Zest Unveils Its Latest Innovations At Glee

Timber garden furniture, outdoor structures and GYO specialist, Zest unveiled a whole series of innovations at Glee 2023, describing the show as ‘fabulous.’ 

Managing director, Steve Morgan explained:

“We had several new initiatives to share with the trade including innovative product design, additional marketing support and the latest developments in manufacture and transportation resulting from our sustainability programme.  We were inundated with visits from customers old and new and received masses of positive comments.” 

With an emphasis on outdoor relaxation, entertainment, and life at one with nature, Zest’s product development is based on the latest consumer trends for outdoor living and greater environmental commitment. 

With all products designed by the in-house team, Glee not only provided an ideal showcase for Zest’s new range, but also its recent work in improving existing best-sellers and enabling greener packaging and more eco-friendly transportation and home delivery.

The new designs also drew on the success of the 2023 season’s new products focusing on outdoor living.  The contemporary Terraza Outdoor Kitchen, which coordinates with the hugely popular, award winning, Zest Garden Bar and Two Stool set and the Zest Pizza Oven Table, both launched to consumers this spring and is absolutely on trend for outdoor entertaining.  The Terraza Kitchen is a stunning collection of modular units for a sustainable, natural route to alfresco cooking - at a very affordable price!  All the products in the Terraza range can be purchased individually or as a set, with an optional side table to extend the serving area.  The top open sided shelf is ideal for plates, cutlery and serving utensils.  The double kitchen units come with a stainless-steel top which is perfect for food preparation.

Zest is also launching the Compact Botanical Greenhouse, a glazed Perspex small space greenhouse, ideal for nurturing young plants.  It has a sturdy wooden frame with hinged doors and an opening roof with dual height stays for optimum ventilation.  It is ideal for use on a balcony, patio or in a small city garden.  Zest’s new Tall Botanical Greenhouse is also space-saving, and this delightful product combines stunning looks with all the functionality of a greenhouse.  Most suited for positioning against the wall of the house or outbuilding, it is fully glazed with Perspex to allow light through both roof and sides and boasts two fully adjustable roof panels allowing for optimal temperature control.  Its removable shelves can be reconfigured to a half-width to allow for taller plants as required.

Producing your own compost is now a massive and environmentally beneficial garden trend, and the Zest Eco Hive Composter is perfect for today’s environmentally conscious gardener. Not only does it have some super functional advantages, but it is also an attractive addition to any garden.  Shaped like a traditional beehive, it has a large 405 litre capacity and an open base which helps to produce internal heat and make quality compost faster.  The lid opens both sides and folds back on itself for ease of removal to churn the compost. The lower hatch allows gardeners to harvest the compost with ease.  Narrow gaps in the side panels allow air to circulate in the composter whilst keeping the rain out.

For consumers who just want to relax in their gardens, the new Zest Stirling Arbour is perfect, a sanctuary in which to enjoy being close to nature. This covered seating arbour offers ample space for four people to sit and enjoy dining, relaxation, or coffee and conversation. Including a spacious fitted table, delightful trellis panels and comfortable angled seats, the Zest Stirling Arbour is suitable for any social event.  Designed for sustainable transportation – as well as a very competitive price point.

Augmented Reality for Zest Products

Cutting-edge new customer support, including augmented reality technology, was also on display on the Zest stand.  Augmented reality blends the digital and physical worlds seamlessly, allowing users to view virtual objects in their gardens using a smartphone.  Zest has harnessed this immersive technology to offer customers an unparalleled experience, enabling them to visualise a selection of Zest products in their own outdoor spaces. This innovative approach significantly enhances engagement and empowers customers to make more informed purchasing decisions.

Sustainable PEFC Forest Management

Whilst at Glee, Zest promoted the benefits of being a PEFC certified (PEFC/16-37-1490) company. The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an assurance mechanism supporting sustainable forest management.  Together with its main supply partners in Eastern Europe, Zest is dedicated to re-planting and nurturing woodland habitat and collaborating on planting schemes and nurturing wildlife habitat in Europe as well as the UK. 

The company is also innovating ways to protect and deliver products safely and sustainably.  As an example, Zest repairs and recycles non-standard pallets in the UK into new ‘treesaver’ pallets, maximising their lifecycle – and all off-cuts and waste timber goes to fueling the company’s biomass boilers.  Zest is focusing attention on the way it transports its products from importing into the UK to home delivery. Zest ensures all loads to retail stockists are loaded to the optimum level and full to capacity whenever possible in order to reduce the number of overall miles of road freight, therefore minimising emissions.  This year the average wagon load fill was increased significantly resulting in fewer lorries on the roads delivering an increased amount of Zest products.

Steve concluded,

“We had a great Glee. Our matching floral shorts and sunglasses for Floral Thursday received a rapturous reception and added an element of fun to the show. The team did a fabulous job, showcasing the latest new products, marketing support and sustainability to a hugely appreciative audience. We really cemented Zest's position as the leading player in sustainable outdoor living and as a one stop shop for innovation.”