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24.
July
2018.
Bradford business wins five Garden Centre Association awards

Bradford business wins five Garden Centre Association awards for the second year running

 

The team at Tong Garden Centre are celebrating after winning five awards for the second consecutive year at the North East and North West regional Garden Centre Association (GCA) awards.

 

Tong collected awards in five out of nine categories for the North East region. It wonGarden Centre of the Yearin Destination Garden Centre Category, was awarded the Indoor Lifestyle Award for Best Indoor Lifestyle Retailersand theifse Award for Catering Excellence forBest Garden Centre Restaurant. The Tong Lane centre also wonThe GIMA Award forBest Garden Products retailer and theOutdoor Living Award forBest Outdoor Living Retailer. The Catering Excellence award rewards centres for theappeal of the catering offering and surroundings, hygiene, friendliness and minimum waiting periods whilst the Outdoor Living award focuses on display, range, link selling, inspiration and instore signage and information.

 

Tong's Commercial Director, Sharon McNair was delighted to receive the awards at the presentation evening at Barton Grange Garden Centre last week: "We were over the moon to win! The fact that we were only awarded membership of the GCA in May 2016, just one year after the centre was acquired by Mark Farnsworth and Tom Megginson, and have gone on to win five awards for the second year running is testament to our terrific team - they thoroughly deserve it for their continued hard work and commitment to making every visit to Tong a fabulous experience for our customers."

 

The recently appointed GCA Chairman, Mike Lind from Monkton Elm Garden and Pet Centre in Somerset, congratulated the team on their outstanding performance: "You have made remarkable progress in the three years since acquisition and your investment in the centre and in your team has paid off. You are worthy winners."

 

The GCA wins come on the back of three wins at the recent Horticulture Week Awards and being crowned Job Creator of the Year at the Bradford means Business Awards.

 

Tong's Managing Director, Mark Farnsworth concluded: "All of the accolades that are coming our way are great recognition for all the hard work that goes into the centre both before and during the season. It's really pleasing to see that we are now setting the standards in the North East."

 

The national winners will be announced at the annual GCA conference in January 2019 that will be held at Luton Hoo in Bedfordshire.

 

The GCA is an elite group of 200 garden centres that champions professionalism and membership is only awarded to businesses that pass a stringent audit covering all aspects of garden centre retailing excellence. The results of the annual audit form the basis for the awards.

 

Tong Garden Centre is one of Yorkshire's biggest garden centres with 110,000 square feet of retail space and parking for up to 1000 cars.

 

 

Ends

 

Photo: From left to right: Cath Westmoreland (catering manager); Andy Mears (centre manager) and Sharon McNair (commercial director) Team Tong with the GCA awards

 

 

For more information or to arrange an interview with Sharon McNair or a spokesman from Tong Garden Centre, please contact Tracey Baty at three60 marketing on;

 

Direct line:01430 871360

Mobile:07971 961574

E mail:traceybaty@three60marketing.co.uk

Web:www.three60marketing.co.uk

 

Notes to editors