, GCA CEO, said: “This was the last of our 2023 summer Area Awards and it’s been a spectacular set of events. We’d like to thank the team at Poplars Garden Centre for hosting a fantastic event and to our inspector, Alyson Haywood, for her crucial feedback from her inspections, which we know our members will take on board for the future.” 

Alyson inspected member garden centres during the spring. 

She said: “It was a privilege to visit the centres in the North Thames region and great to see the improvements, changes and refreshes that have been carried out since my last visits in 2018.

“The garden centres in the North Thames GCA region, strive to be the retail destinations their customers go to for creativity, innovation and exceptional plant ranges.  With dedicated, enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff across all departments, the standard throughout the region was very high.” 

The full results for the North Thames region GCA area awards are as follows for the GC and DGC categories: 

Garden Centre of the Year: Perrywood, Tiptree (DGC) and Perrywood, Sudbury (GC)

Customer Service Award for Best Customer Service: Ayletts Nurseries

Environment and Sustainability Award sponsored by Savills: Perrywood, Tiptree

The Barton Grange Trophy for Commercial Innovation and Creativity: Perrywood, Tiptree

The Dick Allen Award for Most Improved Centre: Thurrock Garden Centre

The Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant: Thetford Garden Centre (DGC) and Thurrock Garden Centre (GC)

The GIMA Award for Best Garden Products Retailer: Thetford Garden Centre (DGC) and Perrywood, Sudbury (GC)

The Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailer: Perrywood, Tiptree (DGC) and Perrywood, Sudbury (GC)

The Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer: Alton Garden Centre (DGC) and Stanway Garden Centre (GC)

Houseplants: Perrywood, Tiptree (DGC) and Webbs Milletts Farm (GC)

Plantaria (Ruxley Rose): Perrywood, Tiptree (DGC) and Perrywood, Sudbury (GC).

The GCA represents more than 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.

For further information, please visit www.gca.org.uk.

Source : Garden Centre Association

Image : Perrywood Tiptree Garden Centre - GCA winners

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