Marks & Spencer wins the 2015 Home Grown Retail Award for the promotion and support of UK-grown plants and flowers.
Marks & Spencer's Sam Shepherd collected the award following the the BPOA's recognition of M&S' efforts to support British-grown plants and flowers at both their "Blooms of the British Isles" display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015 and in-store. The award was presented by well-known plant hunter and gardens personality, Tom Hart-Dyke of Lullingstone Castle.
Sam Shepherd from Marks and Spencer collects the BPOA Home Grown Retail Award 2015. From left to right: Tom Hart-Dyke, Tracey Dunn, Sam Shepherd, Simon Davenport |
Home Grown Retail Award background
As part of the BPOA's drive to increase recognition of the Home Grown brand and, in turn, British-grown product, the BPOA's Home Grown Users Grouplaunched awards in 2014 to recognise excellence and support in growing, retailing and promoting British ornamental plants.
The first Home Grown Retailer Awardin 2014 was designed to recognise thecontributions made by a multiple retailerwith regards tothe large scale promotion of British-grown Poinsettias. This was presented to Sainsbury's at the National Plant Show in 2014 for their commitment to using 100% British Grown Poinsettias and communicating this to the buying public.
About "Home Grown"
The British Protected Ornamentals Association, with the help of the National Farmers Union, South East England Development Agency and AHDB Horticulture have worked together, and, through market research, developed the Home Grown initiative.
Subsequently, the Home Grown Users Group was created in January 2014 with the following aims in order to represent and promote British grown product:
- To represent and articulate the views of Home Grown Users
- To facilitate growth of Home Grown scheme within the industry and drive membership
- To develop cohesive brand awareness through Growers, Retail and to end consumer
Now retailers, gardeners, landscapers, local councils and associated businesses are able to identify that their supplier not only selected the best quality plants, but that they are also Home Grown in the UK. (http://www.homegrownplants.org.uk/