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‘A Great Achievement’ says Garden Centre Group chairman The 2009 results for The Garden Centre Group Limited have been released and show the extent of the restructuring undertaken in February 2009. Sales lifted 5%. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Sep 10

Nova re-emerges at Glee Nova Garden Furniture is to re-emerge at Glee only 11 months after announcing that it would be winding down the business. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Sep 10

Dobbies wins public support for Peterborough A plan to create a new Dobbies Garden Centre at Hampton, Peterborough, has been given overwhelming support by the public.
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Aug 10

Sinclair strikes deal with Growing Success William Sinclair Horticulture has signed an open ended agreement with Monro Horticulture to distribute Growing Success products. The deal takes affect at GLEE. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Aug 10

Dobbies team up with Hire Station Dobbies Internet operation Dobbies.com has teamed up with leading tool hire company Hire Station to offer over 2000 different tools. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 21 Aug 10

Most retailers results show profits increased in 2009 2009 saw profit increases for Bents Garden Centre, Otter Nurseries, Polhill Garden Centre and OA Taylor & Sons Bulbs. There was a recovery in profits at Country Homes and Gardens, EP Barrus and Roundstone. See more for a summary of the latest additions to Company Results... (This article is open to all readers)...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Aug 10

Councillors give go-ahead to Dobbies in Carlisle Carlisle councillors have approved the scaled down plans for a new Dobbies Garden Centre in Carlisle. It will be one of four new centres to open next spring. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Aug 10

Scotts to return $500m to shareholders as profits rise Scotts Miracle-Gro doubles its dividend as third-quarter profits beat market expectations. There will also be a $500 million buyback of shares. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Aug 10

Two acquisitions for Flying Brands Despite a drop in sales, Flying Brands is optimistic. It is to resume the payment of dividends and has announced two more acquisitions to accelerate its transition into an online garden and gift retailer. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Aug 10

Dobbies increases profit to £9.8m Figures just released for last year show that sales and gross margin increased at Dobbies. Sales reached £104m with pretax profits almost £10m. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Aug 10

New owner has great plans for Tayberry Clothing and footwear supplier, G. H. Tayberry and Co. has been bought by KSJ Knitwear, an international supplier of women's clothing. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Aug 10

Administrators appointed at the Ceramic Gift Company The Ceramic Gift Company Limited regrets to announce that on July 23rd the company was placed into administration and Baker Tilly Restructuring & Recovery LLP was appointed as Administrator.
Byline: David Morris 28 Jul 10

Key garden companies defy the recession Tools and mower businesses show the effects of the recession in the latest results to be published on Gardenforum. But Westland Horticulture, Webbs Garden Centres and Solus Garden & Leisure grew strongly. See more... (This article is open to all readers)...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Jul 10

Squire's closes Shepperton for winter rebuild The bulldozers have moved on to the Squire’s garden centre at Shepperton, flattening the old centre in preparation for a major redevelopment. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Jul 10

Solus holds first ever sale as profits rise Solus Garden & Leisure, the country's largest gardening wholesaler, is to hold its first ever end of season sale, starting on August 5th. Latest results show sales and profits recovered last year. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Jul 10

TGCG continues to strengthen its horticultural credentials The Garden Centre Group announced a major redevelopment of Bridgemere at a lunch to honour the founders John and Elizabeth Ravenscroft. The group continues to strengthen its horticultural base. See more..
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Jul 10

Moss End Garden Centre goes into liquidation The partnership that leased Moss End Garden Centre was placed into liquidation on Friday. However, the landlord had a new tenant ready to step in and keep the garden centre open. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Jul 10

Lloyds holds on to The Garden Centre Group Lloyds bank has sold many of its private equity investments, but The Garden Centre Group has been retained. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Jul 10

Hillier embraces new media Hillier commits to a growing new media. Blogs from Chelsea, online video of new plants and now the webcasting of in-store events is propagating a new crop of customers. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Jul 10

Marshalls remains cautious despite slight recovery in sales The results of hard landscaping specialist, Marshalls, give an insight into the fortunes of the landscape sector. There has been a slight recovery in sales in the first half of 2010. Installers’ order books have also lengthened. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Jul 10

Vital Earth to distribute Bord Na Mona compost Vital Earth and Bord Na Mona have agreed terms that give the UK manufacturer of compost derived from green waste, exclusive rights to distribute GroWise to UK independent garden centres. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Jul 10

Fiskars and Sankey operations to merge Fiskars, the European manufacturer of garden tools, is to merge its Fiskars and Sankey operations in the UK. From November both companies will operate from Sankey's Nottingham site. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Jun 10

Sinclair offers peat substitute to rivals Freeland has finally perfected the process of creating a peat substitute from garden waste that cannot be composted. Sinclair, its parent company, says this could provide the key to meeting the Government’s 2020 peat reduction targets. It will be made available to competing compost suppliers. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Jun 10

Dobbies plans six more garden centres for 2011 The Dobbies' pipeline for new garden centres is growing. Four new garden centres are scheduled to open next spring, with a further two later in 2011. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Jun 10

Ransons Garden Centre to open on July 5 Former Notcutts manager Julian Ranson is opening his own centre, Ransons, on July 5 at the Hatton Experience. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Jun 10

Blue Diamond sparkles at £44.6m Blue Diamond, the Channel Islands based garden centre group, has continued its rapid expansion and is now fourth in terms of sales, behind The Garden Centre Group, Dobbies and Notcutts. See more....
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Jun 10

Logistics shake-up for B&Q B&Q is to end its third-party logistics agreements and plans a huge new distribution centre at Swindon. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Jun 10

London’s oldest garden centre will celebrate 160 years Clifton Nurseries claims to be London’s oldest garden centre. It was founded in 1851 and plans to celebrate its 160th birthday with events throughout next year. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Jun 10

Vital Earth changes name as it prepares for expansion Vital Earth's main trading arm is Vital Earth (Derby) Limited. This name will change to Vital Earth GB Limited as the company prepares to open more composting sites. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Jun 10

Resilient figures from Homebase despite late spring Homebase figures have held up well despite the later spring. Sales of garden furniture and barbecues increased. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Jun 10

Deco-Pak invest £2.5 million in new premises Deco-Pak is expanding its product range and investing in new premises in a quest to boost turnover to £8 million within two years. See more...
Byline: George Bulllivant 04 Jun 10

Administrators appointed at G H Tayberry and Co Clothing and footwear supplier, G H Tayberry and Co has been put into administration. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Jun 10

Frosts restructures after the best spring in 5 years The Frosts Group has announced a consolidating of its company structure. This comes after it has enjoyed its best spring for five years, driven in part by increased sales of garden furniture. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Jun 10

Upbeat Sinclair lifts profits, despite slow start Despite the slow start to the season, William Sinclair has increased profits thanks to strong demand from British growers and government action to boost sales of peat free. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Jun 10

Blue Diamond buys Redfields Garden Centre Redfields is being sold to the Blue Diamond Group, who will re-develop the site to be the Trentham of the South. This will be their 12th garden centre. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Jun 10

Dobbies proposes Liverpool garden centre Dobbies has announced plans for a new £8 million garden centre at Speke near Liverpool airport. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Jun 10

Natar assumes Non-Executive role at Gardman Paris Natar, who started Gardman 17 years ago, completes the hand-over to the new management team by becoming a non-executive director, this week. But it does not mean that he will be any less involved with the company than before. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Jun 10

Flying Brands buys Flowers Direct Flying Brands has bought the assets of Flowers Direct from its administrators. This will strengthen the databases of Flying Flowers and Gardening Direct. It will also give them access to 750 florists. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 25 May 10

Cold chills Hillier’s hopes at Chelsea - follow their progress... The cold weather has disrupted Hillier’s preparations for the Chelsea Flower Show and the nursery’s attempt to extend its unbroken run of 64 gold medals. Follow the Hillier progress day by day on their blog at www.hilliernurseries.blogspot.com. Click on the link below...
Byline: George Bullivant 17 May 10

Landgard - a catalyst for change in UK plant sales? There is a growing force in the selling and distribution of plants. Landgard started in the UK three years ago and has already achieved turnover of £23 million. It is aiming to double this in the next three years. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 May 10

Marshalls remains cautious despite lengthening order books Marshalls, the UK's largest manufacturer of natural stone and hard landscaping products, remains cautious despite sales figures that match last year and lengthening order books. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 May 10

Kinglea in administration continues trading The directors of Essex-based Kinglea Plants, the producers of Plug U Grow and Veg U Grow young plants for the multiples and independent garden centre trade, called in the administrative receivers last Friday with the immediate loss of nine jobs. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 05 May 10

Scotts increases garden centre support At the time, they say, when other companies are cutting back and shedding resources, Scotts Miracle-Gro have increased their shop floor support for garden centres. And it seems to be working. Despite the cold start to the season, sales are ahead of last year. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 May 10

Cargo abandons garden centre venture It has been reported that Cargo’s experiment with garden centre concessions has failed. It is to close its Blooms site. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 May 10

Bridgepoint buys HobbyCraft - UPDATED The owners of Haskins Garden Centres, Warren Haskins and his family, have agreed today to sell HobbyCraft to private equity group, Bridgepoint Capital. The price for the arts and craft retailer is believed to be around £100 million. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Apr 10

Haxnicks buys Rootrainers from Ronaash Grow your own specialist Haxnicks, has continued its expansion with the purchase of the business of Rootrainers from Ronaash. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Apr 10

No new store openings for Homebase There will be no new store openings this year at Homebase as it concentrates on expanding sales through the Internet. It has launched a new community website, www.getintogardening.co.uk. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Apr 10

Golden Acres: in acquisition talks with 2 garden centres The Golden Acres group has started discussions regarding the possible acquisition of two further garden centres and is looking for more within two hours driving of Bournemouth. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Apr 10

Two garden centres to close Two garden centres, one at each end of the country, are to close and be redeveloped for other uses. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Apr 10

Solar energy company opens second garden centre franchise The Big Green Company has opened a solar energy centre on Wilmslow Garden Centre. This is the second garden centre franchise and it hopes for several more across the UK. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 26 Apr 10

CEO completes management buyout of Casco Matthew Bubear, CEO of Casco Europe, has completed a management buyout to acquire the business. This follows the sale of the North American parent company, Casco, which was announced in January. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Apr 10

Dobbies top £100 million for the first time Dobbies has passed another milestone. Annual sales have topped the £100 million mark for the first time, boosted by new openings and 6% like-for-like growth during 2009. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Apr 10

Internet offsets poor weather at Flying Brands Poor weather has hit sales at Gardening Direct. However, Internet sales have risen. The current air travel restrictions will not affect the availability at Flying Flowers. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Apr 10

Sinclair starts mass production of new peat free growing media William Sinclair has started the mass production of the material that it says will consolidate its position as market leader in peat substitute growing media. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Apr 10

Industry profits boosted by 2009 spring The latest updates in Company Results show big sales increases at Notcutts and Thompson & Morgan. There was a big increase in profit for R A Meredith & Son (Nurseries). For further results including Coolings, DJ Squire, Frosts, Scotsdale, Stewart Plastics, Suttons, Hillier, Europlants (UK) and David Austin Roses, see more... (This article is open to all readers)...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Apr 10

Klondyke is ready to expand Klondyke Group, which operates Klondyke and Strikes garden centres, has filed strong results for the year ending September 2009. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 13 Apr 10

Golden Acres grows by 20% The Dorset and Hampshire garden centre group Golden Acres has announced a 20% sales increase for its four garden centres during 2009. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Apr 10

Dobbies refused alchohol licence A local newspaper reports that Dobbies’ newest garden centre, in Aberdeen, has been refused an off-sales drinks licence to protect children from harm. See more...
Byline: Gardenforum 07 Apr 10

TGCG lists stores to open on Easter Day The Garden Centre Group will open the doors of 74 garden centres to members of its Gardening Club on Easter Day. To see which centres will open, see more...
Byline: George Bullivant 31 Mar 10

