Yorkshire garden centre doubles its toy area ahead of Christmas

An award winning Yorkshire garden centre has doubled the size of its toy department after joining a specialist buying group.

Tong Garden Centre has teamed up with Birmingham buying group AIS (Associated Independent Stores) to offer an increased range of quality toys, including leading brands like Lego and Playmobil.

Commercial Director Sharon McNair is delighted with the partnership: "Membership of AIS gives us access to brands like Lego that are difficult for garden centres to get hold of andrepresents future opportunities to expand the cook shop with access to prestige brands like Le Creuset.

"Families come from all over Yorkshire to experience the wonder of Tong's Christmas Grotto and now they will also be able to pick up some traditional board games and toys when they visit."

In addition to Lego and Playmobil, the extended toy shop will stock a range ofTY and Jellycat soft toys, Play Doh and Depeche brand, Top Model products.

Tong Garden Centre is one of Yorkshire's biggest garden centres with 110,000 square feet of retail space and parking for up to 1,000 cars.

Ends

Photo:Janice Astbury, left and Sharon McNair in the new look toy shop at Tong Garden Centre The new look toy shop at Tong Garden Centre

For more information or to arrange an interview with Sharon McNair,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

1. For more information about Tong Garden Centre, please visit www.tonggardencentre.co.uk and see the centre's Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and news online.
2. Tong Garden Centre is one of the largest independent garden centres in Yorkshire, located near Bradford in West Yorkshire. It occupies a 17-acre site near Tong village. An outdoor plant department and shopping departments filled with garden furniture, gifts, home accessories and leading brands spread across 110,000 square feet of retail space. Also on-site is the Coffee Shop, Orchard Restaurant, children's outdoor adventure playground Grass Hoppers and a newly refurbished food hall.
3. AIS is a buying group handling more than 1000 suppliers with a combined retail turnover of more than £2billion and approx. 260 members, all independently owned or small regional chains. For more information, please visit https://www.aistores.co.uk/
4. Tong Garden Centre triumphed at the North East and North West regional Garden Centre Association (GCA) awards with a haul of five awards: Garden Centre of the Year in Destination Garden Centre Category; the Dick Allen award for the Most Improved Centre; the ifse Award for Catering Excellence for Best Garden Centre Restaurant; the Gima Award for Best Garden Products retailer 2017 and the Outdoor Living Award for Best Outdoor Living Retailer.