All the winners from the 2022 GIMA Awards

Westland walked away with the GIMA Sword of Excellence for its Boost All Purpose Plant Food

Retail

3 November 2022

The winners of the 2022 GIMA Awards have been announced, with Westland taking home a record-breaking eight awards. One of the most coveted awards of the night is the GIMA Sword of Excellence, and this year it was Westland who walked away with the honour for its Boost All Purpose Plant Food.

Of Westland’s win, the judges said: “Boost All Purpose Plant Food shows a company at the very top of its game. The development and marketing behind this product have delivered an all-round winner for the market.”

Elsewhere, the team from Meadow View Stone was awarded the GCA Supplier of the Year Award for the second year running. Talking about why Meadow View deserved the title once again, the GCA said: “Meadow View Stone offer exceptional customer service, even in times of high pressure, transport issues, supply shortages and last minutes changes to orders. We deal with a lot of suppliers and can honestly say we receive the best service from the team at Meadow View.”

The 2022 Gardenex Export Achievement Award was presented to Westland, with Mr Fothergill’s Seeds and Spear & Jackson enjoying finalist status. Talking about Westland, Gardenex said: “The Kent & Stowe range has seen considerable growth in export markets, despite Covid and Brexit. Sales have increased exponentially when compared to 2019 and 2020 and is showing no signs of slowing. Entering into partnerships and distributorships and investing significantly in infrastructure and personnel to assist with the growth, Westland continues to reap the benefits and expand into new markets with their traditional British designed quality tools.”

Sustainability was also high on the agenda, with not one but two companies walking away with this year’s Sustainability Award. The judges remarked: “It’s great that we have such a strong selection of sustainable products to choose from, so much so that we decided to award joint winners”. Those winners are Woolcool –the brand behind Hortiwool, and Willsow, with its plantable children’s books.

Below are the GIMA 2022 Product Award winners and shortlisted products:

Garden Care – Winner: Westland – Boost All Purpose Plant Food

Finalists: Woolcool – Hortiwool Felt Garden Pads, Hozelock – EasyMix 2-in-1 Composter, Evergreen Garden Care – Nourish & Protect range.

Category Sustainability Champion: Woolcool – Hortiwool Felt Garden Pads

Growing, Planting Equipment and Sundries – Winner: Westland – Visiroot Propagation range

Finalists: Elho – ‘Stack & Grow’ pots, Wildlife World – Plastic-Free Gardening Natural Rubber Seed Trays, Woolcool – Hortiwool Felt Garden Pads

Category Sustainability Champion: Wildlife World – Plastic-Free Gardening Natural Rubber Seed Trays

Garden Tools, Machinery and Implements – Winner: Westland – Eversharp

Finalists: EP Barrus – Anti Clog Leaf Rakes, Rollins Bulldog Tools – Bulldog /V&A Pedigree Garden Tool collaboration, Husqvarna UK – Gardena EcoLine handtools range

Category Sustainability Champion: Husqvarna UK – Gardena EcoLine handtools range

Outdoor Leisure – Winner: Garden Village – Waddington Garden Bar

Finalists: Smart Garden Products – Outside In Designs: Neptune Giant Alfresco Rug, Forest Garden – Firenze Corner Arbour, Zest – Zest Cherry Blossom Bench, Leisuregrow – Casa Mia Tempo Chiminea

Category Sustainability Champion: Smart Garden Products – Outside In Designs: Neptune Giant Alfresco Rug

Plants, Seeds and Bulbs – Winner: Westland – Nature’s Haven 1.2kg

Finalists: Westland – Lawn Meadow Wildflower & Seed Mix, Westland – Lawn Revive Lawn Thickener

Category Sustainability Champion: Westland – Lawn Meadow Wildflower & Seed Mix

Garden Landscaping – Winner: Treadstone Products – Pot & Trough Trellis

Finalists: Primeur – Eco Garden Maryland Border, Deco-Pak – EcoStone Rubber Chippings, Altico – Altico Aggregate Project Bags

