Following a rigorous annual inspection which covers 230 different quality checks, Bents Garden & Home has been announced as Best Destination Garden Centre in the UK 2023/24. It is the second year in a run, and 8th in total, that the Garden Centre Association (GCA) has awarded Bents with this prestigious title.
The annual GCA Awards are presented following an extensive quality audit which is carried out without warning at all 204 member centres. Scores from the audit are collated to reveal regional winners, all of whom are revisited and re-audited, resulting in this fantastic national achievement for the team at Bents.
The annual audit is a requirement of all members of the GCA and is based purely on quality standards throughout the centre, not only of products and departments, but also people and service.
Says Matthew Bent, Managing Director at Bents: “We have a great team here at Bents, many of whom have been with us for over 20 years with some over 40, and all of whom work extremely hard to ensure standards remain high throughout the Centre.
“Retail in general is experiencing challenging times but we do our very best to look after our colleagues and it is thanks to them that we can achieve these standards which are so loved by our customers. This award is dedicated to our team and is a great way to say thank you for their hard work and continued dedication.”
Bents has also been recognised as a GCA Garden Centre of Excellence, one of only 10 in the country.
The annual inspection and audit process was one of the first initiatives to be introduced when the GCA was established more than 50 years ago. Every member is required to meet the highest retail standards and participate in the annual inspection to ensure these standards are maintained and improved. The results of the annual inspection are revealed every year, covering several different categories and culminating in the overall winners for Best Destination Garden Centre and Best Garden Centre.