The Garden Centre Group to open on Easter Day (Updated) The Garden Centre Group is opening many of its larger garden centres on Easter Day as a service to Gardening Club members. They will be able to take lunch in the restaurant and browse the shop and plant area. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Mar 10

Kelkay embarks on £3m expansion Kelkay, the Yorkshire-based manufacturer of landscaping products, is investing £3 million on an expansion that will enable turnover grew to £20 million. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 26 Mar 10

Self help programme boosts margins at B&Q Improved margins at B&Q have helped Kingfisher profits jump to £566m for the year to the end of January. Direct sourcing will rise by 20% this year and new eco-product ranges will be trialled. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 25 Mar 10

Sinclair agrees Bolton Fell restoration package William Sinclair has reached an agreement with Natural England over the compensation it will receive for ceasing to harvest peat at Bolton Fell in Cumbria and restoring it. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Mar 10

Hozelock to advertise on TV Hozelock has announced a TV advertising campaign featuring products to save time, effort and water. It starts on 26th of March. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Mar 10

Grange returns Metpost production to Britain Grange Fencing is returning to the UK 40% of the manufacturing of Metpost in a bid to offer just-in-time deliveries as the company warns of a supply chain crunch of fencing products. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 23 Mar 10

Hagedorn refocuses Scotts Miracle-Gro Scotts Miracle-Gro is reorganising in the US. The future of the professional and lawn business is called into question. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Mar 10

Profits up at Flying Brands Cost cutting and an operational efficiency programme helped boost Flying Brands’ pre-tax profits in the 12 months to January 1, 2010. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 12 Mar 10

New investors boost Doff Portland Doff Portland has strengthened its balance sheet with new funds from private equity and has strengthened its management team. This will enable the company to build its presence in the market over the next five years. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Mar 10

Vandals ravage Coblands Nursery Vandals have caused £30,000 of damage to Coblands Nursery in Tonbridge. Polytunnels were ripped and irrigation stolen. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Mar 10

Banks rescue Mountfield and Stiga The banks have taken control of Global Garden Products (GPP), the maker of Mountfield and Stiga mowers and garden machinery. This ‘wipes out’ the equity held by the 3i Group. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Mar 10

Administrators at southern garden centres The Bournemouth Echo reports that administrators had been appointed at the discount group Glendel, which operates Superbuys and two garden centres in the south of England. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 26 Feb 10

Beckworth Emporium builds on a successful start So successful has been Beckworth Emporium in its first 9 months that John Kitching, former Blooms CX, and David Brown are adding 24,000 ft.² of new buildings. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 25 Feb 10

Bosmere moves to Crawley Bosmere Products will complete its move to a new and larger distribution centre at Crawley, Sussex at the end of this month. This follows the sale of the business at the end of last year. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 25 Feb 10

Trans-Continental moves to Preston Trans-Continental Group, which supplies the garden industry with Snow Time Christmas goods and Sun Time garden furniture, is expanding and moving its operations from Blackpool to Preston. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Feb 10

Scotts and Hillier invite Chelsea visitors into the ‘Diary Room’ Scotts and Hillier Nurseries have joined forces for Chelsea. Together, they will invite show visitors into a secret diary room on the Hillier stand, where they will be asked to divulge secret nuggets of gardening wisdom. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Feb 10

Management team takes a stake in the Garden Store group Management team has bought a stake in the Garden Store group as joint founder, Patrick Pearce, retires. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Feb 10

Financially The Garden Centre Group is 'in a Good Place’ Nicholas Marshall says the e-learning programme unveiled at last weeks plant trade show represents a new dawn for The Garden Centre Group. He also confirmed that the group was financially ‘in a good place’. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Feb 10

E P Barrus unites Wolf-Garden and Wilkinson Sword E P Barrus, which last year took control of the UK distribution of Wolf-Garden, has won the right to distribute the Wilkinson Sword range of garden tools. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Feb 10

Dobbies wins approval for Lisburn After four years, Dobbies has won approval to build a £12 million garden centre at Lisburn, Northern Ireland. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Feb 10

T&M buys Chempak Thompson & Morgan has announced the purchase of Chempak, the plant food manufacturer. The deal was completed in the last few days. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Feb 10

Dobbies exploits links with Tesco Dobbies moves to exploit its link with its parent, Tesco. Dobbies branded products are to appear in the supermarket’s stores in northern England and Scotland. It is also exploring the possibility of adding a garden centre alongside a new development by Tesco. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Feb 10

Dobbies lift sales by 5.8% over Christmas An interview with James Barnes, published in the Scotsman, reveals that Dobbies enjoyed its strongest Christmas to date. Demand was high for Christmas trees, lights and decorations, along with gifts and festive plants, such as poinsettias. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Jan 10

Bents are GCA Garden Centre of the Year – again It is a repeat of last year with Bents Garden Centre beating Webbs into second place by the narrowest of margins in the competition to be GCA Garden Centre of the Year. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Jan 10

Taylors Bulbs - Best Supplier for the 3rd year Awards announced yesterday on the first day of the GCA Conference honoured Stewarts Gardenlands, Sunshine Garden Centre and Taylors Bulbs. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 26 Jan 10

Free internet access with The Garden Centre Group Visitors to six garden centres in The Garden Centre Group are now able to take their laptops with them and check their emails or surf the Internet while on-site. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Jan 10

Alan Titchmarsh and B&Q join forces Alan Titchmarsh is to work with B&Q as it seeks to cement ‘its position as the UK’s largest chain of garden centres’. He will provide regular tips and advice through in-store displays and on B&Q's website. See more...
Byline: Gardenforum 22 Jan 10

Administrators step in at Carpenders Park The company operating Carpenders Park Garden Centre and Plant Nursery of Little Oxhey Lane, Watford, has been put into administration. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Jan 10

The Garden Centre Group starts 2010 in good shape A successful Christmas rounds off a satisfactory first year for The Garden Centre Group. Gross profit was up 20% in December. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Jan 10

TGCG sells Shiplake The Garden Centre Group has sold Shiplake Nursery and Garden Centre, which will close at the end of the month. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Jan 10

Peterborough Garden Park opens in February Peterborough Garden Park, with a high profile destination garden centre designed by Van Hage as the focal point, opens its doors on 5th of February. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Jan 10

Windsor heads Bellagio merger The Shropshire Collection and Sunsit UK have merged with Bellagio UK to form a new major garden furniture supplier named Bellagio UK, headed by Julian Windsor. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Jan 10

Marshalls cautious despite small signs of recovery What is happening to Marshalls, leading producer of patio and driveway products, is a good pointer to what is happening in the landscape sector as a whole. Sales fell 16% in 2009 and are expected to fall again in 2010. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Jan 10

Garden centres fared well at Christmas With snow and ice gripping most of the country, garden centres are having a quiet time and taking stock as customers stay away after what turned out to be a sparkling Christmas for many retailers. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 08 Jan 10

Sinclair warns of price increases for growing media Sinclair is in a bullish mood on the back of improved 2009 results. It believes it has enough peat for 2010, unlike its competitors, and is starting mass production at Freeland. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Jan 10

2009 Review - Part 2: July to December With trade strong, attention turned to the battle between the increased number of trade shows in 2010. Many garden centres won planning permission to extend. Corporate activity continued among suppliers. See more... (This article is open to all)
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Jan 10

Dobbies scales down Carlisle plans Having won planning permission last month for a 62,000 sq ft. garden centre in Carlisle, Dobbies has decided to half the size of the project. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Dec 09

2009 Review - Part 1: January to June There was a nervous feel to the start of 2009. The Banking crisis was in full swing. No one knew whether consumer demand would come to an abrupt halt after Christmas and garden suppliers were anxiously waiting for confirmation of Wyevale’s financial restructuring. This review is open to all. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Dec 09

Hambrook Landscapes falls victim to identity abuse Former APL chairman, Norman Hambrook of Hambrook Landscapes told Landscape Juice that traders from the Hambrook area have been impersonating his company and he is worried that damage will be done to his business.
Byline: Landscape Juice 15 Dec 09

Haskins poised to sell Hobbycraft The Daily Telegraph has reported that HobbyCraft is to be sold for an estimated £70 million. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Dec 09

Dobbies renews plans at East Kilbride Dobbies has published a new planning application, which includes a supermarket and hotel, at East Kilbride on the south side of Glasgow.
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Dec 09

Change of ownership at Bosmere Products Due to the retirement of its original owners, Bosmere Products Limited has been recently sold and now becomes a subsidiary of H&I Trading Limited. See more...
Byline: Bosmere 08 Dec 09

Outdoor products sales up 11% at B&Q Sales of outdoor products increased 11% during August, September and October at B&Q. However they failed to get back to the levels of 2 years ago. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Dec 09

Dobbies strengthens its roots at Braehead Dobbies has revealed plans for a new garden centre at Braehead in Renfrew – the town where James Dobbie started his horticultural business in 1865. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Dec 09

Grosvenor takes to the high street Another garden centre has opened a high street shop to introduce a sample of garden centre products into the city centre. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 26 Nov 09

‘Get the bids in,’ says Benn Hilary Benn encouraged the gardening industry to ‘get the bids in’ for the next round of government funding for research. His priorities are reducing carbon emissions, offsetting the impact of climate change and encouraging people to grow food. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Nov 09

Webbs to join Garden Organic at Ryton News has been released today that discussions between Webbs Garden Centres and Garden Organic are at an advanced stage for Webbs to take over the commercial operations at Ryton Gardens. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Nov 09

Major expansion for Gates Nursery and Garden Centre Gates Nursery and Garden Centre has won permission to extend the retail area by 2500 sq m, which will include increasing seating in the restaurant to 450. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Nov 09

Planners recommend approval for Dobbies in Carlisle According to Carlisle’s News & Star, Dobbies is hoping to overturn earlier objections and win planning permission for a new garden centre in competition with Klondyke’s Houghton Hall. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Nov 09

Scotts Miracle-Gro pushes sales above $3bn Scotts Miracle-Gro have had a good year, thanks to stronger than expected consumer demand in the US. Total sales hit $3.14 billion and they bounced back to profit. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Nov 09

A novel addition to Christmas Visitors to Beckworth Emporium will soon be enjoying the ultimate winter experience as the owners prepare to unveil an open-air ice rink at the Mears Ashby farm shop and plant centre.
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Nov 09

Briggs & Stratton to double European mower sales Briggs & Stratton intends to double sales of mowers and garden equipment in the next 3 years and has opened a new European HQ and training centre to help achieve this goal. See more...
Byline: George Bulivant 04 Nov 09

More losers than winners in 2008 for garden companies The latest updates in Company Results show the difficult trading conditions of 2008. Nurseries: Roundstone, Allensmore and Burston showed lower profits or losses, as did manufacturers: Hozelock, Plum Products, Solus, Scotts UK, Grange Fencing and Westland Horticulture. Several garden centres also suffered including Garden and Leisure, Tong, Country Homes & Gardens and Shoots. For further results, see more... (This article is open to all readers)...
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Nov 09

Stewarts nominated twice for Plant Area of the Year The national judging of plant areas at GCA garden centres has been completed and the regional winners announced. The national winners will be announced at the Garden Centre Association conference at the end of January. See more...
Byline: The Garden Centre Association 27 Oct 09

Interest free loans of up to £400k to save energy Having raised £400,000 for themselves, the Stewart Company is helping to publicise the £100 million of interest-free loans that are available from the Carbon Trust to cut energy costs at small and medium sized businesses. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Oct 09

Profits recover at Homebase while margins fall Profits increased 66% at Homebase despite a 3% fall in gross margin. The successful Argos system for ‘click and collect’ will be rolled out to all Homebase stores. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Oct 09

Planning success for Forest Lodge Garden Centre and Birdworld Malcolm Scott Consultants Ltd has gained double planning permissions for ambitious development at the 14-hectare joint Forest Lodge and Birdworld site. See more...
Byline: Malcolm Scott Consultants 22 Oct 09

