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Nursery & Garden Stores in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Dmitry Diment Dmitry Diment New York, United States Last Updated: January 2024 NAICS 44422CA

Revenue

$8.5bn

2024

$8.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

28,493

Businesses

1,695

Wages

$X.Xbn

Nursery & Garden Stores in Canada industry analysis

The Nursery and Garden Stores industry in Canada has seen its fortunes rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, even as competitive challenges have hammered small retailers. The domestic industry relies on the discretionary purchases of garden tools and supplies to make sales. Throughout the pandemic, growth in per capita disposable income and a sharp rise in free time due to pandemic-era restrictions resulted in a rise in consumer spending on nonessential items sold by the industry like plants and trees. Even as increased external competition from home improvement stores and mass merchandisers, which offer comparable goods at lower prices, hurt the industry, revenue rose sharply in 2020 and 2021. Overall, industry revenue has been increasing at a CAGR of 2.8% over the past five years and is expected to reach $8.5 billion in 2023. This includes a 1.6% increase over the current year.Still, consumers are increasingly shifting toward one-stop shopping. With many mass merchandisers adding nursery and garden items to their product lines, in addition to being able to offer lower-priced goods due to their economies of scale, industry retailers have increasingly struggled to compete. Many retailers have sought to combat these challenges by concentrating on niche markets. According to a Garden Center magazine survey, one-third of industry businesses reported that competition from big-box stores presented one of the biggest challenges to the industry. Due to such high external competition, retail stores have adopted various measures to differentiate themselves. This includes hiring more experienced workers and expanding niche product offerings, which are generally more profitable.The industry will continue growing, even as the pandemic-era spike in spending tapers. The aging population and a steady increase in per capita disposable income will likely bolster industry growth. Even so, the industry will endure increased competition from home improvement stores and mass merchandisers, both of which offer the one-stop shopping experience that consumers crave. Over the five years to 2028, industry revenue is expected to grow at a more tempered CAGR of 0.9% to $9.0 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • The COVID-19 pandemic generated a boost in demand for nursery and garden stores. In addition to rising disposable income levels, consumers found themselves with more time to invest in hobbies like gardening.
  • Plants are the most commonly sold product for retailers. However, sales at big-box retailers have hurt plant sales at industry stores, which are typically small in scale.
  • Ontario has the largest share of establishments in the industry. The province holds the largest share of the Canadian population and is the national leader in housing starts.
  • Intense competition and a saturated and fragmented market characterize nursery and garden stores. Retailers compete based on store location, price, range and quality of products, customer service and additional services.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $8.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

COVID-19 pandemic delivers an opportunity for growth

  • Rising per capita disposable income and private spending on home improvement have enabled retailers to remain profitable.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Nursery & Garden Stores in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

An aging population is expected to look to gardening as a hobby

  • An aging Canadian population will likely benefit retail demand. Consumers that are already at or approaching retirement age generate the majority of the industry's sales revenue.

Biggest companies in the Nursery & Garden Stores in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($m)
2023
Profit ($m)
2023
Profit Margin (%)
2023
Sheridan Nurseries
15.7
N/A
N/A
Dutch Growers
1.0
N/A
N/A
Potters Nursery
1.0
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Nursery & Garden Stores in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Equipment, Seeds, grain and animal feed and Soil and chemicals. Equipment is the largest segment of the Nursery & Garden Stores in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Plants are the most commonly sold item

  • This segment includes cut flowers, shrubs, trees, house plants and bedding plants, which are primarily used for displays, are all included in this product segment.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in the industry are primarily engaged in retailing a broad range of nursery and garden supplies and tools, including gardening and lawn tools, trees, shrubs, plants, seeds, bulbs and sod. The industry does not include operators that focus primarily on wholesaling new or used farm, lawn and garden machinery, as well as equipment and parts (refer to IBISWorld report 41711CA), nor does it include companies primarily engaged in growing and retailing nursery stock (11142CA).

What's included in this industry?

Operating farm supply storesOperating garden centresOperating lawn supply storesOperating nursery and garden centres without tree production

Companies

Sheridan NurseriesDutch GrowersPotters Nursery

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

BEDDING PLANTMASS MERCHANDISERTENSIOMETER

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 444220 - Nursery & Garden Stores in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The COVID-19 pandemic generated a boost in demand for nursery and garden stores. In addition to rising disposable income levels, consumers found themselves with more time to ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Plants are the most commonly sold product for retailers. However, sales at big-box retailers have hurt plant sales at industry stores, which are typically small in scale.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Ontario has the largest share of establishments in the industry. The province holds the largest share of the Canadian population and is the national leader in housing starts.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Intense competition and a saturated and fragmented market characterize nursery and garden stores. Retailers compete based on store location, price, range and quality of produ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The industry is highly fragmented, with no major players. The largest company, Sheridan Nurseries, accounts for less than 2.0% of national revenue.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Sheridan Nurseries's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Dutch Growers's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Potters Nursery's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Sheridan Nurseries, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Dutch Growers, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Potters Nursery, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Retailers are subject to labelling rules. In addition to Canada's Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, industry-specific provisions are established by the Seeds Act, the Fer...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Purchases make up almost two-thirds of all spending by nursery and garden stores. This is typical of businesses in the retail sector because stores must obtain large volumes ...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Nursery & Garden Stores industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Nursery & Garden Stores industry in Canada is $8.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Nursery & Garden Stores in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 1,695 businesses in the Nursery & Garden Stores industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Nursery & Garden Stores industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Nursery & Garden Stores industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 2.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Nursery & Garden Stores industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Nursery & Garden Stores industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Nursery & Garden Stores market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Nursery & Garden Stores market in Canada are Sheridan Nurseries, Dutch Growers and Potters Nursery

What does the Nursery & Garden Stores in Canada include?

Operating farm supply stores and Operating garden centres are part of the Nursery & Garden Stores industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Nursery & Garden Stores in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Sheridan Nurseries.

How competitive is the Nursery & Garden Stores industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Nursery & Garden Stores industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Home Improvement Stores in Canada
  • Hardware Stores in Canada

Complementors

  • Plant & Flower Growing in Canada
  • Farm, Lawn & Garden Equipment Wholesaling in Canada
  • Farm Supplies Wholesaling in Canada
  • Landscaping Services in Canada

International industries

  • Nursery & Garden Stores in the US
  • BBQ & Outdoor Cooking Stores in the US
  • Farm Supply Stores in the US
  • Hydroponic Growing Equipment Stores in the US
  • Garden Supplies Retailing in Australia

View all industries in Canada

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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