Leap into garden glory with Bradford Greenhouses as the business prepares for its 50th anniversary  

Spring is here at last, and, with the changing of the seasons, there is no better time to refresh your home. Whether you’re looking to spruce up your flowerbeds after the long winter, reinvigorate your lawn, or simply create the perfect relaxing space, Bradford Greenhouses Garden Gallery (Bradford Greenhouses) offers the very best in home and garden décor across Ontario.   

Renowned as a ‘true Canadian success story’, Bradford Greenhouses’ journey has been nothing short of extraordinary – one that is defined by hard work, passion and perseverance. It all began back in 1956 with a gentleman named Francis Ferragine, who moved from England to Canada with his wife, Chiara, and their three children. The family spent four years working as laborers for local farmers in the Holland Marsh before Francis purchased a property in Bradford in 1961. In 1975 Bradford Greenhouses opened its first retail location on Highway 11 just North of Bradford.  Eighteen years later, Bradford Greenhouses opened its first flagship store in Barrie, and the rest is history. Today, Bradford Greenhouses is a prominent player in central Ontario’s retail sector and, whilst Francis sadly passed away in 1999, his legacy continues to shine through his family and the business’ continuing success and strong roots. 

Market trends 

In 2025, Bradford Greenhouses approaches a significant milestone: its 50th anniversary in business. To find out more about how the business is blooming, Retail Merchandiser sat down with Kevin Johnson, Store Ops, who shared some exciting updates in the run up to the company’s golden year.  

“Since our inception, service, quality and selection have been the pillars of our business because they directly impact our customers’ experience and differentiate us from our competition and the big box stores,” Kevin begins. “We believe that exceptional service goes beyond just offering great products; it’s about providing personalized, knowledgeable care to help customers make the best choices for their homes and gardens. Our staff are regularly trained to ensure they have the expertise to guide customers and deliver a positive, helpful experience. We offer a range of personalized services, including custom floral arrangements, expert landscape design, and installation and maintenance services. Additionally, we host community events throughout the year, including many seasonal workshops and educational sessions, as well as numerous trade shows including the Barrie Spring and Fall Home and Garden Shows, and the Barrie Women’s Show.”   

Innovation and development are incredibly important to Bradford Greenhouses’, and these are translated into its extensive portfolio. A business proud of its heritage, Bradford Greenhouses offers the very best in Canadian horticulture, stocking a vast range of flowers, trees, fruits, house plants, tools, pots, and indoor and outdoor furniture, all whilst researching new and exciting products for its customers.  

“Our nursery carries arguably the best selection in Ontario of Canadian grown nursery items, ensuring our customers have access to unique and high-quality plants. In addition, we offer Canadian-grown annuals, perennials, vegetables and herbs,” Kevin elaborates. “Researching new products is an ongoing process that involves staying closely connected to both market trends and customer feedback. We regularly attend trade shows worldwide, industry events, and collaborate with suppliers to discover the latest innovations and products in gardening and home lifestyle. We tour throughout North America, Europe and Asia to carefully select our plants, tools, and décor from trusted suppliers to ensure that everything we offer meets the highest standards. 

“We also listen closely to our customers. Their needs and preferences are key to shaping our selection. Whether through direct feedback in-store, customer surveys or online reviews, we use this information to adjust our offerings to ensure we’re meeting their expectations.” 

Roots for Youth 

However, Bradford Greenhouses’ expansive product range is not its only area of interest for innovation. As well as renovating its Bradford location, the company has made significant investments into more sustainable practices, implementing some exciting new initiatives. Kevin tells us more: “Throughout our history, Bradford Greenhouses has struck a balance of tradition and innovation, including how we see ourselves as stewards of the environment. We have made several innovative improvements over the years, such as using insulated greenhouse shade curtains to save energy and to reduce greenhouse gases, and our state-of-the-art approach to water management and wastewater treatment facilities. Our wastewater reclamation plant was developed in partnership with numerous scientists and environmental ministry employees over two years to study and help design the project, as well as having the study published.  

“Over the past few years, we have self-funded the installation of natural gas pipelines to our growing farm to convert our heating systems from propane to gain efficiencies in heating – one of the largest overhead expenses in the greenhouse industry.  

“Internally, our growing experts consistently fine tune the science and resources available to them and we follow the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to managing our plant crops. IPM involves identifying potential pest problems through monitoring and recording weather and pest population levels and establishing thresholds to make treatment decisions to reduce pests. Strategies include a combination of biological, physical, cultural, mechanical, behavioral, and chemical controls. This method allows us to monitor targeted areas for pests, and then more accurately and selectively treat for their removal, minimizing costs and effects to the local environment.”  

Whilst being fully committed to cultivating the best environmental practises, Bradford Greenhouses is also dedicated to giving back to its local communities through its charitable foundation, ‘Roots For Youth’.  

“This charity continues the decades of fundraising efforts we enjoyed on behalf of the Children’s Wish Foundation, for whom we raised $300,000 over the previous 26 years. With Roots For Youth, the company has instituted a foundation with a mandate to help support children of families who have suffered an extreme loss,” Kevin explains. “Last Fall, we raised over $50,000 in our annual charity golf tournament, and funded the tuition for six exceptional students for the 2023-2024 school year.  

 “In addition to our support for individual students, we are currently contributing to 40 community groups and charities in our area. We support area food banks, Run for the Cure and local hospices. We continue to proudly sponsor numerous local sports teams, act as a proud corporate partner of local sports venues, and help fund the construction of the local Leisure Centre facility.” 

Anniversary event 

Continuing upon its path of excellence, the future is bright for Bradford Greenhouses. With its 50th anniversary on the horizon, Kevin is keen to reveal the company’s celebration plans, which includes an exciting event it is eager to share with its customers.  

“We’re really excited about our upcoming 50th anniversary!” Kevin exclaims. “To celebrate this significant milestone, we’ll be hosting a special ‘Sale-abration’ event. It will be a time for us to thank our loyal customers and the community who have supported us over the years. Expect great discounts on a wide range of products, from plants to garden tools, outdoor furniture, and more.  

“For 2025, our main priorities will focus on growth, community engagement, and providing exceptional service and value, especially as we navigate the current economic landscape,” Kevin describes as our conversation draws to a close. “In these challenging economic times, our goal is to deliver more value to our customers. We will focus on offering high-quality products at competitive prices, ensuring that customers can still create their dream gardens without breaking the bank.  

“We want to continue being a hub for the community, offering not just products, but experiences. Our focus will remain on delivering exceptional customer service, maintaining a curated selection of plants and products that meet evolving customer needs, and creating spaces where people feel inspired and supported. In the next five years, we hope to be seen as not just a garden center, but a cornerstone of the community, helping people to cultivate beauty, sustainability and growth in their homes and gardens.”  

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