Kernock Park Plants join A.L.P. Kernock Park Plants are the latest nursery to join A.L.P. (The Association of Liner Producers). The Association already consists of 7 of the country's leading liner producers including Aline Fairweather, Fromefield Nursery, New Place Nursery, Seiont Nursery, The Northern Liner Company, West End Nursery and Wyeplants Ltd.
Byline: Kernock Park Plants 16 Oct 09

Avoncrop in administration - stock to be sold at discounted prices Avoncrop in administration is to continue to sell stock items at discounts of 40% w/c 19th October, rising to 60% w/c 26th October. Growers are encouraged to take advantage by calling 01934 820 363 or e mailing sales@avoncrop.co.uk
Byline: Avoncrop in administration 15 Oct 09

Flying Brands raises £1.76m Flying Brands, the company that operates the mail-order brands Flying Flowers and Gardening Direct, has raised £1.76 million by way of a rights issue. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Oct 09

Fire damages Gordon Rigg Gordon Rigg Garden Centre on Moss Bridge Road, Rochdale, one of three in the group, was damaged by fire on Saturday night. The centre is trading again, but with no houseplants, pets or aquatics.
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Oct 09

“We walked into a complete meltdown...” Nicholas Marshall In the last of 3 presentations at the recent GIMA meeting from leading retailers, Nicholas Marshall, CEO of The Garden Centre Group, described the changes he has made since taking control of Wyevale in September 2008. He found the management had not got a clue and morale was as flat as a pancake. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Oct 09

Perfectly positioned for the revival of Grow Your Own The second of 3 prominent retailers to address this weeks GIMA meeting was David Herbert of Mole Valley Group and Scats, with sales of £270m in S of England. He says they are perfectly placed for GYO; Scats is about living life outdoors. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Oct 09

TV merchandising screens “Shift product like no tomorrow” This week’s meeting of the garden suppliers association, GIMA, enjoyed revealing insights from 3 of the industry’s leading retailers. The first of three articles covers comments from Bob Hewitt, CEO of the Klondyke Group of 24 garden centres and former CX of Wyevale. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Oct 09

Webbs opens two Christmas shops For the second year, Webbs will open two Christmas shops in Midlands shopping centres. One will be at the Pavilions Shopping Centre, in the heart of Birmingham. See more...
Byline: Webbs Garden Centres 08 Oct 09

Directors to wind down Nova Garden Furniture Faversham Furniture Ltd has surprised the garden industry with news that it is to wind down Nova Garden Furniture, which has not traded profitably for the last five years. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Oct 09

Sinclair expects profits to double this year William Sinclair, whose trading year ended on the 30th of September, say that trading has been in line with expectations. It has lifted enough peat for 2010 and is pleased that it maintained just-in-time deliveries throughout the season. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Oct 09

Strategic changes at Flying Flowers Troubled mail-order group Flying Brands has announced a number of changes to Flying Flowers. It has also appointed a new sales and marketing director. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Oct 09

Dobbies accounts reshaped to fit Tesco mould - UPDATED The latest results published by Dobbies cover the 16 month period to the end of February 2009, when Tesco out-manoeuvred Sir Tom Hunter’s West Coast Capital to take control of the Scottish garden centre group. Since February, sales have been ahead of budget and it’s not just because of the weather. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Sep 09

Confusion over Canterbury garden centres Canterbury Garden Centre has become the second independent to challenge The Garden Centre Group (TGCG, formally Wyevale) over its decision to rename its outlets with local names. There was confusion when one of the group's staff appeared at the wrong garden centre for training. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Sep 09

Redwood Stone ends dispute with Garden Dreams The dispute between Redwood Stone and Garden Dreams, which came to a head last year at Glee, has been resolved, with Redwood Stone owning the business and intellectual property rights of Garden Dreams. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Sep 09

B&Q recovery boosts Kingfisher Half year profits are up 66% at B&Q and working capital has improved by £163 million thanks in part to lower stocks and taking longer to pay suppliers. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 17 Sep 09

E.P.Barrus becomes sole distributor for Wolf Garden E.P.Barrus Ltd the importer of domestic and professional garden machinery, has been appointed the exclusive distributor of Wolf Garden products in the UK and Republic of Ireland, replacing Solus. See more...
Byline: Wolf Garden Ltd 16 Sep 09

M&M Timber to distribute Hillhout in the UK M&M Timber Limited has assumed the UK distribution for the Dutch-owned Outdoor Life Group. It will now offer the garden and leisure industry a complete one-stop shop for all their timber, garden and leisure requirements. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 16 Sep 09

Avoncrop up for sale Bristol-based Avoncrop has been placed on the market. The company is in administration following a failed diversification into a related venture. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 16 Sep 09

Woodcote Green celebrates 50 years Woodcote Green and its owner, Lawrence Newton, celebrated 50 years of growing and retailing by holding a week of open days. Councillors, schools and allotments societies were invited for a look behind-the-scenes. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Sep 09

Wyevale CEOs past and present address GIMA The next GIMA meeting, which is open to all, will bring together the current CEO of Wyevale (The Garden Centre Group) with one of his predecessors, now the CEO of Klondyke. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Sep 09

Grange adds Metpost to portfolio Grange Fencing has completed the acquisition of Metpost. It believes this will complement its existing range of products, which include Post Anchor. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Sep 09

Blue Diamond opens Le Friquet This Friday, Blue Diamond will open one of the most innovative garden centre designs yet seen. It is the shape of an octagonal doughnut, with the plant area filling the middle. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Sep 09

Bayer Garden to replace salesforce with agents Bayer Garden is to replace its network of territory managers with agents by June 2010. It believes this will improve its service to garden retailers. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Sep 09

Creditors accept CVA terms from Focus DIY Focus DIY has reached an agreement with leading creditors that should remove the threat of insolvency. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Aug 09

Second wholesale cash-and-carry for Wyevale Nurseries Wyevale Nurseries are to open a second wholesale cash-and-carry centre at Earlswood Nurseries in the West Midlands. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Aug 09

Allotments go-ahead for Dobbies Dobbies' plans to add 20 allotments to its garden centre in Southport looks set for approval by the planners tonight. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Aug 09

We are riding the crest of a wave, say Fothergill’s Mr Fothergill's say they are riding the crest of a wave. At a press day on the nursery grounds last week, they revealed how they will continue to engage gardeners in 2010. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 17 Aug 09

Hozelock forms network of excellence Hozelock Cyprio are to invite the UK’s top aquatics retailers to form a nationwide network of Centres of Excellence. See more...
Byline: Gardenforum 14 Aug 09

UPDATED - Robbers hold garden centre manager at knifepoint Armed robbers ambushed the manager of Barton Grange Garden Centre and his assistant forcing them to open the safe. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Aug 09

Evergreen brings life back to Hurrans, Churchdown Hurrans’ flagship garden centre at Churchdown, Gloucester is to reopen eight months after the group was put into administration. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Aug 09

Langlands Arrives in Leeds The famous Langlands Garden Centre in Shiptonthorpe near York is reaping the benefits of the current ‘Grow Your Own’ phenomenon and is expanding its empire by acquiring the old Hayes Garden Centre site in Leeds. See more...
Byline: Langlands 10 Aug 09

Vilmorin has removed the ‘For Sale’ signs from Suttons Suttons Consumer Products has been fully reintegrated into Vilmorin, who have announced that the UK seed and bulb producer is no longer for sale. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Aug 09

Focus offers CVA to landlords Focus DIY, which has been trying to renew its £50 million bank loan, has offered its landlords a deal under the terms of a CVA. If they don't accept it, the company is likely to fall into administration. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Aug 09

Sales up 6% at Wyevale Nicholas Marshall looks at what has been achieved at The Garden Centre Group (Wyevale) in the first 6 months of 2009 as he releases news that sales have increased 6%. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Aug 09

Rowlinson restructures Rowlinson Garden Products has notified customers that it will be restructuring, moving its manufacturing to Eastern Europe and the Far East and focusing sales in the UK on home delivery. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 31 Jul 09

It has been a good nine months for Scotts Miracle-Gro Strong consumer demand has increased sales at Scotts MiracleGro by 9% during the last nine months. Profits have increased by 21%. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Jul 09

Founders regain control of Briers Nigel and Jackie Eades have regained control of Briers, the brand they formed in 2000 and sold to the Monro Group in 2007. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Jul 09

Dobbies changes tack at York Dobbies has withdrawn its planning appeal at York and has submitted an application to develop a Garden World at Livingston, the new town between Edinburgh and Glasgow. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Jul 09

Does anyone remember Wyevale? Forget the name Wyevale. We will now have to get used to a new name, The Garden Centre Group. From July the country’s biggest garden centre chain will escape its history with a change of name. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Jul 09

Whiteleys GC files for CVA Woldelve Ltd, the company that trades as Whiteleys Garden Centre has filed a notice of its intention to enter a CVA to seek protection from its creditors. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Jul 09

Weekend news round-up Read what was said last weekend in the Press. Heinz targets garden centres with BBQ sauces, Dobbies to offer allotments and shoppers flinch at Smith & Hawken closing down sale. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Jul 09

Alternative travel saves Petersham Nurseries Diners substituted their 4-wheel drives for bicycles, the bus and boat to win a four-year planning battle for Petersham Nurseries, more famous for its restaurant than its plants. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Jul 09

Dobbies go ahead for UK's most eco-friendly garden centre Aberdeen City Council has granted planning permission for a new Dobbies Garden World at New Park in Lang Stracht, Aberdeen. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Jul 09

Profits suffer as companies release 2008 results The latest updates in Company Results show sales grew in 2008 at Johnsons of Whixley, Thompson & Morgan and Woodlodge Products, but their profits declined. Park Garden Centre became a £10m+ garden centre for the first time and Klondyke sales grow by 19%. For further results, see more... (This article is open to all readers)...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Jul 09

New 40,000 sq ft Garden Centre Development for 2011 Hammond Phillips have just received instructions to secure an occupier for Andover Garden Park, a 40,000sq ft garden centre development to the west of Andover.
Byline: Hammond Phillips 09 Jul 09

Closing down sale starts today at Smith & Hawken Scotts Miracle-Gro is to close Smith & Hawken, the American retail chain bought in 2004, having failed to find a buyer. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Jul 09

Patience pays off for Dobbies in Northern Ireland After four years Dobbies has won planning permission for a new garden centre at Lisburn, just south of Belfast. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Jul 09

Gardman reports a buoyant start to 2009 Gardman has reported a buoyant start to 2009 despite the current economic climate. In the last 12 months sales have increased by around 20%. See more...
Byline: Gardman 29 Jun 09

Novel way to spend a penny at the latest Dobbies' centre The former Tesco store at Fosse Way, Shepton Mallet officially opened as the latest Dobbies Garden Centre last Sunday. It is the UK's first centre to be converted from a supermarket. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 25 Jun 09

Garden centres in local spat in Stratford-upon-Avon Despite requests from the Stratford Garden Centre, an independent, family run business, the Wyevale group has refused to reconsider the new name for its Stratford outlet. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 19 Jun 09

Greenacres changes hands Greenacres Nurseries in Stapleton, Leics, has been sold for an undisclosed sum. The deal was arranged by Alexander Mackie Associates. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 19 Jun 09

Resilient May confirms good year for garden centres A strong end to May means garden centres have held on to most of the gains they made in the first 4 months of the year. Smaller centres actually increased sales in the month. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 16 Jun 09

Housing option on Portsmouth garden centre GCA member, Keydell Nurseries could become a housing estate according to the Portsmouth News. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Jun 09

Supplier concern over new Wyevale terms Suppliers have expressed concern over new trading terms, issued last week by Wyevale. One supplier told Gardenforum, "I don't think our bank would allow us to trade under these terms, we would have to walk away." See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Jun 09

Go-ahead for redevelopment of Sanders Revised plans for Wyevale’s Sanders Garden World have been approved by the district council in Somerset despite local objections. Work on the 35,000 ft.² extension is expected to start later this year. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Jun 09

