The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is delighted to announce that Brett Avery, Managing Director of Farplants, is to join the HTA Board as Vice-President.

Originally from New Zealand, Brett was the co-founder and Managing Director of Avery Robinson Ltd, a company distributing Dyson products, for 17 years. Brett then moved to the UK and worked for Savortex Ltd, an IoT (internet of things) hand-hygiene technology company, before moving on to Farplants as the Managing Director where he has been for over 4 years. This background and experience with other consumer sectors will make Brett a valuable addition to the HTA Board. Brett is also the Chair of the Retail Suppliers Group, represents the group on the Ornamental Management Committee, and sits on the Commercial Committee.

Commenting on the appointment Boyd Douglas-Davies, HTA President, said: “We are delighted to announce Brett’s appointment to the HTA Board as Vice-President. Brett has a rather unique position in our industry in that he represents a group of growers. His strong understanding of their needs, as well as the customers they serve, means he has extensive and valuable commercial insight. This along with his consumer background will prove a real asset and addition to the HTA Board.”

Brett Avery comments: “The HTA demonstrated its vital place in the horticultural industry in recent months throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, especially through its successful lobbying for garden centre reopening and achieving a commitment from Government to a recovery and growth strategy for the sector. Communications to members have never been more important, and whilst this is an increasingly strong area for the association,  I am honoured to be able to join the team to help steer future growth and development.”

The Farplants Group is a wholesale supplier of outdoor plants to garden centres and garden centre chains in the UK. Based on the West Sussex coast near Chichester, the co-operative group has four member nurseries, each specialising in different ranges. The group now produces over 11 million plants a year on 70 hectares (170 acres) of mixed facilities with a retail value of over £50 million. Up to 500 staff are employed during the peak gardening period through the spring and early summer.

Brett’s appointment follows the recent news about Jane Lawler, Lawler Associates; Vicky Nuttall, The Garden Industry Manufacturer’s Association (GIMA); and Ken White, Frosts Landscape Construction, who joined the HTA Board in June. 

Appointments will be ratified at the forthcoming HTA AGM which will take place on 16 September.

The HTA Board consists of:-

Boyd Douglas-Davies – British Garden Centres – President
Brett Avery – Farplants Group – Vice-President
James Barnes - HTA Chairman
Alex Vick – HTA Senior Executive and Finance Director
Adam Taylor – Taylors Bulbs – Immediate Past President
Matthew Bent – Bents Garden & Home - non-executive director
Brian Fraser – Oakover Nurseries - non-executive director
Simon Fraser – Ben Reid Garden Centre - non-executive director
Bob Hewitt – Klondyke Garden Centres – non-executive director
Jane Lawler - Lawler Associates - non-executive director
Vicky Nuttall - The Garden Industry Manufacturer’s Association (GIMA) - non-executive director
Sandy Shepherd – Ball Colegrave - non-executive director
Ken White - Frosts Landscape Construction - non-executive director