GCA releases ‘encouraging’ figures
Catering sales increased by 5.43% compared with May 2025, while food hall/farm shop rose by 3.71%.
Garden Centre Association (GCA) members had an ‘encouraging’ May according to its latest Barometer of Trade figures, with catering sales increasing by 5.43% compared with May 2025, while food hall/farm shop rose by 3.71%. With highly variable weather conditions moving from cooler periods into intense heat, the industry experienced a challenging month. However, the overall result was up 3.53%.
'A really strong performance'
Peter Burks, chief executive officer of the GCA, explained: “The industry was battered and then baked in a very variable month’s weather, but the heat really helped to rescue sales with furniture and barbecues putting in a really strong performance [+28.32%] at last. This contributed to an encouraging overall result for the month of +3.53%, helping to maintain positive year-to-date growth at +1.51%.
“Despite the extreme heat, catering also performed well across the month. With some welcome rainfall at the start of June, we’re hopeful that planting activity can continue into this month.”
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