Garden centres compliment suppliers after an exciting spring Garden centres have complimented suppliers on how well they managed an exciting and frustrating spring. Garden centres report that 2009 sales are 6% – 17% ahead of last year but are cautious about Christmas. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Jun 09

Wyevale publishes 2008 accounts The 2008 accounts now lodged at Companies House show what has really happened to Wyevale and the scale of its losses. They also show that Britain’s largest garden centre group is now the largest shareholder of rival, Country Homes and Gardens. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Jun 09

RHS treasurer becomes Wyevale chairman Andrew Sells, merchant banker and chairman of Linden Homes for 16 years has been named as the new independent chairman of Wyevale. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Jun 09

Profits double at B&Q A big jump in sales of outdoor products and cost savings have doubled B&Q profits for the three months to the end of April. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Jun 09

Sinclair performs better than anticipated William Sinclair, whose brands include J Arthur Bower's, Silvaperl and New Horizon, dispatched record volumes in March helping half year sales reach £22.3 million. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Jun 09

Wyevale localisation changes garden centre names Evidence of the localisation of Wyevale comes with news in the local press that the Henley garden centre has changed its name to Shiplake Nursery and Garden Centre. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 May 09

Masked raiders hit Midlands garden centre Masked raiders armed with handguns and a crowbar attacked a security guard and tied him up outside a Wyevale garden centre on bank holiday Monday. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 May 09

Marshall consolidates his control of Wyevale Nicholas Marshall has consolidated his control of Wyevale with four new directors at West Coast Capital (Hortis). The search for a new chairman with a real affinity for the garden industry is well advanced. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 May 09

Marshalls asks shareholders for £34 million Marshalls Plc, the driveway and paving company that is the main sponsor of Chelsea, is raising £34 million from shareholders in the form of a rights issue. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 13 May 09

Dobbies average £4 million per centre The addition of Sandyholm and Southport garden centres helped Dobbies increase sales to £97 million in the 12 months to February, despite like-for-like sales being flat. April and May sales have been "very, very good". See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 May 09

Ball & Florensis combine European operations (UPDATED) Ball & Florensis are combining operations throughout Europe. In the UK, Florensis becomes a joint venture between Ball and Florensis. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 May 09

Garden Store reopens the Pavilion The Garden Store Ltd has acquired the lease of the Pavilion Garden Centre, near Wolverhampton, which closed at Christmas. The store reopened on Saturday. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 May 09

Former GCA chairman sells his garden centre Former GCA chairman, Steve Myatt, has today announced the sale of his Southport garden centre to Richard Allison, whose parents owned Lady Green Garden Centre. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 01 May 09

New garden centre for Trago Mills Diarmuid Gavin will cut the ribbon at a new Trago Mills garden centre that opens this Saturday at Newton Abbot. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Apr 09

Massive fire at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre (Updated) A massive fire broke out at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre yesterday afternoon, closing part of the A20 Sidcup bypass, Kent. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Apr 09

New plans will double the size of Forest Lodge Forest Lodge Garden Centre has re-submitted a planning application that will double the size of the garden centre and integrate it with the adjacent Bird World. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Apr 09

Peterborough Garden Park to be Britain's premier garden centre Garden Park Investment's retail development at Peterborough is intent on being Britain's premier garden centre when it opens next spring with Van Hage as the anchor tenant. Already 80% of the space has been let. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Apr 09

Ram raiders hit Bracknell garden centre Ram raiders smashed into Moss End Garden Centre yesterday morning, making off with £4500 worth of garden machinery. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Apr 09

MBO sets up Cranswick Pet and Aquatics Cranswick Pet Products and Tropical Marine Centre have been sold by Cranswick plc to a management buyout. The new company will be called Cranswick Pet and Aquatics Ltd. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Apr 09

More gainers and losers in the latest Company Results The latest updates in Company Results include the long delayed 2007 results for West Coast Capital and Wyevale. There are also trading figures for David Austin, Premier, Swan Hattersley, Vatre Terrracotta, Frosts Garden Centre and many more. For a summary, see more... (This article is open to all readers)...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Apr 09

Hillier takes control of Banbury Garden Centre Hillier Garden Centres have taken control of Hurrans’ leased garden centre at Banbury. The fate of the remaining 3 centres should be confirmed very soon. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 16 Apr 09

Garden centre blames police for £25,000 lost sales The Owner of Rutland garden centre blames police for the unnecessary £25,000 loss of revenue when caught in the security cordon surrounding Ashwell jail. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Apr 09

Grovewell Garden Centres open Canterbury Garden Centre for Easter … Just ! Grovewell Garden Centres opened their second Garden Centre at Herne Common near Canterbury just in time for Easter. See more...
Byline: Edward Boult - Tenterden Garden Centre 14 Apr 09

Administrators appointed at Whiterigg Alpines Lancashire based Whiterigg Alpines Limited are the latest casualty in this recession. They have appointed KPMG Restructuring as administrators. See more...
Byline: Gardenforum 13 Apr 09

North Wales garden centre reopens Treborth Garden Centre that closed last month after going into administration has reopened under new ownership. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Apr 09

Dobbies extends pipeline of development sites It is 18 months since Tesco bought 65% of Dobbies and 8 months since it became the outright owner. Gardenforum asks Chief Executive James Barnes what influence the supermarket has had and about his expansion plans. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 25 Mar 09

Refinancing funds Wyevale for the next three years Revealing more details of Wyevale’s refinancing, Nicholas Marshall says the position for suppliers has improved dramatically and that some credit insurers are providing cover for them again already. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Mar 09

Patience pays off for Whitehall Garden Centre Whitehall Garden Centre has won planning permission, after many postponements, to double the size of its garden centre at Lacock in Wiltshire. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Mar 09

Kitching returns with Beckworth Emporium Former Blooms of Bressingham chief executive, Jon Kitching, is to launch the Beckworth Emporium with his new partner, David Brown. It will be neither a garden centre nor a farm shop, but the best of both. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Mar 09

Cost cutting at Homebase offsets lower sales and margin Homebase says sales in garden maintenance and horticulture saw particularly difficult trading conditions in January and February. Home Retail is to reduce store staff by 1000, mainly at Homebase. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Mar 09

Marshalls sees shift to ‘Don't Move, Improve’ Despite seeing a shift to ‘Don't Move, Improve’, Marshalls is closing seven landscape design centres. It will decide on continuing sponsorship of Chelsea, after this year’s flower show. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Mar 09

Sinclair to continue negotiations over Bolton Fell William Sinclair has expressed disappointment at the level of compensation proposed by Natural England for Bolton Fell, which is due to become a Special Area of Conservation. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Mar 09

West Hagley makes it two for Webbs Webbs Garden Centres has taken control of West Hagley, one of the Hurrans Garden Centres that are in administration. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Mar 09

Wyevale completes its refinancing Wyevale Garden Centres has tonight completed the refinancing of its business with Bank of Scotland and its major shareholders. “Everyone involved with Wyevale will be pleased to see the financial stability that this agreement brings,” said chief executive, Nicholas Marshall. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Feb 09

New Monthly Nursery Round-up by Peter Dawson Here’s the first round-up of news from British nurseries by Peter Dawson, former editor of Nurseryman and Garden Centre magazine. His new monthly ‘column’ will provide news and views from the growers across the country. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 24 Feb 09

Hurrans unlikely to continue as a group It is likely that the future of Hurrans Garden Centres will be decided by the end of March. However, it is unlikely that they will remain trading as a group. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Feb 09

CX replaced at Flying Brands after 8 months Tricia Killen, who became CX of Flying Brands last June, has been replaced by Stephen Cook, a nominee of Sir Tom Hunter. Hunter's recent quest to buy the group had been rejected. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Feb 09

Sales grow at Notcutts, Haskins, Forest Garden and Gardman The latest updates in Company Results include the most recent trading figures for Ball Horticultural Europe, Syngenta Seeds, Alexander Rose, Gardman, Haddonstone, Bents Garden Centre, Country Homes and Gardens, Haskins Garden Centres, Decco and Notcutts. For a summary, see more... (This article is open to all readers)...
Byline: George Bullivant 17 Feb 09

New funds for New Era Aquaculture New Era Aquaculture Limited, whose fish feeds to sell through gardens centres, has raised £300,000 investment to develop the business. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 17 Feb 09

B&Q launches its greenest ever store B&Q is celebrating the opening of its greenest ever store, at New Malden, Surrey. 50 per cent less carbon emissions and the biggest range of One Planet Home products in London. See more...
Byline: B&Q 11 Feb 09

All-In-One acquires land to expand All-In-One has acquired land that almost doubles the size of the garden centre. Finance director, Jason Stafford, has engaged Ernest Wertheim to advise on extending the garden centre. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Feb 09

Baugur demise delays Wyevale agreement Nicholas Marshall expects that completion of Wyevale's new financial arrangements will be delayed by a few days only, following the appointment of an administrator for Baugur. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Feb 09

Quick rescue for Wolf Garten The manufacturing arm of Wolf Garten, placed in the hands of an insolvency administrator last month, is to be bought by MTD of the US. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Feb 09

Wyevale refinancing will be completed despite Baugur filing Rumours that high street stores including Wyevale could be closed following news that Baugur Group has filed for bankruptcy protection, are "silly, ill informed and irresponsible" according to Wyevale CX, Nicholas Marshall. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Feb 09

Woodthorpe makes it four with Spring Garden Centre Woodthorpe Garden Centres Ltd has today completed the purchase of Spring Garden Centre, which lies a few miles north of Hull. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Jan 09

Wyevale refinancing - almost there The refinancing of Wyevale should be completed on Tuesday. This, says Marshall, will place the garden centre chain in a better position than any time since the company was taken private. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Jan 09

Administrators appointed for Hurrans Garden Centres Ltd Gary J Corbett and Colin Burke of Milner Boardman & Partners were appointed joint administrators for Hurrans Garden Centres Ltd at 3.30pm this afternoon. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Jan 09

Hurrans - for sale A notice has appeared in the Financial Times today, advertising Hurrans, one of the country's oldest garden centre groups, for sale. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Jan 09

GCA names its garden centre of the year Bents claims the title GCA Garden Centre of the Year 2009, just ahead of last year’s winner, Webbs of Wychbold. All in One, Donaghadee, Poplars Nursery and Taylors Bulbs were among the other winners. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 26 Jan 09

The Scotsman runs VAT exposé on Dobbies The Scotsman has published what it claims to be an internal Dobbies memo, which suggests that Scotland's largest garden centre chain is passing on the government's VAT cut to customers only if they complain. To see the full article, click on the website button...
Byline: George Bullivant 25 Jan 09

Wyevale restarts management training scheme Wyevale is restarting its management training scheme and is looking for internal and external candidates for the programme that will prepare them for garden centre management. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Jan 09

TGCMC to publish Turf Professional From April the Turf Professional magazine will be published under license by The Garden Communication and Media Co (TGCMC), who also publish Garden Trade News. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Jan 09

Hopes for quick end to German insolvency of WOLF-Garten Supplies of Wolf tools should be unaffected by the insolvency of WOLF-Garten GmbH & Co KG, the German manufacturing company. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Jan 09

Documentation delays restructuring of Wyevale It may take another week to complete the long awaited financial restructuring of Wyevale, the country’s largest chain of garden centres. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Jan 09

Deroma UK Acquires Mondian Deroma has acquired the Cirencester-based pot distributor, Mondian. Effective immediately, the acquisition gives Deroma a greater share of the outdoor and indoor pots market, as well as a significant projected increase in turnover for 2009.
Byline: Deroma 16 Jan 09

Homebase and B&Q - tight on costs Tight cost control means that the Home Retail Group, parent of Argos and Homebase, will meet market expectations for profits despite falling sales; while B&Q is to withdraw from sponsoring the British Olympic Association. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Jan 09

