GIMA Award winners announced
Last night, the garden retail industry came together to celebrate the 40th annual GIMA Awards at a black-tie event, held at the Celtic Manor Resort after a two-year hiatus. Celebrating the innovation, dedication and passion that goes into everything – from product development, to marketing campaigns and point of sale – the evening saw 17 award winners revealed.
The big award of the night – the GIMA Sword of Excellence – was, this year, awarded to the team at Elho for its Green Basics Veggie Wall 80cm. This all-in-one system, with frame and netting included, offers urban gardeners an instant growing solution and drew praise from the judges for its ease of use and ‘plug and play’ capabilities.
The 2021 GCA Supplier of the Year Award was a hotly contested award but it was Meadow View Stone who walked away with the coveted title, and the Gardenex Export Achievement Award was awarded to Wildlife World.
The GIMA Awards newest award – Sustainability – was also a hard-fought category, with Phoenox Textiles, Hygeia, Primeur and West Country Soil Improvement all enjoying finalist status. However, it was Dalefoot Compost who the judges selected as 2021 winner, describing it as, “a company that has sustainability and the environment at the very heart of what it does. As well as delivering a great peat-free product, its peatland restoration work makes Dalefoot a worthy winner of this inaugural Sustainability Award.”
GIMA director, Vicky Nuttall, said: “I would like to be the first to extend my congratulations to all of the winners and to all those that joined us to welcome the return of the GIMA Awards. It’s been so good to be back and, even more so, to see that the industry has continued to grow and develop, even when faced with incredible adversity. The entries to this year’s awards were of the highest calibre and demonstrate the perseverance and enthusiasm that continues to make garden retail one of the most exciting sectors to be part of.
“Our thanks also extend to our judges for lending us their expert eye and skilled opinion, as well as all of our sponsors; without whom the awards would be not be possible.”
GIMA AWARDS 2021 – PRODUCT AWARDS
Garden Care
Winner: Richard Jackson Garden – Plantsmith houseplant care product range
Growing, Planting Equipment and Sundries
Winner: Elho – Green Basics Veggie Wall 80cm
Garden Tools, Machinery and Implements
Winner: Stihl – STIHL HSA 26
Outdoor Leisure
Winner: Fallen Fruits – MGO Firebowl
Plants, Seeds and Bulbs
Winner: Mr Fothergill’s Seeds – RHS Flower Mixes
Garden Landscaping
Winner: Onduline Building Products Ltd – ONDULINE EASYLINE DIY roof sheets
Garden Clothing & Gifts
Winner: Richard Jackson Garden – Plantsmith Gift Boxes
Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care Products
Winner: Wildlife World – Artisan Bird Nesters
Garden Lighting, Water Features & Ornamentation
Winner: The Solar Centre – Kingsbridge Solar Wall Light
Decorative Pots & Planters
Winner: Woodlodge – Bee Kind Honeycomb and Bumbee Pots
GIMA AWARDS 2021 – MARKETING AWARDS
Best Point of Sale Material
Winner: Wildlife World – Cotswold Granaries FSDU
Best Sustainable Consumer Product Packaging
Winner: Wildlife World – Cotswold Granaries Wild Animal Food
Best Marketing Communication & Social Media Award
Winner: Evergreen Garden Care – Miracle-Gro Mental Health Awareness Campaign
