Bradford Garden Centre scoops industry award

The team at a Bradford Garden Centre are celebrating after winning a prestigious industry award for its Christmas displays and product ranges.

This week, Tong Garden Centre has been announced as the North East winner of the GCA’s (Garden Centre Association) Christmas Competition for Destination Garden Centres and will now go forward to the national competition to find the overall winner.

Tong Garden Centre co-owner, Mark Farnsworth is delighted to have won the area award: “This is fantastic news for the team and a real stamp of approval from the GCA, who set the standards for excellence in our industry. As new members, this is the first year we have been able to enter, so to win for our first attempt is terrific and a real credit to our hard-working team.”

The judging criteria includes product range, merchandising and marketing across categories ranging from trees and giftware to food and the team at Tong were commended for “A strong and professionally executed Christmas offer.”

Sharon McNair, commercial manager with overall responsibility for Christmas, added: “We begin to plan for Christmas in January to ensure we deliver fantastic choice, beautiful displays and a festive experience for our customers and this award is extremely rewarding. We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved.”

Established in 1966, the GCA champions professionalism in garden centre retailing. Every year, its 200 members throughout the UK and Northern Ireland must undergo a comprehensive annual inspection to ensure they continue to meet the stringent criteria set out by the association and therefore maintain membership.

Tong Garden Centre’s Christmas offering includes a giant Snowglobe, a magical journey to Santa, weekly tasting events and extended opening hours.