Bedding and Christmas boost for Golden Acres The wholesale production arm of the Dorset-based Golden Acres Group is upping bedding plant production by nine per cent this year. Christmas was also a success for the retail arm. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 14 Jan 09

Four more conservatory concessions for Leekes Leekes, the Welsh home and garden retailer, is to open four conservatory concessions on garden centres in the southwest. Three will be on Wyevale garden centres. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Jan 09

Marshalls consults over closure of landscape display centres With the market for repair and maintenance in domestic housing forecast to fall 15% this year, Marshalls, the landscape materials group, is reducing manufacturing capacity and the scale of its consumer initiatives. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Jan 09

Livingston to leave Wyevale Wyevale has appointed a new purchasing director on news that Andrew Livingston, COO, is to return to his DIY roots. CX, Nicholas Marshall is pleased with Christmas and expects his new funding structure to be in place by the end of next week. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Jan 09

Christmas trade very much a 'curate's egg' With both Next and Debenhams reporting lower sales in the Christmas period, garden centres appear to have fared the festive season better than the high street retailers. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 06 Jan 09

Margins are returning at Sinclair Latest results from William Sinclair show the impact of difficult trading in 2008 and a poor peat harvest. However, margins are now recovering as inflationary pressures subside. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Jan 09

2008 Review Gardenforum reported on 18 garden centres changing hands last year. There was also the demise of wholesaler Spread, and a difficult year for Sir Tom Hunter’s investments in Dobbies, Flying Brands and Wyevale. For a review of 2008 and what to watch in 2009, see 'more'... (This article open to non-subscribers to see what you missed!)
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Jan 09

Wolverhampton garden centre to close The Pavilion Garden Centre, near Wolverhampton, is holding a closing down sale. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 31 Dec 08

Brookside makes it 24 for Klondyke Klondyke has today completed the acquisition of Brookside Garden Centre in Poynton, Cheshire, which had been in administration. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Dec 08

Craft Central calls in administrators The directors of Craft Central have applied to place the company in administration. The company has stores on 40 garden centres that supply materials for the craft hobbyist. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Dec 08

WCC counters Wyevale press speculation A press report that Sir Tom Hunter's West Coast Capital would lose all of its investment in Wyevale is ‘erroneous’ according to WCC. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 17 Dec 08

Armed raiders attack Priory Farm One of East Surrey's leading plant centres was targeted by armed raiders last Saturday. A woman employee suffered a broken arm in the attack. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 09 Dec 08

Forest Garden completes Hartlebury expansion ahead of schedule 103 employees of Forest Garden have transferred from Eardisley to the new expanded manufacturing site at Hartlebury, which will be operational in January. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Dec 08

Resilient 3rd quarter results from Kingfisher DIY sales hold up at B&Q despite economic backdrop and wet August. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Nov 08

Planning shock for award-winning garden centre Two weeks after topping the Garden Retail evening with three awards, Sidmouth Garden Centre has been hit with an enforcement order to close its popular farm shop, despite receiving approval from planning officers. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Nov 08

Hunter’s bid for Flying Brands is grounded Discussions between Sir Tom Hunter and the board of Flying Brands that might have led to an acquisition have ended without being able to agree a price. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Nov 08

Future makes it 12 with All-In-One All-In-One Garden Centre of Middleton Rochdale has become the latest member of the Future Marketing Group. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Nov 08

Latest financial results from UK garden companies The latest updates in Company Results show recovery at Roundstone Nurseries and a return to profit for Westland Horticulture. Several other companies reported lower profits or losses. See more (this article is open to all readers)...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Nov 08

Slowdown in domestic landscape sector, says Marshalls Demand continues to fall in commercial and domestic market says Marshalls. Only the public sector remains resilient. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 13 Nov 08

Lifetime Achievement Award for Whitehall Centenarian Highlights of last night's Garden Retail Awards include 3 wins for the newly refurbished Sidmouth Garden Centre and a Lifetime Achievement Award for Whitehall Garden Centre's centenarian owner Phyllis Self. For all the winners, see more...
Byline: George Bullivant 13 Nov 08

Hills GC changes hands, Brookside in administration Brookside Garden Centre in Poynton, Cheshire, was put into administration on October 26 and in a separate move, Hills Garden Centre, which was also owned by Chris Halsall, has been sold to a local businessman. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 11 Nov 08

Financial problems beset Chempak Chempak, the specialist garden fertiliser supplier, product packager and operator of the Garden Direct online trading business, is seeking a company voluntary arrangement with its creditors. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 10 Nov 08

Garden centre loses thousands in night raid A Staffordshire garden centre was ransacked over the weekend losing the contents of the safe, tools and garden machinery. See more...
Byline: Gardenforum 10 Nov 08

Global award for Wiggly Wigglers Wiggly Wigglers, who mail-order gardening products, has won the $50,000 Dell small business award for its innovative use of online social networking. See more...
Byline: Gardenforum 10 Nov 08

New plan will bring financial security to Wyevale Banks and shareholders are to back the 3-year plan for Wyevale. It’s a return to traditional garden centres using the Country Gardens model developed by Nicholas Marshall. This story is open to all - see more...
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Nov 08

Henri Studio ceases UK manufacturing Henri Studio is closing its Somerset manufacturing base after 25 years. All supplies will, in future, be shipped from Illinois. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Nov 08

Bestwick to leave Gardman Managing director, Andy Bestwick, is to leave Gardman in January. For the time being, his role will be covered by the company’s new Chief Executive, Mark Pearson, who starts next week. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 31 Oct 08

Administrators move into HotSpring Spas - updated Directors of HotSpring Spas Ltd, which has concessions on at least 15 garden centres, have filed for administration. The company is for sale. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 31 Oct 08

Groundforce buys Wicklow Wood Groundforce, Ireland’s leading distributor of garden and leisure products has acquired Wicklow Garden Products (Wicklow Wood). See more...
Byline: Groundforce 29 Oct 08

Independent review of Wyevale for HBOS Over the weekend newspapers have reported that KPMG has been appointed to review Wyevale’s profitability at the request of HBOS. The review has in fact been completed and the garden centre group is confident of agreeing new long-term funding from the bank by Christmas. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Oct 08

Syngenta adds Goldsmith to seed portfolio Swiss based Syngenta has announced a $74 million deal to buy the Californian plant breeder, Goldsmith Seeds. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Oct 08

Glee confirms lower footfall Figures released today by Glee confirm that footfall was lower than in the last two years. However, the show organisers claim that there was an increase in the number of buyers from UK multiple retailers. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Oct 08

Garden centre sales fall in August and September Garden centre sales have lost some of the strong gains they made in Aug - Sept 2007 according to the most recent GCA Barometer of Trade. It also shows that over the last 12 months, sales of outdoor plants have fallen to less than 20% of garden centres’ turnover, while income from catering has increased to 15% and gifts continue to grow. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Oct 08

Leicestershire Garden Centre calls in the administrator The Grange Garden Centre at Asfordby Hill, Melton Mowbray, has called in the administrators. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 17 Oct 08

Brintex buys B&M Publications Brintex, organiser of Totally DIY and Totally Tools, has acquired Builders Merchant News and its associated publications. This offers new channels to garden manufacturers. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Oct 08

Wilkinson aim for 10% of the garden market Last week's GIMA meeting heard how Wilkinson has grown its share of the garden market from 2% to 6% in recent years. The target is to reach double figures within the next few years. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 13 Oct 08

August and September sales were dismal say Frosts Paul Wright, managing director of the Frosts Garden Centre group, told this week's GIMA meeting that he feared little recovery for the next 18 months. However a major shake-up has put Frosts in a much stronger position. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Oct 08

Wyevale says Baugur's problems will not affect it Wyevale boss says the reduction in trade credit cover is an irrational, knee-jerk reaction to the banking crisis in Iceland. No supplier needs to worry about being paid. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Oct 08

Notcutts buys six NWF garden centres Notcutts has acquired the six garden centres put up for sale by NWF earlier this year. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Oct 08

Scotts Miracle-Gro completes purchase of Humax Scotts Miracle-Gro has bought the compost and growing media specialist, Humax. Over the next few months Scotts will integrate the Humax brands and operations into its own. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Oct 08

Merger creates biggest player in Europe’s garden timber market Leading garden timber manufacturer Hillhout has merged with Dutch brand and prominent industry player, Gouderak BV, to create one of the largest garden timber firms in Europe.
Byline: Hillhout 01 Oct 08

Strong summer trading at Dobbies The half-year statement from Tesco says it is pushing on with plans to accelerate the expansion of Dobbies towards a national network of garden centres. Sales rose 12% including contributions from two new centres, Sandyholm and Southport. The business saw strong summer trading despite a wet August.
Byline: Tesco 01 Oct 08

Early signs that the garden sector is not immune from the crisis Dudley Transport has suspended deliveries for two weeks while its owner, Kinglea Plants, rationalises its customer base. Uncertainty has also arisen over the financial security of Baugur, a shareholder in Wyevale. See more ...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Sep 08

Second profit warning from William Sinclair William Sinclair Holdings has warned that its profits will be significantly lower than market expectations due to a failure of its peat harvest. As a result the final dividend will be cut. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 25 Sep 08

Retailers drawn into dispute over ornamental stone A dispute between two manufacturers of ornamental Stone has surfaced at Glee as Redwood Stone warns retailers against buying unlawful products from its rival, Garden Dreams. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Sep 08

Dobbies to build greenest garden centre Dobbies has acquired a new garden centre site belonging to its Aberdeen rival, James Cocker & Sons. It plans to build its greenest garden centre yet. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Sep 08

Worsley Hall Garden Centre to close It has been reported that Worsley Hall Garden Centre will close having been sold to the property developer, Peel Holdings. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Sep 08

B&Q anticipates very tough times ahead Despite tough trading conditions Kingfisher has increased profits for the last six months at B&Q and internationally. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Sep 08

Reorganisation and name change for HART There is to be a name change for HART as Jessica Adams carries out major surgery at the group that provides services to smaller garden centres. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Sep 08

It’s a difficult trading environment for Homebase Today's trading statement from the Home Retail Group shows like-for-like sales at Homebase 10% lower than a year ago. In light of market conditions there will be a substantial write down in the value of Homebase assets. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Sep 08

New COO for Scotts Miracle-Gro Jim Hagedorn, chairman and chief executive of Scotts Miracle-Gro has appointed a retailer as his new chief operating officer (COO). Mark Baker was president and CEO of Gander Mountain, a leading outdoor retailer in the US and before that he was with Home Depot. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Sep 08

Hunter unveils Wyevale's Plan Apple Sir Tom Hunter showed his commitment to play an active role as the new chairman of Wyevale by hosting the launch of Plan Apple, its strategy for sustainable development. Today the group announced a ban on polystyrene trays. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Sep 08

Spotless targets 40% growth from garden market Spotless UK. until recently known as Guaber, is to change its name again to Spotless Punch and expand its presence in the garden market. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Sep 08

Northern Garden Centres break from Future Marketing Five northern garden centres have left the buying group Future Marketing with effect from the first of September. They will be working more closely together as the Trans-Pennine group. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Sep 08

£2.5m Restructuring at Forest Garden Forest has announced a £2.5m restructuring that will see a major new development at Hartlebury and the closure of Eardisley. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Sep 08

Timetable for closure of Bolton Fell still unknown It will be several years before William Sinclair loses its supply of peat from Bolton Fell following confirmation by Natural England that DEFRA had submitted the site to the EU as a potential SAC. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Sep 08

Nicholas Marshall to take over at Wyevale Sir Tom Hunter is to assume the chairmanship of Wyevale with Nicholas Marshall, currently chief executive of Country Homes and Gardens taking over the role of chief executive officer. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Sep 08

Domestic Slowdown at Marshalls Marshalls say that a sharp slowdown in the domestic market for landscape products has offset continued growth in the commercial and public sector. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Aug 08

Marshalls attacks Glee Having decided not to exhibit at Glee this year, Marshalls has taken the unusual step of criticising the garden industry's largest trade show. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Aug 08

