Fifteen fantastic new garden and pet product innovations have been confirmed as this year’s winners of the highly-coveted Glee New Product Showcase. The winning products were announced at a special award presentation organised and run by Garden Trade News at the leading garden retail event, Glee, which takes place this week (28th – 30th June, NEC Birmingham).
Over 300 entries were received across the 12 categories, with suppliers from across the garden retail sector eager to showcase the innovation that has kept product development teams occupied over the past 18 months during lockdown.
These eager teams all took to ‘The Stage’, Glee’s dedicated seminar hub, yesterday (Tuesday 28th) and today to pitch to the judges the feature and benefits of their latest products in the hope of being crowned this year’s winners.
It was then the work of this year’s panel of judges – Gill Ormrod – Rosebourne Garden Centres; Mel Livingstone – Fron Goch; Andy Bunker – Alton Garden Centre; Ian Hodgson – Garden News; Nicci Gow – Retired garden centre owner; Elliott Kirby – RHS Wisley and YPHA member; Lilidh Matthews – primrose.com and YPHA member, and Roger Crookes – Pughs Garden Centres – to carefully deliberate on the merits of each entry, before crowning the individual category winners and three ‘champion of champions’ awards at today’s official Glee New Product Showcase ceremony.
Glee New Product Award Winners and Shortlisted Products 2022
Garden Plants, Seeds & Bulbs
Shortlisted:
• Cryptomeria jap. 'Kyara Gold’ - Golden Grove
• Clematis Lavallee - New Leaf Plants
• Unwins Pea and Bean Box - Westland Unwins
Winner: Golden Grove - Cryptomeria jap. 'Kyara Gold’
Growing Materials
• Harmony Gardens Ericaceous Compost - Southern Trident Limited
• Organic Superfood - Sipcam Home and Garden
• Byofix - Dyofix
• Miracle-Gro® 2 in 1 Nourish & Protect Flowers, Fruit & Veg Plant Food - Evergreen Garden Care (UK) Ltd
• Plantsmith Fortifying Houseplant Tonic - Plantsmith
• Peat Free Compost Booster - Sipcam Home and Garden
Winner: Sipcam Home and Garden - Peat Free Compost Booster & Organic Superfood
Wild Bird Care and Wildlife Products
• Bali Island Range - Wildlife World
• Bermuda My First Pond Kit - Bermuda
• Flo Festival™ - Jacobi Jayne & Company
Winner: Bermuda - Bermuda My First Pond Kit
Garden Leisure & Entertaining
• Garden Bar and Two Stool Set - Zest
• Garden Pizza Oven Table - Zest
• Iris Bistro Set - Streetwize Accessories
Winner: Zest - Garden Bar and Two Stool Set
Homewares, Giftware, Toys & Games, and Clothing
• Bertie - Airflow Ltd
• Plantsmith Houseplant Care Set - Plantsmith
• Primus Mini Wallace & Gromit Garden Sculptures - Primus
• TP Wooden Deluxe Potting Bench - Mookie Toys
Winner: Plantsmith - Plantsmith Houseplant Care Set
Garden Tools & Machinery
• Burgon & Ball 9L Waterfall watering can, charcoal grey - Burgon & Ball
• FloPro Can-Can - Westland Unwins
• Greenworks 24V 33cm Cordless Lawnmower & 25cm Line Trimmer Lawn Starter Kit - Handy
Winner: Westland Unwins - FloPro Can-Can
Garden Decoration
• Hydria Fountain Kit - Hydria Life
• Keep Safe Parcel Store - Zest
• Smart Solar TriSol LimeLight - Smart Garden Products Limited
Winner: Hydria Life - Hydria Fountain Kit
Garden Growing Containers
• EcoMade Ocean Reclaimed Planter - Woodlodge Products
• Clever pots downpipe pot – orchid - Clever Pots
• Kensington Double Wheelie Bin Storage - Cotswold Timber Products
• Tiered Planters - Barrus
Joint Winners: Barrus - Tiered Planters
Woodlodge Products - EcoMade Ocean Reclaimed Planter
Landscaping & Garden Buildings
• Alpine Collection in Large Bags - Meadow View Stone Limited
• Potstars Outdoor Living Range - Meadow View Stone Limited
• Recycled Rubber Mower Edge Border - Primeur Ltd
Winner: Meadow View Stone - Alpine Collection in Large Bags
Retail Services & Experiences
• Compost Bag Recycling Bin - Evergreen Garden Care (UK) Ltd
• Garden Connect AR - Garden Connect Ltd
• Garden Essentials Merchandising Solution (GEMS) - Westland Unwins
• Refill Stations - Evergreen Garden Care (UK) Ltd
• Westland Live - Westland Unwins
Winner: Westland Unwins - Westland Live
Pet Products
• PARK LiFE Fris-Bix - PARK LiFE PET LIMITED
• Scruffs® Classic Long Eared Dog Bowl - Scruffs
• Zoon Treat & Seek Farm Friends - Smart Garden Products Limited
Winner: PARK LiFE PET LIMITED - PARK LiFE Fris-Bix
Growing Accessories
• 30 cell natural rubber seed cell tray - Wildlife World
• Gro-Sure Visiroot 12 Tray Growhouse - Westland Unwins
• Wicked Waterer LED Moisture Sensor - Mayhem UK Ltd
Winner: Wicked Waterer LED Moisture Sensor - Mayhem UK Ltd
Best of British Award
Winner: Airflow Ltd - Bertie
Sustainability Award
Winner: Wildlife World - 30 cell natural rubber seed cell tray
Best in Show
Winner: Westland Unwins - FloPro Can-Can
Matthew Mein, Glee Event Director confirmed: “Another year and another amazing opportunity to celebrate the hard work and creativity of our industry. This year’s winners’ roster is stronger than ever, with an impressive lineup of new products that are set to ignite new sales opportunities for retailers as well as enticing consumers with products that make gardening easier, more enjoyable and full of swoon-worthy products that also make gardening more sustainable. Huge congratulations to all our winners, those shortlisted and everyone that entered. Together you have made this year’s Glee New Products one of our best yet!”
Glee will be open throughout Thursday 30th June, meaning there is plenty of time left to visit the show and see the latest market innovations for yourself. There will be another day of vital business content at The Stage and you can also enjoy Floral Thursday and the accompanying Greenfingers Charity Draw by donning your best flowery item of clothing, be it socks, shirt, jacket or dress and celebrating this wonderful charity with your industry friends and colleagues.
Find out more
More details about Glee 2023 – which will take place June 27th-29th – will be announced soon. To find out the latest news log onto www.gleebirmingham.com. For details on exhibiting at Glee, call +44 (0)203 3545 9752.