The Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) for March, released on April 21, shows members achieved “robust sales” and a positive year-to-date performance.
Food hall and farm shop sales led the way, increasing by 5.37% compared with March 2025, followed by catering at 3.89%.
GCA CEO Peter Burks said: “A very robust sales result was recorded overall at -3.77% for the month, given that March 2025 was an amazing 26.9% up on March 2024.
“This year’s very variable weather could have resulted in much poorer sales. As expected, gardening categories took the hit, but non-gardening categories were all positive, helping to reduce the shortfall.”
He said this highlights why members have diversified into these categories – to support performance during more challenging months. He noted: “We’re still waiting for the peak spring season to take off but fortunately, the later it comes, usually the bigger it is. So there is still all to play for. Plus, year-to-date sales are up 1.69%, which is good news.”
Clothing ranked third among BoT’s categories in March, up 1.62%%, followed by gifts, which rose by 1.58% compared with March 2025.
Categories that recorded declines included seeds & bulbs (-2.11%), furniture & BBQs (-2.75%), houseplants (-6%), garden sundries (-6.63%), pets & aquatics
(-6.69%), outdoor plants (-10.95%), and hard landscaping (-17.85%).
The GCA’s BoT reports are based on actual sales data from member garden centres and provide an up-to-date trading position statement.
The GCA represents more than 200 garden centres nationwide and supports its members in maintaining high standards in customer service, plant quality, and reliability through information sharing and its inspection programme.
