Positive growth for UK garden centres in 2024, reports GCA

Peter Burks GCA CEO.

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has reported a strong finish to 2024, with its latest Barometer of Trade (BoT) figures showing a 3.75% increase in December sales compared to the same period in 2023. Annual sales also rose by 3.26%, highlighting the sector’s resilience and steady growth.

The GCA Barometer of Trade, a trusted benchmarking tool that collates actual sales data from member garden centres, reveals particularly strong performances in December. Hard landscaping took the lead with an impressive 35.12% year-on-year increase, followed by catering (+8.86%) and clothing (+7.46%).

Peter Burks, Chief Executive of the GCA, remarked: “2024 concluded on a positive trajectory for our members, with December sales up by 3.75% compared to 2023 and annual growth at 3.26%.

“Two-thirds of the members who submitted their data reported year-on-year increases, which is very encouraging. Key trends remained consistent, with catering, food halls, farm shops, and clothing performing strongly. Additionally, December saw notable increases in houseplants, outdoor plants, and seeds and bulbs, demonstrating the continued popularity of gardening and home-based activities.”

Sector highlights

The December results highlight growth across many categories, with hard landscaping, in particular, recording exceptional gains:

• Hard landscaping: +35.12%
• Catering: +8.86%
• Clothing: +7.46%
• Food halls/farm shops: +7.43%
• Seeds and bulbs: +4.45%
• Outdoor plants: +3.71%
• Houseplants: +2.33%

While most categories thrived, there were minor declines in garden sundries (-0.23%) and furniture and BBQs (-1.37%), reflecting some challenges in discretionary spending. Christmas sales, though down slightly for December (-1.18%), saw an annual increase of 5.25%, underscoring the enduring appeal of seasonal products.

Supporting the industry

The GCA’s Barometer of Trade continues to be an essential resource for its members, offering detailed insights into trading trends and enabling garden centres to benchmark their performance against others in the sector. Published mid-month, the report consolidates data from over 200 member centres across the UK, providing a comprehensive overview of the industry.

“The Barometer of Trade equips our members with invaluable insights to navigate a constantly changing market,” Burks added. “It highlights growth opportunities while helping garden centres adapt their strategies for success.”

Optimism for 2025

Looking ahead, the GCA is optimistic about the coming year. Burks said: “We’re anticipating an early, warm spring, which is likely to boost consumer enthusiasm and drive further growth in the sector.”

The GCA, which represents over 200 garden centres nationwide, supports its members through knowledge-sharing initiatives and an inspection programme that promotes excellence in customer service, product quality, and reliability.

For more information, visit www.gca.org.uk.