Global gardeners wowed by Ireland and growing garden centre industry
In Ireland for the international congress of the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA), the visitors from as far afield as China, India and Estonia have been hugely impressed by the quality of Ireland’s horticulture product, the activities for visitors to garden centres, and the quality of Irish food and entertainment.
A first time visitor to Ireland, Andrew Jones, a garden centre owner in Melbourne, said: “While the industries in Ireland and Australia have similarities, the garden centres here have moved to more of a department store feel, being more spacious and provide homeware and food offerings.
“The age profile of the industry is also quite young. I have gathered many learnings to take back with me,” he said.
Bord Bia is supporting the association in hosting the visiting congress delegates, whose visit is focused on sharing horticulture ideas.
Ireland’s total gardening market has a retail value estimated to be over €500m, with the plant and flower category making up around 40% of this value.
The crops in the Irish amenity sector had a farm gate output valued at €43m in 2013 while exports of amenity horticulture crops were valued at €14m.
“It is the first time in the association’s 56-year history that Ireland has held the presidency, and we are looking at best practice in our centres and collating information on how the industry is working all over he world,” said association president Rachel Doyle.
“The biggest gain is sharing information with like-minded people. Delegates have been sharing marketing strategy ideas, and discussing everything from succession planning right through to promotion activities in garden centres.
She said: “A lot of them have been blown away by all aspects of our garden centres and the social events.”
On Monday, delegates attended a function hosted in Mansion House, attended by President Michael D Higgins. It was the first time that the president of the country attended an IGCA congress.
Delegates also attended a gala dinner in Carton House.
Ronald Brand, who works for an international horticulture trading company said: “Ireland’s industry has a different approach to the rest of Europe, both garden centres and nurseries have personalised business models.
“For all the garden centres and nursery growers we visited, the benchmark was very high, however the experiences were different. Each garden centre focused on a seasonal and specialised approach as opposed to the traditional range,” he said
Over the coming days, delegates will meet horticulture experts and growers and learn about Bord Bia awarded garden centres and Bord Bia quality-assured nurseries.
