After serving 10 years on the GIMA Council, Kate Ebbens has been voted in as GIMA President for the 2024 and 2025 term.  Craig Hall of Deco-Pak takes over the Vice President role and the GIMA Council expands with two new co-opted members joining.

The 2024 GIMA Annual General Meeting, held on 12^th May via video conferencing, saw 18 GIMA members vote Kate and Craig into their respective honorary roles and officially welcomed two new co-opted Council members; Nigel Thompson of Sipcam and Patrick Thick of Ames UK.  Also continuing in their honorary roles of Secretary and Treasurer will be Mark Butler of Vitax and DLF’s Guy Jenkins respectively.  

Following her election Kate gave a short address saying ‘I have been lucky enough to work in our incredibly supportive industry for 25 years now, and during my 11 years as a GIMA member I have benefited from some tremendous support from the association.’  She continued ‘During my time as President I hope to ensure all members understand the benefits GIMA offer and I want to encourage greater participation.  I also want to help members connect with retailers, especially in the current economic climate and against the backdrop of unpredictable weather patterns.  Finally, I would like to thank Jenny Douthwaite who has been an outstanding President for GIMA and who passes the association onto me in a very healthy position.’

Working closely with the GIMA team headed up by Vicky Nuttall, GIMA Director, the full GIMA Council for 2024/2025 will be made up of the following representatives:

• Jenny Douthwaite, Primeur – President
• Kate Ebbens of Capi Europe – Vice President
• Guy Jenkins, DLF – Honorary Treasurer
• Mark Butler, Vitax – Honorary Secretary
• Craig Hall, Deco-Pak
• Chris Ramsden, Hozelock
• Dan Durston, Durston Garden Products
• Martin Tompsett, Rollins Bulldog Tools
• David Nicholson, Elho
• Phil Harrison, Evergreen Garden Care.
• Edd Cantle of Gardena
• Simon Davison of Zest Outdoor Living
• Patrick Thick of Ames UK (co-opted)
• Nigel Thompson (co-opted)

GIMA Treasurer, Guy Jenkins gave a short report on the 2023 GIMA year-end accounts, reporting a profit after tax and depreciation of £16k for the year.  Commenting on the result, Guy said “Following our very strong post pandemic performance in 2022, we have now returned to more modest level of profit, which never the less continues to enable us to build our reserves. We have also put in place a rolling plan to invest GIMA funds in high interest medium notice accounts while leaving sufficient funds available in our current account to meet our day to day running costs.’

Membership of GIMA is open to all manufacturers and suppliers of products to the garden retail sector, with a UK or EU base.