DINERS and early Christmas shoppers
turned to our member garden centres for their refreshments and festive
purchases in October (2013) with sales in both categories up on the same month
last year.
According to our (GCA) Barometer of Trade
(BoT) catering sales were up by 7.35%, Christmas sales by 7.11% and gift
purchases by 6.49% as compared to October 2012.
Our Chairman, Peter Burks, explained: “Although
the figures are not stunning they are going in the right direction during what
has been a tough year for all of us in retail. Catering is still performing
well and anyone who doesn’t have a professional café or restaurant ought to be
thinking about investing in one.
“Our customers may still need to feel
more confident about the economy to spend more in other areas of the garden
centre but they are definitely happy to eat out and to meet friends and family
for a tea or coffee and cake in our restaurants.
“Christmas seems to have come early at
our member garden centres too, which is very positive. We’re heartened to see
the hard work of members, who have spent weeks creating wonderful, cheerful
displays and special Christmas events, pay off this month.”
