20 Sep 2021

Glee Buyers Power List 2021: the winners!

Glee Buyers Power List 2021: the winners!

The winners of the prestigious Glee Buyers Power List for 2021 were announced this afternoon (Wednesday September 15th) from The Stage content theatre at the show, which is still running at the NEC, Birmingham until Thursday September 16th.

The Glee Buyers Power List is designed to recognise the individual buyers and buying teams who have gone above and beyond to make a difference within the garden retail industry over the year – two years, in fact, as this is the first in-person edition of Glee to have been held since 2019.

Voting has been open since early summer, with over 1,000 nominations flooding in from all corners of the market from those who were eager to recognise the extraordinary efforts made by retail professionals throughout an unprecedented period for the garden centre trade and country as a whole.

Speaking at the Glee Buyers Power List awards ceremony, which was well attended by retailers and suppliers alike, Glee's Event Director Matthew Mein said: “The Glee Buyers Power List was set up to recognise some of the most essential of our industry employees - garden retail buyers. After the most challenging of times for retail in general we are particularly proud to announce this year's winners, who've done so much to keep trade buoyant and in good shape as we carve out a new normal.  The biggest possible congratulations are due to all the very worthy winners and the many excellent shortlisted nominees.”

The full list of winners is as follows:

Landscape Buyer/Buying Team of the Year

Winner: Dan Kirby – British Garden Centres

Shortlist:

  • John Birch – Baytree Garden Centre
  • David Danning - Blue Diamond
  • Paul Smith - Chessington Garden Centre
  • Scott Provan – Klondyke
  • Mick Bruniges – Oaktree Garden Centre
  • Jack Slater – Summerseat Garden Centre
  • Michelle Thompson – Thompsons Garden Centres

Plant Buyer/Buying Team of the Year

Winner: Marcus Cousin – Aylett Nurseries

Shortlist:

  • Andy Bunker – Alton Garden Centre
  • Will Clark – Barton Grange
  • Tom Cook, Rod Austin & Julian Palphramand - British Garden Centres
  • Mel Livingstone - Fron Goch
  • Jessica Logan – RBG Kew

Garden Care Buyer/Buying Team of the Year

Winner: Duncan Wills – Stewarts Garden Centre

Shortlist:

  • Derek Bunker – Alton Garden Centre
  • Andy Matthews & Paul Williams – British Garden Centres
  • Ian Underwood – B&Q
  • Keith Wilbin – Downtown Garden Centre
  • Matt Shorter - Longacres
  • Ross Allen – Milestone Garden Centre

Outdoor Leisure Buyer/Buying Team of the Year

Winner: Darran Oakley – Squire's Garden Centre

Shortlist:

  • Ian Richardson - Garsons
  • Keith Laird – Hayes Garden World
  • Matt Shorter – Longacres
  • Peter Self – Whitehall Garden Centres

Home & Gift Buyer/Buying Team of the Year

Winner: Emma Davis – British Garden Centres

Shortlist:

  • Sarah Cooksley – Dobbies
  • Claire Jenner - Frosts
  • Geoff Stapleton – Gates Garden Centre

Pet Buyer/Buying Team of the Year

Winner: Paul Smith – Chessington Garden Centres

Shortlist:

  • Sue Shaw - B&M
  • Zack Sargent – Bents Garden & Home
  • Chessington Garden Centre
  • Dan Reep – Squires Garden Centres

Retail Food & Drinks Buyer/Buying Team of the Year

Joint winners: Claire Bryce – Barton Grange Garden Centre / Longacres Garden Centre

Shortlist:

  • Melanie Sykes - Bents
  • Phil Hales – Gates Garden Centre

Christmas Buyer/Buying Team of the Year

Winner: Chris Slack – Frosts Garden Centre

Shortlist:

  • David Danning - Blue Diamond
  • Michelle Martin – Haskins
  • Stuart Whalley – Rosebourne

Overall Multiple Garden Retailer Buying Team of the Year – six stores or more

Winner: British Garden Centres

Shortlist:

  • Blue Diamond
  • British Garden Centres
  • Caulders
  • Dobbies
  • Hillier Garden Centres
  • Klondyke
  • Notcutts
  • Squires Garden Centres

Overall Independent Garden Centre Buying Team of the Year – up to five stores

Winner: Aylett Nurseries – winners for the second year running

Shortlist:

  • Alton Garden Centre
  • Gates Garden Centre
  • Haskins
  • Longacres
  • Rosebourne Garden Centres
  • Thompsons Garden Centres
  • Webbs

Matthew Mein added: “I would also like to thank all those who took time to vote for their retail superstar, every one of whom deserved to be recognised. Hard-working retail staff are the lifeblood of our industry and I'm delighted so many people also felt they deserved to be recognised at the Glee Buyers Power List Awards.”

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