The UK garden centre industry celebrated 50 years of its favourite trade show at the NEC Birmingham

Leaders from the industry came together to officially open the three-day event with Derek Bunker of Alton Garden Centre in Essex, a regular Glee attendee, and television gardener David Domoney cutting the ribbon with garden shears. Derek Bunker paid tribute to the many brands and companies that have shaped the last five decades of UK garden retailing, such as ICI, PBI, and Fisons. He also said although Glee stands for Garden Leisure Equipment Exhibition, to him word meant joy and happiness. “I think what we are celebrating today is 50 years of happiness.”

Over the three days, visitors were able to meet new companies and cement existing relationships from around 400 companies in five halls, spanning all aspects of garden centre retailing from pet supplies through to garden decoration, growing accessories, gifts, tools and plants. Notably Hall 6 was home to companies based in China and Vietnam hoping to open up trade links with UK retailers. There was an overall positive buzz throughout of the show which this year has moved to September, after being held in June for a few years. The majority of exhibitors and visitors found a September show better fits with the sales and ordering patterns.

“The September date has been a real success and has enabled more independent and group retailers to access the show,” said  event director Matthew Mein. “I’m pleased we’ve also welcomed and hosted international buyers from EK Retail, which represents around 400 retailers, and others from across Europe and the Dach region.”

Innovation was easy to see with around 350 products entered into the New Product Showcase from soy candles through to a new eating apple for garden growing, Malus domestica ‘Peter’s Gold’. The overall award for Glee Best New Product of the Year went to Sipcam Home & Garden for its Ecofective Slug Stoppa. Part of a range of new pest control products, it creates an invisible barrier, when sprayed on leaves and stems, to deter slugs and snails. Additionally, the pouch packaging, with a thumb pump trigger, uses 55% less plastic and a pouch refill without the trigger is offered.

Packaging and the use of more sustainable materials was very much in evidence with many companies slowly switching to incorporating a higher percentage of recycled and recyclable product.

Communication on packaging to make it easier for gardeners to use products effectively is also improving. Evergreen has overhauled its range of lawn treatment products and seed with new packaging dividing it into products to treat a problem and those to maintain a healthy lawn. Ultimately, it’s hoped this will drive sales and increase repeat purchases.

Although peat is still offered in packs for retail sale, the number of companies with peat-free lines is increasing. Evergreen is now 100 per cent peat-free. A novel addition for growing media came from worm casts produced by Urban Wyrm. It sells the refined product in bags for gardeners to use as a mulch or add to home-made compost and has teamed up with Growmoor to offer peat based and peat free mixes which both incorporates 30 per cent worm cast.

A spotlight was shone on Surfinia petunias which won an award for being a ‘hero’ plant of the last 50 years. MNP Suntory put together a colourful display, including a new cultivar ‘Dark Yellow Morn’, and said 1.5 billion plants had been sold in Europe since it was introduced three decades ago.

Next year, Glee takes place between 16-18 September 2025 at the NEC Birmingham UK.