Strong Christmas sales for UK garden centre retailers

DIDCOT, UK: The UK’s Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) reported strong Christmas sales for garden centres. The organisation’s Garden Retail Monitor shows overall sales figures in the last four weeks leading up to Christmas Eve up on 2020 by between 10 per cent and 20 per cent.

Christmas ranges were up 15 per cent on 2020 and 23 per cent on 2019. Gift ranges were up 7 per cent and 12 per cent on 2020 and 2019 respectively. Catering showed a strong recovery on 2020 where much of the country was affected by tier 3 restrictions which closed their cafes and restaurants. Garden centre catering sales were up 52 per cent for the period compared with 2020, however this is down 41 per cent on 2019, which reflects the ongoing impact of the pandemic on hospitality.

While gardening sales were down by 3 per cent on 2020 these categories were up 38 per cent on 2019, reflecting a sustained interest in gardening as a leisure pursuit in the UK.