Wyevale appoint Andrew Livingston as COO Wyevale Garden Centres Ltd today announced the appointment of Andrew Livingston as Chief Operating Officer with immediate effect. See more...
Byline: Wyevale Garden Centres Ltd 20 Aug 08

NWF actively selling its garden centre division NWF is in the process of actively selling its six garden centres and expects to complete a sale later this year as the group looks to rationalise and focus on its three specialist distribution divisions. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 14 Aug 08

WCC makes first approach for all of Flying Brands Further to recent speculation, Flying Brands has confirmed it has received a very preliminary approach from Sir Tom Hunter’s West Coast Capital, which holds a 29.9 per cent stake in the company. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 08 Aug 08

GCA names Best Garden Centres in North and South Thames The first area winners have been declared in the competition to find this year's Best GCA Garden Centre. The awards, following judging in the North Thames and South Thames areas, were announced at two recent ceremonies. To see the winners, see more...
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Aug 08

New CX plans Flying Brands recovery Today's interim statement from Flying Brands, the parent for Flying Flowers and Gardening Direct, shows the size of the problems facing the mail order group and how the new chief executive plans to stem the decline in customer numbers. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Aug 08

Wyevale reorganises Regions Wyevale has reorganised its regional management structure. A spokesman said that the group is turning the screw on overheads given the current economic situation. It has also appointed a new advertising agency. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 31 Jul 08

Latest Company Results show increased revenues in 2007 The latest company results published on Tradeforum show sales at Draper Tools rising to over £61m while sales at Spread Garden Supplies, which faces possible closure, dropped below £20m. Retailers showing growth include Van Hage, Woodcote Green Nurseries and The Garden Store. Among the nurseries, Europlants (UK) grew 14%. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Jul 08

Compost prices will rise 30% warns Sinclair The weather and rising costs have forced a profit warning from William Sinclair Holdings, despite sales being stronger than last year. Chief executive, Bernard Burns, says the industry should accept that growing media prices will be 30% higher next year. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Jul 08

Tetra sale falls through The US consumer goods group Spectrum Brands has pulled out its deal to sell its pet group, which includes Tetra Europe, to Salton. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 16 Jul 08

Redevelopment plans on schedule at Frosts Development plans to refurbish and extend much of the retail space at Frosts Garden Centre, Woburn Sands are on schedule. Phase 2 will be completed and open to customers by the end of November 2008. See more...
Byline: Frosts Garden Centres 14 Jul 08

Solus bags the Joseph Bentley tool business Solus Garden and Leisure has acquired the Joseph Bentley garden tool business. It is also inviting retailers to visit the new Denewood display, which shows a clear change of direction for the garden furniture brand. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Jul 08

Closing greeting from Flying Brands Shortly after appointing a new chief executive, Flying Brands has announced that it will close the Greetings Direct mail order business and website. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Jul 08

Domestic sales slow for Marshalls Marshalls is focusing on cost reduction and cash management in an increasingly uncertain market. Gains in public and commercial sectors are offset by a slowdown on the domestic side. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Jul 08

Shoots buys Cobham garden centre Shoots Garden Centres has acquired its third garden centre, Seymours Garden Centre in Cobham. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 26 Jun 08

Gem and Freeland boost Sinclair sales Profits are under pressure at William Sinclair as it tries to increase prices to reflect higher raw material, energy and transport costs. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Jun 08

Leading wholesaler consults staff about closure Spread Garden Supplies Limited, a leading wholesaler to garden centres, has entered a period of consultation with its staff over the possible closure of the business. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Jun 08

Artline is placed in administration Artline (UK) Ltd, the distributor of resin based garden ornaments, was placed in administration on June 10th. The business continues to trade while a new buyer is sought. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Jun 08

Webbs, Notcutts and Haddonstone return to profit This month’s updates to Gardenforum's Company Results pages include increased profits for Allensmore Nurseries, Mr Fothergill's Seeds, William Strike and Gordon Rigg (Nurseries). Among the other updated results are Frosts Garden Centre, Notcutts, Klondyke, Barlow Tyrie and David Austin Roses. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Jun 08

New owners for P. de Jager & Sons The bulb specialist, P. de Jager & Sons Limited, has been sold by Thelma de Jager. She has retired after 50 years in her husband's family business. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Jun 08

Thermoflor builds the first in new chain of Russian garden centres Thermoflor has built a new garden centre in St Petersburg in Russia. The garden centre officially opened its doors to the public in April. The enterprise is intended to be the first branch of a new chain of garden centres that will be opened in Russia under the name of Greenland. See more...
Byline: Thermoflor 12 Jun 08

Drop in seasonal sales hits Homebase Positive May sales fail to make up for drop in seasonal sales at Homebase in March and April. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Jun 08

The Princess Royal opens Lancashire garden centre The Princess Royal opened the new Barton Grange garden centre at Brock in Lancashire yesterday before 500 specially invited guests. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Jun 08

Salton to acquire United Pet Group / Tetra Europe The US consumer goods group Spectrum Brands announced the sale of their complete pet business, under the name United Pet Group (UPG), to the company Salton, Inc. In Europe, UPG is known as Tetra Europe, which includes the successful pet brands Tetra and 8in1.
Byline: Tetra Europe 10 Jun 08

Garden & Leisure set for growth The persistent rumours that Garden & Leisure might be sold have been fuelled recently by the revelation that Dobbies is considering an acquisition worth £45m. Gardenforum interviewed directors, Neville Prest and Carol Paris to find out the truth. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Jun 08

7am on 3rd July garden retail starts a new era Tesco has declared its bid for remaining shares in Dobbies unconditional and set the date for delisting it from AIM. With news of a new Wyevale in Kent, this sets the framework for the garden retail sector for the next few years. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Jun 08

Kingfisher reveals plans to revive profits at B&Q New targets at B&Q propose to double profit margins as the new management at Kingfisher seeks to drive up shareholder value. However poor weather and an early Easter have inevitably dented the first quarter. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Jun 08

Further problems for Flying Brands Flying Brands, 29.9% owned by Sir Tom Hunter and the umbrella group for Flying Flowers, Gardening Direct and Garden Bird Supplies, has issued its second profit warning of the year. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 May 08

Hunter throws in the Dobbies towel - Updated Having lost a court battle to prevent Dobbies issuing new shares, Sir Tom Hunter's West Coast Capital has accepted an offer to sell its Dobbies shares to Tesco at £12 each. As a result Dobbies is to give shareholders more time to consider the open offer. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 May 08

Europlants build for the future Visitors to Europlants UK Ltd last week may have been surprised that the company’s old offices were being raised to the ground!
Byline: Europlants UK Ltd 20 May 08

Hunter seeks deal with Tesco Sir Tom Hunter's West Coast Capital is seeking talks with Tesco to find a fair solution for shareholders having today failed to persuade the courts to block Dobbies intended share issue. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 May 08

Winners and losers in the garden industry Latest results on Gardenforum’s Company Results show profit growth at Grange Fencing, Alexander Rose, Proteam (UK), Stewart Plastics, Deroma, Doff Portland , W Crowder & Sons and Hillier Nurseries. But 12 companies show significantly lower profits or losses. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 May 08

Tesco offers a deal including 31 Wyevale stores Reports by Scottish newspapers on yesterday's court hearing between Sir Tom Hunter and Dobbies revealed an offer by Tesco and potential acquisitions for Dobbies. Hunter is seeking to block Dobbies’ plan to raise £150 million from shareholders. See more…
Byline: Gardenforum 13 May 08

Whitehall joins Tillington The addition of Whitehall Garden Centres further strengthens the Tillington Group which now has a turnover of £170 million from 11 members and 30 branches. See more...
Byline: Tillington Group 12 May 08

West Coast Capital sues Dobbies West Coast Capital, Wyevale’s owner, has started legal proceedings against Dobbies to prevent the company's proposed open offer to shareholders. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 09 May 08

Homebase warns of falling sales Reporting results for the year to 3rd March, Home Retail Group warns that sales at Homebase have started weaker than expected this year, but that the group that includes Argos is well positioned both operationally and financially. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Apr 08

Tenterden Garden Centre to open second site Grovewell Garden Centres wins permission for a second garden centre in Kent. Works start immediately. See more...
Byline: Edward Boult 29 Apr 08

TGCMC buys the GTN Magazine The Garden Communication and Media Co has acquired Garden Trade News, the title that it has published under license from EMAP for the last 4 years. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Apr 08

Strong growth for Pets at Home The largest pet retailer in the UK continues to prosper with innovation and 20 new stores driving sales up 16% in the last 12 months. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Apr 08

Sustainable retail is here to stay Returning from the World Retail Congress, the CEO of Kingfisher, Ian Cheshire, has commented in The Retail Bulletin that sustainable retail is one of the hottest topics in the industry at the moment and it is here to stay. See more…
Byline: from The Retail Bulletin 18 Apr 08

Scotsdales joins Tillington Scotsdales Garden Centre, one of the largest centres in the UK, has joined the Tillington Group of Garden Centres. This brings the Tillington Group turnover to almost £160 million. See more...
Byline: The Tillington Group 16 Apr 08

Klondyke wins appeal at Saville Garden Centre Klondyke Garden Centres has overturned, on appeal, the planning refusal to redevelop Savilles Garden Centre, which trades under the Strikes banner. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 13 Apr 08

Garden centre to receive royal opening Lancashire Evening Post reports that Barton Grange's new garden centre and marina will be officially opened by the Princess Royal and shows a video of Guy Topping. Click on Website (below) for video and to see the flower shaped urinals!
Byline: Lancashire Evening Post 12 Apr 08

Dobbies asks shareholders for £150m The new chairman of Dobbies Garden Centres gives further insight into Tesco’s strategy for the group in today’s results statement. The group is also raising £150m from shareholders. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Apr 08

Dobbies buys Sandyholm Garden Centre Dobbies Garden Centres plc announces that it has agreed to acquire the business and assets of Sandyholm Garden Centre and Coffee Shop at Crossford in Lanarkshire, for a cash consideration of £8m plus stock at valuation. See more...
Byline: Dobbies Garden Centres plc 04 Apr 08

Blue Diamond adds 3 from Garden Centres of Excellence The Blue Diamond Group has acquired 3 garden centres from Garden Centres of Excellence, allowing it to claim that it has become the third largest group in the UK. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Apr 08

Hozelock invests £1m in state-of-the-art plant Hozelock has been shortlisted for 7 engineering awards alongside Rolls Royce, Dunlop and Leyland Trucks. It has also announced a £1m investment at its new Birmingham plant. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Apr 08

Butters announces shake up to cut costs Following the buyout of Keith Butters last year by Butters Group, the distributor of plants and bulbs has announced a shake up in the face of tough trading conditions. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Apr 08

Major European Expansion for CASCO Group CASCO Group have announced serious expansion plans into mainland Europe by way of the acquisition of Korail Group. This acquisition means CASCO Group now own the well-known European brand ‘Aquastyl’. See more...
Byline: CASCO Group 01 Apr 08

Forest Garden returns to profit with Home Delivery It is almost two years since Michael Timmis, the former owner of Forest Garden, joined with Jonathan Halford and AW Jenkinson in a management buyout, releasing the company from the short-termism of 3i. How has it progressed? See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 31 Mar 08

New Place Nurseries reorganises Sussex based New Place Nurseries have reorganised following the retirement of George and Priscilla Duncan. They have also taken stock from Hewton Nurseries that is to close. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Mar 08

Kingfisher cuts back on new investment Kingfisher, B&Q’s parent company delivers the forecast dividend cut and reduces capital expenditure to stop debts growing further. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Mar 08

Crocus links up with Homebase Crocus has signed a major deal to provide an online plant service to Homebase customers. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 25 Mar 08

Klondyke makes it 24 with Lady Green Klondyke Garden Centres has, this afternoon, completed the deal to buy Lady Green Garden Centre, a GCA Garden Centre of Excellence. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Mar 08

