Over the last six decades, Hozelock has become a leading garden centre brand – and it has plans to continue its influence with a focus on sustainability, as head of marketing Chris Hodges explains.
How was the brand first founded?
The brand was first founded in 1959 by the Codling family, on an airfield in the village of Haddenham. Starting with the world’s first all plastic hose connector – the Hoze-lock – the brand has grown over the years with a strong focus on quality and innovation.
How has it developed since?
Hozelock has expanded into a variety of categories, such as hose systems, automatic watering and more recently natural gardening. As a family run business and active UK manufacturer, Hozelock is proud to be the UK’s leading garden watering brand.
Are there POS options available for retailers?
Our field sales team work closely with our retail partners to support all merchandising requirements. We offer an extensive range of permanent and off fixture displays that provide an effective platform to showcase and sell the Hozelock brand.
What is the latest launch from Hozelock?
After the launch of the EasyMix 2-in-1 Composter in 2022, which expanded our natural gardening product line, we have introduced several new watering products this year. These include an enhanced sprinkler solution, a newly designed and improved nozzle, and even an outdoor shower.
The improved oscillating sprinklers meet the demand for a reliable, easy-to-use and sustainable watering solution. The new AquaSaveTM sprinklers offer 3D control by giving users full flexibility so they can manage the width, direction and range of flow– reducing water wastage associated with sprinklers.
Is sustainability/reducing water usage a focus for the brand?
We’re committed to increasing the sustainability of our products, packaging and manufacturing processes and we’re making big steps to improve our carbon footprint.
One significant change we’ve made is to our core range of knitted hoses. These are now made from 40% recycled PVC, with the ongoing goal to increase this up to 70% by 2024.
Over the last eight years, we have also entered a range of new categories enabling consumers to garden more sustainably, offering chemical-free alternatives to weeding, promoting homemade natural solutions and expanding options in composting.
We regularly assess our packaging throughout our product range. Our efforts have resulted in the removal of over 95t of single-use plastic packaging. Additionally, we strive to use recycled materials from sustainable sources, with packaging that is easily recyclable or compostable.
In addition to carrying out a detailed forensic carbon audit, we have also introduced internal project teams with employees from all areas of the business, who have been empowered to make changes in relation to sustainable business practice.
What else can we expect from Hozelock this year?
Hozelock has a proven track record of innovating products, and we rely on valuable feedback from customers and retailers to help fuel our innovation. Our commitment to sustainability will remain a top priority as we continue to develop cutting-edge solutions over the next year and beyond.
