Nursery sector loses a well-known figure with Renato Canale’s death

Renato Canale, the driving force behind  Europlants and a leading figure in the nursery industry for almost 60 years, has died aged 78.

It is with the heaviest of hearts that Renato Canale’s daughters Valerie and Fabienne, grandson Kiaran, and Oscar,  Freddie and all the team at Europlants UK Ltd have announced his passing earlier this week.

Renato came to the UK from his native Italy in 1962 to work at Stuart Low Ltd, the houseplant  and potplant grower based at Crews Hill in Enfield. He rose through the ranks to become its sales and marketing director.

He had a vision to develop the specimen plants and trees market in the UK for both garden centres and landscapers and set up Europlants UK Ltd in 1991 on a 12 acre site at Bell Bar, Hatfield. Over the years a partnership was developed with Italian grower Vannucci Piante of Pistoia with Europlants being appointed its sole UK Agent. This relationship is going strong to this day 30 years on.

In 2005 Renato set up Riverside Nurseries on a 3.5acre greenfield  site in Marlow to serve the landscaping sector with mature trees and shrubs.

Renato’s nationwide contribution to the industry has been immense. The company’s spring open days soon became a ‘must’ visit for its customers, as much for the food served at lunch as the plants around the nursery. The open days also gave Renato and his late wife Brigitte, the opportunity to support the Greenfingers charity through the well supported raffles.

The family said: “As a much valued and well respected colleague and friend in the industry for nearly 60 years, Renato will be greatly missed and will leave a huge gap both personally and professionally.”