Issued by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), the latest Market Update showed a 2% decline in January garden centre sales, compared to January 2024. However, according to the HTA, this underlying headline figure shows notable differences across various categories.

Fran Barnes, Chief Executive of the HTA, explained: “January is typically a quieter month for gardening, but the adverse weather, including storms Éowyn and Herminia, coupled with temperatures that were nearly 1°C lower than in January 2024, put additional pressure on plant sales, leading to a 12% decline in gardening category sales.

“However, slightly more sunshine and lower rainfall helped offset this, and garden centres continued to be a welcoming space for customers, with non-gardening sales rising by 3% and café revenues increasing by 6%, which provided crucial off-season income and helped maintain steady footfall.

“Looking ahead, the spring season will be pivotal. If weather conditions improve, we expect a strong rebound in plant sales. This update comes just after our Garden Press Event (GPE) with GIMA, where the strength of the UK garden retail sector was showcased, with exciting new products, plants, and initiatives, highlighting the industry’s ongoing ambition.”

The HTA launched their latest Industry Insights booklet at the GPE, which outlines that in 2024 an estimated 203 million visits were made to garden centres in 2024, with 68% of UK adults visiting at least once. Garden centre cafés and restaurants saw 148 million visits, with 56% of UK adults visiting. Plus, the garden retail sector remains robust, with £9 billion spent on garden retail products in 2023, £2 billion on outdoor plants and £700 million on houseplants.

Barnes added, “The HTA will continue to support our members, ensuring they have the insights and resources needed to navigate the months ahead and make the most of the opportunities the peak season will bring.”

HTA members can access the HTA Market Update here.