Selected from hundreds of entries before Glee opened its doors Sept. 14-16 in NEC Birmingham, UK., the winning products were chosen by an expert panel of judges, representing multiple independent retailers, the media and international suppliers.
Entries were submitted into nine key garden retail categories, including:
• Best Garden Care (Accessories) Product
• Best Machinery and Tool Product
• Best Plants, Seeds, and Bulbs Product
• Best Garden Care (Chemicals, Fertilisers and Compost) Products
• Best Pet and Wildlife Product
• Best Leisure Product
• Best Catering and Speciality Product
• Best Landscaping and Construction Product
• Innovation Award
One further award, the Retailers' Choice Award, will be announced on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 10:00am. Retailers visiting the Glee New Product display are invited to vote for their favourite product after viewing the entries on display. Voting is open now and will close Tuesday evening.
An additional ‘Innovation Award’ was also added to the award program for 2015. Created in response to industry feedback, this new award celebrates innovation from the 500+ exhibitors which will be filling Glee in 2015.
Judges considered each entry on a range of criteria, including innovation, design, quality, environmental credentials, pricing and retail potential – resulting in some hot debates and close runners-up in a number of categories.
On the judging panel were: Brian Archibald (Coolings), Tony Kersey (Homebase), Marcus Cousins (Aylett Nurseries), Kevin Waters (The Garden Works), Conna Powles (Haskins), Michelle de Lavis-Trafford (Choice), Gábor Knorr (British Garden), Yvonne Ritchie (Brechin Castle) and Trevor Pfeiffer (Garden Trade News).
All entries can be found in a single central located ‘new products hub’ within the heart of Glee’s location with halls 17 – 20.
Winners’ round-up
Best Garden Care (Accessories) Product Winner: Cloud Controller, Hozelock
First runner up: Solar Powered Eureka! Lightbulb lantern, Smart Garden Products Ltd
Second runner up: 3 Pattern Spray Ball
Best Machinery and Tools Product Winner: Baksaver Barrow, Baksaver Barrows
First runner up: Batavia Multishifter
Second runner up: Duraball, The Walsall Wheelbarrow Company Ltd
Best Plants, Seeds and Bulbs Winner: Raspberry Ruby Beauty, Wyevale Nurseries
First runner up: Nemesia Sunpeddle Painted Rose, Channel Island Plants (UK) Ltd
Second runner up: Gro-Sure Sow Smart, Westland Horticulture
Best Garden Care Chemicals, Fertilisers and Composts Product Winner: Sylvagrow Compost 100%, Melcourt Industries
First runner up: Rootgrow Ericoid Mycorrhizal Fungi, Plantgrow
Second runner up: Sea Maid Calcified Seaweed Meal, Mydas
Best Pet & Wildlife Product Winner: Loktop 2 Port Mealworm Feeder, Petface
First runner up: Tweetie Feeder, VegTrug
Second runner up: Hobnail glass bird range, Fallen Fruits
Best Home, Gift & Clothing Winner: Occasions Gift Range, Spear & Jackson
First runner up: Lovers Umbrella, Fallen Fruits
Second runner up: Buttacup Flow
Best Leisure Product Winner: Outdoor pouffe, Fallen Fruits
First runner up: ONJA, Rosker Ltd.
Second runner up: Solar Bulb Stake and String Lights, Gardman
Third runner up: Brighton Corner Arbour, Zest 4 Leisure
Best Catering & Speciality Food Product Winner: Findlater's Gluten Free Bread
Runner up: Smoke It All
Best Landscaping & Construction Winner: Miniature World Range, Vivid Arts
First runner up: RHS Gardeners Collection, Kelkay
Second runner up: Noocity Growbed
The show has welcomed buyers from a wide range of retailers including Haskins, Homebase, Squire's, QVC, Klondyke, Stax, Decco, Scotsdale/ Tillington, Blue Diamond Group, Choice Marketing, Webbs of Wychbold, Aylett's and Otter Nurseries. Opening times: Tuesday 9a.m. to 6p.m., Wednesday 9a.m. to 4p.m.