Another year and another successful Garden Centre Conference (GCA 2018)! The calibre of this year’s garden centre finalist were exceptional with the results very close…

Continuing our longstanding partnership with the Garden Centre Association, ifse again sponsored the ‘Best Restaurant in a Garden Centre Award’ at the Garden Centre Conference 2018 (GCA 2018), at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Stratford Upon Avon.

Our associate director Anne Peacock presented the prestigious award on the first night of festivities. The competition was tough and spirits were high, but this year’s ifse sponsored award went to Fron Goch Garden Centre located in Caernarfon and Webbs of Wychbold Garden Centre.

Both garden centre’s made exceptional effort in their catering displays, service and front of house design. Using innovative technology to promote the food offering and eye-grabbing displays to enhance the customer experience in their restaurants.

Anne Peacock said:

“With catering now accounting for up to 25% of business in most modern garden centres, keeping a keen eye on how to modernise and improve the customer experience in the restaurant is a must! Fron Goch and Webbs of Wychbold both deserve this award for their outstanding commitment to improving their restaurants”.

Elsewhere at the conference exhibition, the ifse team demonstrated the new Roband High Speed Grill from Metcalfe Equipment, with the help of Lee Thorndike, the development chef with the company. The versatile and efficient unit rapidly toasts sandwiches, panini and focaccia, in addition to producing beautifully seared and grilled tender meat, poultry and fish. Perfect for any garden centre looking to enhance the menu offering with a quick, easy and efficient solution, without a large price-tag!

Our team love being a part of the annual event because the garden centre industry is truely unique. There are great people from great garden centres who take huge pride in their industry and have the imagination to realize that good catering facilities can add a new dimension to their businesses.

See you at GCA 2019!