Barton Grange delays opening of new centre Barton Grange is to open its new garden centre at Brock, the week after Easter. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Mar 08

Dobbies' third new garden centre proposal this month A week after announcing two proposals for new garden centres, Dobbies has revealed plans for a third, near Carlisle. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Mar 08

Weather hits peat harvest but Sinclair is upbeat The latest half-year statement from William Sinclair is upbeat, despite showing results that are lower than last year. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Mar 08

Flying Brands cuts dividend after difficult year Flying Brands, the mail order group that operates Flying Flowers, Gardening Direct, Garden Bird supplies and Sarah Raven’s Kitchen & Garden, has had a very difficult year in 2007. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 16 Mar 08

Blaze at West Country Garden Centre 14 fire engines and around 75 firefighters fought a blaze at a West Country garden centre on Thursday night. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 16 Mar 08

Sales fall at Homebase Just when garden centres seem to be having a strong start to the year, Homebase reports a 5% fall in like / like sales in the first 8 weeks of 2008 and a fall for the last 12 months. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Mar 08

Wyevale to extend Sanders Garden World Wyevale is to display plans that would double the internal sales area at Sanders Garden world, one of the garden centres that it acquired last autumn. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 13 Mar 08

Two more sites for Dobbies On the eve of opening its 23rd garden centre this weekend at Southport, Dobbies has submitted planning permission for two further stores. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Mar 08

M&S to sell garden tools and compost Marks & Spencer is significantly expanding its gardening range in 14 of its larger stores and on the M&S website. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Mar 08

William Sinclair aims for substantial growth In 2005 William Sinclair, the compost manufacturer was ill. Three years later, Bernard Burns tells Gardenforum, it is demonstrably healthy having learnt to play to its strengths. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Mar 08

Marshalls uses landscaping to drive product sales Results published today by Marshalls show the importance of display centres, landscape installation and the sponsorship of RHS Chelsea in driving sales growth. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Mar 08

15 new look garden centres for Countrywide Countrywide has expanded its gardening range with 15 new look Garden Centres within its stores. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Mar 08

Hillier assumes Notcutts cash and carry business Hillier Nurseries has acquired Notcutts Select and Collect. At the same time John Woods Nurseries has opened a cash and carry service on the former Notcutts nursery near Woodbridge. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Mar 08

Wyevale buys Heighley Gate It has finally been confirmed that Wyevale has bought Heighley Gate Garden Centre, one of the North East’s leading garden centres, just north of Morpeth near the A1. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Feb 08

Work starts at Pennells, Lincoln Work started last week at Pennells Garden Centre, Lincoln. The 6-month development is expected to double turnover. Pennells is one of the oldest garden companies in the UK. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 25 Feb 08

Investment bank takes stake in Hartman Less than 3 successful years after Hartman, the European garden furniture group, was rescued from administration by a management buyout, 40% of the business has been sold to an investment bank. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Feb 08

B&Q stronger to face tougher retail environment Fourth quarter results from Kingfisher show a small decline in sales at B&Q, offset by growth from France and Eastern Europe. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Feb 08

Country Gardens makes it 13 Country Gardens has acquired its 13th garden centre with the purchase of Flowerland Garden Centre (Salisbury). See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Feb 08

HART members earn £640,000 A year after her management buyout of HART, backed by the Barwell, Jessica Adams is pleased with the progress that the buying group for smaller garden centres has made. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Feb 08

Wyevale focuses on plants Jim Hodkinson asked Wyevale’s horticultural staff for a ‘really big push’ as they are seen as the spearhead of Wyevale’s return to growth. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Feb 08

Profits tumble at NWF Shares in NWF, which operates 6 garden centres, were marked down sharply this morning following a fall in profits in the six months to the end of November. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Feb 08

Hillier returns to Mail Order After 20 years, Hillier Nurseries is returning to the mail order of plants and garden essentials. The catalogue however, has been replaced by the Hillier website. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Jan 08

Gows buy Burcot Garden Centre Nicci and Neil Gow have bought Burcot Garden Centre. Nicci will run the garden centre while Neil continues as director of GIMA. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Jan 08

Scotts face HSE probe over tragic accident Scotts Miracle-Gro may face prosecution over the death of a worker at the peat packing station on Hatfield Moor. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Jan 08

Nationwide coverage for Vital Earth There is a new force emerging in the market for peat free and organic composts and fertilisers. Vital Earth opened an £8m development at Ashbourne, 18 months ago. Further investment this year will bring nationwide distribution. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Jan 08

Directors leave Flying Brands after a poor Christmas Reporting poor Christmas sales, Flying Brands has announced that the chief executive and a non-exec director will be leaving. It has also pulled out of a major acquisition. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Jan 08

Langeveld in trouble Reports circulating in the trade, both in Europe and the US, suggest that the American-owned Dutch bulb supplier Langeveld has run into financial difficulties. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 17 Jan 08

Wood sells Delamore Young Plants Delamore, one of the country’s leading growers of young plants, has been sold to a management buyout by its owner Peter Wood. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 13 Jan 08

Sinclair buys Joseph Metcalf Consolidation within the garden sector continues with the acquisition by William Sinclair of Joseph Metcalf that has been announced this morning. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Jan 08

Jim Hodkinson takes control at Wyevale Jim Hodkinson takes over as chief executive of Wyevale Garden Centres after the departure of Barry Stevenson. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Jan 08

Marshalls opens more landscape centres The latest trading statement from Marshalls plc says it will open 3 more landscape Transformation Centres by the spring. Sales increased 7% and look positive for 2008. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Jan 08

News Review 2007 Here is our review of the News in 2007. This story is open to all our readers even if you are not a subscriber. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Jan 08

BPE takes major shareholding in Gardman Barclays Private Equity has acquired a major stake in Gardman, the UK’s leading supplier of wild bird care and garden products. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Dec 07

Hazelfield joins Blue Diamond Group The Blue Diamond Group has completed the purchase of Hazelfield Garden Centre late last night. This will become the group’s ninth garden centre. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Dec 07

Gun raid on Swansea garden centre Gunmen hit Wyevale garden centre in Swansea shortly after closing time last Sunday, holding the manager and staff at gun point. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Dec 07

Trebaron buys Sefton Meadows Garden Centre Mike Withers has bought Sefton Meadows Garden Centre as an addition to the group that includes Trebaron Garden Centre, Snowtime and Suntime. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Nov 07

National recognition for Marshalls plc Marshalls plc, the manufacturer of superior concrete and natural stone hard landscape products and sponsor of Chelsea Flower Show, has been voted one of Britain's most admired companies in a recent survey by Management Today and Nottingham Business School. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Nov 07

Golden Acres opens farm shop at Cadnam Golden Acres group has opened a farm shop at its New Forest garden centre. First year’s turnover is forecasted at £200,000. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 26 Nov 07

Scotts promise £6m on Advertising Scotts is to increase TV advertising by 40% next year. It is backing Weedol Max with £1.5m in an expected ‘War of Weeds’ with other new introductions. Evergreen lawn products will also reappear on screens next spring. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Nov 07

Notcutts remodels Landscapes division Notcutts is continuing its realignment by changing Notcutts Landscapes into a design consultancy operating from all 13 garden centres. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Nov 07

Gardenforum interviews Wyevale chief Barry Stevenson has been chief executive of Wyevale since June last year when the garden centre group was bought by Sir Tom Hunter’s West Coast Capital consortium. Under his control, turnover has increased almost 50%. But many in the trade question the progress Wyevale is making. Gardenforum visited Stevenson at one of his latest acquisitions, Sanders Garden World in Somerset, and asked his view of Wyevale’s progress. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Nov 07

Solus to stop selling Gardena Solus, the UK's largest wholesaler of gardening goods, is to stop distributing Gardena after 20 years. The range of watering equipment will be distributed by Husqvarna with its other brands. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Nov 07

Copseys welcomes Horticultural Training Charity Copseys, the Havant based grower, has provided a base for The Beneficial Foundation ‘Horticultural Training Centre’ that provides training and therapy for people with a wide range of disabilities. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Nov 07

Ball Horticultural acquires Darwin Plants Chicago based Ball Horticultural Company has acquired Dutch perennials company Darwin Plants - a leading exporter of herbaceous perennials. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Nov 07

Scotts Miracle-Gro Chairman praises European management Results from ScottsMiracle-Gro, the US parent of Scotts UK, show sales grew 6% to $2.87 billion. Chairman Jim Hagedorn singled out the management of International division, which includes the UK, for praise. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Nov 07

Gerry Murphy steps down from Kingfisher Kingfisher has surprised the market with news that Gerry Murphy will stand down as group chief executive on 2 February 2008, the end of the current financial year. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Nov 07

New funds for Dobbies Tesco has provided Dobbies with an acquisition war chest. At the same time Dobbies is to stop paying dividends thus depriving WCC of any income from its shares in Dobbies. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Oct 07

Warning from Flying Brands A dual hit from the post strikes and poor August weather has forced Flying Brands to issue a warning about trading at Flying Flowers and Gardening Direct. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Oct 07

Focus sells 41 stores Following a strategic review, Focus has sold 41 stores. Buyers include Homebase, Wickes, Sainsbury and Tesco. 39 remain to be sold. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Oct 07

Wyevale lays down the Ten Commandments Wyevale has published a consultation document that contains its ‘Ten Commandments’. This lays out how it expects its suppliers and environmental partners to assist it in the commitment to make Wyevale carbon neutral by 2010. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Oct 07

Barnes outlines Dobbies strategy with Tesco James Barnes, Dobbies chief executive, outlined the plans for his garden centres at yesterdays meeting of GIMA. He expects sales to exceed £1bn within 10 years. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Oct 07

Vilmorin to sell Suttons Seeds Vilmorin, the international seed producer, has announced its intention to sell Suttons Seeds and its other home gardening activities following a strategic review. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Oct 07

Voluntary liquidation of Scotts of Merriott One of the oldest nurseries in the UK, Scotts Nurseries of Merriott has gone into voluntary liquidation. Liquidators are looking for interest in the stock and mail order catalogue. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Oct 07

Wyevale buys garden centre in South East The latest garden centre to be purchased by Wyevale has been named. The acquisition of Old Barn Nurseries completed late on Friday night. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Oct 07

Shareholders consider sale of Downtown Garden Centre Local press reports suggest that Oldrids, the owner of Downtown Garden Centre, has received a takeover approach that would be acceptable. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Oct 07

GCA names Garden Centres of Excellence Despite the worst summer on record, according to the GCA, standards in the annual audit of 160 garden centre members have improved. 15 centres won the coveted title ‘Garden Centre of Excellence’. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Oct 07

Forest Garden closes assembly plant at Lockerbie Forest Garden is to close its assembly plant at Lockerbie to allow for expansion of the sawmill, which was the bottleneck during the demand surge caused by the spring storms. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Sep 07

Tesco takes control of Dobbies' Board Tesco has taken control of the Dobbies board, installing its own chairman and non-executive directors. Only two directors remain. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Sep 07

Profits up 72% at William Sinclair Results published today by William Sinclair show that the recovery strategy is working. Profits have increased and the company feels its green credentials and modern plant make it well placed for growth this year. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Sep 07

Three more garden centres for Wyevale Staff at three Peter Barratt’s Garden Centres have this morning received a letter telling them of the group's acquisition by Wyevale. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Sep 07

B&Q grows sales 4.8% in half year Over half B&Q’s store space will have been modernised by the year end, a new advertising campaign is launched and direct sourcing increases by 40%. Yet B&Q’s Gerry Murphy warns of tough times ahead. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Sep 07

Tesco bid for Dobbies closes The Tesco offer for Dobbies closed on Friday with 95% of shares owned by Tesco or Sir Tom Hunter. Seymour Pierce suggests how Tesco may counter Hunter’s ability to restrict Dobbies’ expansion - see more…
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Sep 07

Newspaper report shocks Gardman The first day of Glee was rocked by an erroneous story in the Mail on Sunday reporting that Gardman was to be sold. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Sep 07