Category Sustainability Champion: Primeur – Eco Garden Maryland Border

Garden Clothing & Gifts – Winner: Willsow – The Plantable Children’s Book

Finalists: Treadstone Products – ClipGlove Pruner Glove, Rollins Bulldog Tools – Bulldog /V&A Pedigree Garden Tool collaboration, Treadstone Products – ClipGlove “Handy Bags & more…”

Category Sustainability Champion: Willsow – The Plantable Children’s Book

Pet Care, Aquatics and Wild Bird Care Products – Winner: Wildlife World – Artisan Natural Bee Skeps

Finalists: Wildlife World – The Bali Island Range, Artisan Hanging Bird Table, Bee Hotel and Bird Nestbox, Wildlife World – ‘Water is Life’ Bath and Drinker, Westland – Gardman Homegrown Harvest Seed Mix

Category Sustainability Champion: Wildlife World – Artisan Natural Bee Skeps

Garden Lighting, Water Features & Ornamentation – Winner: The Solar Centre – Madison Drop Bulbs

Finalist: Woodlodge – Honey & Wild Tree Art, Smart Garden Products – Smart Solar Firefly Opal Lantern, Leisuregrow – Colour Changeable Table & Floor Lamps

Category Sustainability Champion: The Solar Centre – Madison Drop Bulbs

Decorative Pots & Planters – Winner: Primeur – Tierra Verde Recycled Rubber Flamenco Planter

Finalist: Elho – Vibia Campana Flower Twin, Elho – Greensense Aqua Care, Capi Europe BV – Waste Rib NL Collection

Category Sustainability Champion: Capi Europe BV – Waste Rib NL Collection

GIMA AWARDS 2022 – MARKETING AWARDS

Best Point of Sale Material – Winner: Westland – Boost All Purpose Plant Feed Gondola POS

Finalists: WHM Pet Group – Wild Bird Eco-Refill Pick ‘N’ Mix Wooden Cart, Treadstone Products – ClipGlove Pruner Display Stand, Elho – Display Street Concept

Category Sustainability Champion: WHM Pet Group – Wild Bird Eco-Refill Pick ‘N’ Mix Wooden Cart

Best Sustainable Product Packaging – Winner: Smart Garden Products – Useful Garden Sundries and Accessories

Finalists: Evergreen Garden Care – Bring Back to store Compost Recycling scheme, WHM Pet Group – 100% Recycled, Recyclable & Biodegradable Wild Bird Packaging range, Evergreen Garden Care – Refill stations

Category Sustainability Champions: Evergreen Garden Care – Bring Back to store Compost Recycling scheme

Best Marketing Communication & Social Media Award – Winner: Westland – Boost All Purpose Plant Feed Marketing Campaign

Finalists: Westland – ‘Peckish guide to Tits’ & ‘Check your Balls’ social media campaign, Evergreen Garden Care – Miracle-Gro: Friends over the Fence campaign, Evergreen Garden Care – Miracle-Gro: Keep Growing Campaign

GIMA Director, Vicky Nuttall said of the event: “Every year, our judging panel and I are in awe of the level of innovation and development that is brought to market; and 2022 certainly hasn’t disappointed! Congratulations to all our winners, and a thank you to everyone that entered, attended, judged, or sponsored the 2022 GIMA Awards. Your support is greatly appreciated.”

This year, the GIMA Awards winners were carefully selected by a panel of industry experts, made up of Will Blake, St Peter’s Garden Centre; David Danning, Blue Diamond Group; Kate Eckley, The Old Railway Line; Neil Grant, Ferndale Garden Centre; Sarah Hayden, John Lewis & Partners; Trevor Pfeiffer, Garden Trade News; Victoria Redshaw, Scarlet Opus, and finally, Chris Moorhouse from Wickes.

Read More: Awards GIMA New Products