Almost 400 guests joined the Garden Industry Manufacturers Association at the Manchester Midland Hotel last Thursday (July 1) to celebrate the 2010 GIMA Awards and to toast the winners.
The event was 'kicked off' in style with Expansion Team, a footballing duo who wowed the crowds with their ball skills. Gardening celebrity Joe Swift hosted the evening's presentations (and kept control of the boisterous and excited crowd!) while entertainment was provided by comedian Paul Thorne.
The big winners on the night were The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, who scooped five awards for patch Magic, including the much coveted GIMA Sword of Excellence, and Hug Rug, which took home three awards for its eco-friendly barrier mat. Solus meanwhile took home the Garden Centre Association Supplier of the Year Award.
The evening was a charitable success too, with more than £3,000 raised from two prize draws for industry charity Greenfingers. GIMA also used the event to present another cheque to the charity - an incredible £7,219, the proceeds of the recent GIMA Charity Golf Day.
A full winners list is published below:
GIMA awards winners 2010
Garden Care
Winner
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Patch Magic
Finalists
Bayer Garden Baby Bio Herbs
Vital Earth Chicken Poo
Equipment and Sundries
Winner
Smart Solar Utility light
Finalists
Garden Innovations Growpot
Hozelock Ultra Metal range
Tools and Implements
Winner
Cuprinol Powerpad
Finalists
Fiskars Servo grass shear
Solus Yeoman glass fibre tools range
Outdoor Leisure
Winner
Solus Camelot Pic Director and Deck Chairs
Finalists
Town & Country portable barbecues
RKW Stainless Steel Bug Zapper
Garden Machinery
Winner
Hozelock Compact 100 pressure washer
Finalists
Bosch battery-powered Hedge Shear
Bosch battery-powered Hedge Cutter
Growing Products
Winner
Suttons grafted vegetable plants
Finalists
Westland Gro-Sure seed range
Leisuregrow Erin Eco grow kit
Garden Landscaping
Winner
M&M Timber premium poultry ark
Finalists
ACO Home and Garden Groundguard shed base
Forest Garden mini greenhouse
Garden Retail Related Products
Winner
Hug Rug eco-friendly barrier mat
Finalists
Smart Solar RHS clocks
Solus Woodland Wilf hobby range
Petcare, Aquatics and Wild Birdcare
Winner
Wildlife World MiniBug range
Finalists
Smart Solar Sunjet 500
Hozelock Aquaforce
Environmental Award
Winner
Hug Rug eco-friendly barrier mat
Finalists
Wildlife World MiniBug range
Garden Innovations Growpot
Sword of Excellence
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Patch Magic
Best Supplier's Information Website
Winner
Vital Earth -
www.thegreengardener.com
Finalists
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company -
www.lovethegarden.com
Westland -
www.trade.gardenhealth.com
Best Point of Sale Material
Winner
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Patch Magic POS
Finalists
STV International The Big Cheese touchscreen
Solus Chapelwood Vermin protected display unit
Best Consumer Product Packaging
Winner
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Patch Magic 'Golden Shaker' jar
Finalists
STV International Defenders branded products
Westland Gro-Sure Seed
Best Consumer Marketing
Winner
Westland Unwins seed range
Finalists
Westland Aftercut lawn feed and conditioner
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Weedol Rootkill Plus
Marketing Award of Excellence
Joint Winners
Westland Unwins Seed Range
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Patch Magic 'Golden Shaker' jar
Gardenex Exporter of the Year
Winner
Hug Rug
Runners Up
Mr Fothergill's Seeds Ltd
Trans-Continental Group Ltd
GCA Supplier of the Year
Solus Garden and Leisure