Garden centre given lift by grow your own trend

Feb 18 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A GARDEN centre owner says the trend for local food – as promoted by The Journal’s Taste campaign – is boosting his business.

Alan Cowell, who runs Cowell’s Garden Centre in Woolsington near Newcastle Airport, says there is renewed interest from people who want to grow their own vegetables.

Cowell, who has up to 50 staff including seasonal workers, said: “There’s been a big upsurge in grow your own vegetables. People know whether they are spraying or not, they know where it has come from. Five years ago, we could hardly sell a packet of vegetable seeds. Things have changed dramatically.

“In the last couple of years there has been a dramatic turnaround. It’s been turned on its head in terms of value for money – we now sell packets of vegetable seeds three or four to one compared to flower seeds.

“It’s a lifestyle thing – people are being bombarded by what they need to do from newspapers, magazine and cookery programmes – the likes of Jamie Oliver have made a difference.”

The trend is one that the supermarkets have so far been unable to fully exploit, unlike many other aspects of Mr Cowell’s business. He said small firms cannot compete against the might of the multiples.

“They jump in at Christmas and all the good times. How can you possibly beat them?” said Mr Cowell, a former sub-postmaster who has been running the garden centre for 30 years. “Their adverts cover every one of their stores. Supermarkets will not go away. They choose the lines and they choose the days, and they have got such a clout. We’ve got to try to beat them on quality of service and knowledge.”

The Competition Commission has announced plans to appoint an ombudsman to resolve disputes between supermarkets and their suppliers. They will be able to award compensation to suppliers and ensure the multiples follow the Supermarket Code of Practice. The Commission put forward its new proposals on Friday after a two-year investigation into the grocery industry.