The managing director of hardware giant Bunnings has strongly disputed claims that the retailer has a stranglehold on the retail plant and flowers category as outlined in a submission to a review of the food and grocery code.

Mike Schneider told The Australian Financial Review on Monday that the retail horticulture sections of the 310 Bunnings outlets in Australia selling seedlings, native grasses, flowers and shrubs had an overall market share of about 25 per cent.