Wyevale to close Hereford head office Local press has reported that workers at Wyevale Garden Centre's Hereford Service Centre were told on Friday that their jobs would be re-located to Slough. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Sep 07

More changes in top management at Scotts Miracle-Gro Scotts Miracle-Gro is looking for a new COO as Barry Sanders takes control of the North American business. The moves are part of a restructuring to improve long-term performance. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Sep 07

Dobbies MD to outline strategy at GIMA Following its acquisition by Tesco, Dobbies' MD, James Barnes, will outline the strategy for the group at the next GIMA business meeting. The meeting will also hear from an MP and the new MD of a leading chain of independent garden centres. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Sep 07

Homebase to store £20-£30m stock for next spring Homebase is to warehouse garden furniture for next year after a dismal second quarter hits sales. Margins however have improved. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Sep 07

Dobbies opens Chesterfield Dobbies opens its 22nd garden centre on time. Alongside the garden centre will be a large restaurant and a retail gallery housing several famous names. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Sep 07

6 more Transformation centres for Marshalls Marshalls will have 10 Garden and Driveway Display Centres for 2008. Chelsea sponsorship is providing the platform for a national design and installation service. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Sep 07

Wyevale buys Sanders Garden World Wyevale owners, West Coast Capital, the investment vehicle for Sir Tom Hunter, has purchased Sanders GardenWorld near Highbridge in Somerset in what is likely to be the first of 3 deals announced this month. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 31 Aug 07

Notcutts Completes Nursery Sale Notcutts Ltd confirms the sale of its nurseries business to John Woods Nurseries Ltd, which was completed on the 24th August as planned. The purchase became a possibility after a strategic review by Notcutts Ltd, which highlighted the benefits that could be achieved through a tighter focus on its retail activities. See more...
Byline: Notcutts 30 Aug 07

Garden centre group barred from revealing the truth Garden centre group, Garden and Leisure, found itself the victim of an embarrassing exposé in the national press but legally could say nothing, even though the allegations proved quite wrong. The owners also denied rumours of a possible sale. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Aug 07

Summer rain bogs Dobbies sales Days after Tesco becomes its controlling shareholder, Dobbies is forced to issue a profits warning and reveals the fees incurred in connection with the sale of the company. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Aug 07

GIMA director warns against direct imports GIMA director Neil Gow has warned retailers about the dangers of direct imports following the extensive product recalls by both Mattel and Fisher-Price. He suggested it was a timely warning for both manufacturers and retailers. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Aug 07

Tesco wins battle for Dobbies - Updated Tesco has won the battle for Dobbies. By Friday afternoon it had won acceptances from over 53% of Dobbies shareholders. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Aug 07

Stop this ‘blackmail’ now urges Klondyke’s David Yardley The group operations director of Klondyke has hit out at garden centres asking their suppliers to prop up their businesses. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 16 Aug 07

Turnover up, profits soar, margins up, at NWF Group Sales within the six garden centres of the NWF Group rose 38 per cent to £21.5 million (2006: £15.6m) in the year ending May 31 2007 … See more.
Byline: Peter Dawson 15 Aug 07

Hunter says ‘no bid’ to Dobbies – UPDATED Sir Tom Hunter’s West Coast Capital has decided not to bid against Tesco for Dobbies Garden Centres, unless circumstances change. However, neither will he sell his shares to the supermarket giant. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Aug 07

Mr Fothergill’s links with new plants partner Mr Fothergill’s has joined forces with newly established young plants producer J R Jersey Horticulture Ltd, which will supply the Suffolk-based company’s mail order customers with bedding and container plants featured in forthcoming catalogues. See more...
Byline: Mr Fothergill’s 09 Aug 07

West Sussex growers open gates to the public More than 15 top growers within WSGA (West Sussex Growers’ Association) are throwing open their nursery gates for people to find out how the county’s finest plants and fresh produce are grown. See more…
Byline: West Sussex Growers’ Association 07 Aug 07

Bid by Thursday or withdraw, Hunter is told The Takeover Panel has ruled that West Coast Capital must confirm its intention to bid for Dobbies or withdraw, by Thursday. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Aug 07

Tesco stands firm on Dobbies bid Shares in Dobbies Garden Centres are slipping back today as Tesco moves quickly to counter speculation that it might increase its bid. It has also revealed more of its strategy for Dobbies. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Aug 07

OFT decision boosts Dobbies shares Dobbies shares leapt 105p on news that there would be no objection from the OFT to Tesco’s bid for the garden centre group. The extended deadline for shareholders to accept the offer is next week. The movement of the share price suggests they are unlikely to do so. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Aug 07

£450k reward for Choice Members of Choice Marketing harvested a £450,000 rebate from their suppliers for hitting their sales targets for 2006. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Jul 07

Report provides wake up call for UK growers A new report generated by the HTA urges growers to compete less with each other and work more closely together. According to Tim Briercliffe, "There is really no alternative to closer collaboration and the sooner the industry moves in this direction the better." See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 26 Jul 07

Suttons Horticulture in administrative receivership The directors of leading supermarket plant supplier Suttons Horticulture called in the administrative receivers last week. The company based in Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, also owns Britain’s largest pot plant producer PA Moerman of Pinchbeck, Spalding. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 25 Jul 07

Marshalls plans domination of the garden improvement market Within 3 years Marshalls will have Transformation Centres across the country, offering a complete design and installation service for gardens, patios and drives. With replacing a garden likely to become as popular as renewing a kitchen, the aim is that Marshalls is the first place homeowners look when considering an upgrade for the garden. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 25 Jul 07

Good news from Sinclair William Sinclair has taken control of Freeland and confirmed that results for the year will be in line with market expectations. Shares have doubled in value over the same period. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Jul 07

GIMA joy for Husqvarna Husqvarna took the GIMA Sword of Excellence for an innovative Flymo shredder, while Westland's Unwins division took the award for Marketing Excellence with their solution for selling seed potatoes. Sinclair and Gardman (for the 6th consecutive time) shared the prestigious Supplier of the Year award. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Jul 07

Coach House Garden Centre closes The Coach House Garden Centre at Hartley Wintney has closed while the Trustees assess the options following the bankruptcy of its owner. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Jul 07

Tesco extends closing date for Dobbies bid Tesco has given Dobbies shareholders an extra 3 weeks to accept its offer of 1500p per share. At the same time West Coast Capital buys more shares at 1600p. The battle is not over. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Jul 07

Redwood Stone - Phoenix from the ashes Tim and Martin Redwood win a court order against two former employees and form a new company to bring Redwood Stone back to the market. See more…
Byline: Jean Vernon 18 Jul 07

Shoots entangle Gardens Etc Shoots, the W. Sussex garden centre, will buy Gardens Etc at Stanmore later this week. The garden centre was known formerly as Kiln Nurseries. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 17 Jul 07

Spread to close Thatcham depot Spread has written to customers with news of its plan to close the Thatcham depot at the end of August. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 16 Jul 07

Notcutts to sell Nurseries to management Following a review of its business Notcutts has decided to separate its growing and retail businesses. The nurseries will be sold to the directors in a management buyout. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Jul 07

Garden centre stops Sunday trading A Sussex garden centre has decided to close on Sundays for the sake of the families of staff and customers. Customer response has been amazing said Russells Garden Centre. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Jul 07

Hunter puts pressure on Tesco bid for Dobbies Sir Tom Hunter bought more shares in Dobbies late on Friday, increasing speculation that he will mount a counter bid. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Jul 07

Fire at Wyevale Garden Centre A blaze at Wyevale’s Swindon garden centre last night was probably started deliberately. Only prompt action by the fire brigade saved more serious damage. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Jun 07

Tesco moves the goalposts Just when it seemed Sir Tom Hunter’s WCC had secured enough shares to block the Tesco bid for Dobbies Garden Centres, Tesco reduces the percentage of shares it would accept to make its takeover unconditional. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Jun 07

Jon Kitching is to leave Wyevale For personal reasons Jon Kitching has decided not to accept the role of leading Wyevale’s new Horti-stores. However, there are new roles for Salim Sajid and Adam Dunnett. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Jun 07

The Two Bills return as Focus is sold Focus DIY has been sold today for £1, ending months of speculation after the debt laden chain of 256 DIY and garden stores was put up for sale. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Jun 07

Gardman settles legal action Gardman, which established Gardman Australia together with Brunnings Garden Products in February 2007, has settled a legal action against its former distributor in Australia, White International, for various IP infringements. See more...
Byline: Gardman 18 Jun 07

Hillier Trees grace the new RHS Glasshouse at Wisley Hillier have donated thousands of pounds worth of specimen trees and shrubs to the Wisley Glasshouse project, in recognition of over 140 years of association with the Royal Horticultural Society. See more...
Byline: Hillier Nurseries 15 Jun 07

Hunter digs in for a fight West Coast Capital has purchased just over one million shares in Dobbies, taking Sir Tom Hunter’s holding to over 20%, thus signalling to Tesco that he’s ready for a fight. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Jun 07

Will there be a bidding battle for Dobbies? Following Tesco’s bid for Dobbies there are many questions. Will Hunter bid? Will APAX mount a challenge? Why is Tesco bidding for Dobbies? Gardenforum prints excerpts from the weekend press. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Jun 07

Dobbies releases half year results Dobbies blames a disappointing May for a 7% increase in like for like sales since November. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Jun 07

Tesco bids for Dobbies In a shock move, Tesco makes recommended cash offer for Dobbies at £15 per share. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Jun 07

World’s largest bulb factory opens Dutch bulb producers De Ree Holland BV and K. van Bourgondien & Sons have opened the world’s largest bulb factory as they target the UK market. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Jun 07

B&Q cautious about the rest of the year B&Q is voted greenest company in the UK and delivers strong growth for Feb to April sales yet remains cautious fearing the impact of higher interest rates and seasonal shift. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Jun 07

Dobbies bidder is not Hunter? Research from Seymour Pierce names the possible bidder for Dobbies suggesting that it is not West Coast Capital. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 30 May 07

Dobbies announces bid talks Shares in Dobbies Garden Centres have soared £1.10 to over £13.30 on this morning’s announcement of bid talks. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 30 May 07

Hunter increases stake in Dobbies Sir Tom Hunter has increased his stake in Dobbies for the second time this year. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 May 07

Bradstone are overall winners at Chelsea It was an ironic twist that Bradstone should scoop the coveted Best Show Garden award in the first year that Marshalls sponsor the Chelsea Flower Show. There were medals also for Hillier Nurseries, Westland, Crocus, Millbrook Landscapes, Notcutts and Marshalls. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 22 May 07

Southport planners say ‘yes’ to Dobbies With only one more planning hurdle to jump, Dobbies is confident of a spring opening for Southport. Dobbies now has 3 garden centres that it expects to open before next spring. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 19 May 07

New Owners for Q Lawns Q Lawns turf growers have been bought by Harrowden Farms Ltd from Northamptonshire. Previous owners, Land Improvement Holdings put the thriving turf and farming business on the market after deciding to make changes to their investment portfolio. See more...
Byline: Q Lawns Ltd 14 May 07

Acquisition points to bright future for Flowers Direct and Flowergram Flowersdirect, the UK’s fastest growing floral and gifting service, has completed the acquisition of flowergram, one of the industry’s best-established networks.
Byline: Flowersdirect 14 May 07

Would you believe it!!! Bosmere Products Ltd has issued a press release following a dispute with Apollo Gardening UK. In it they claim Mr Whelan, Managing Director of Apollo Gardening UK, admitted the deliberate acquisition and repackaging of Bosmere goods... See more…
Byline: Bosmere Products Ltd 14 May 07

Trading boost for William Sinclair William Sinclair, whose brands include J Arthur Bower's, Silvaperl and New Horizon, tells investors that profits will be higher than market expectations. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 08 May 07

Burall Floraprint & Floramedia operations to Merge Floramedia UK’s head office in Colchester is relocating to larger premises over the bank holiday weekend, in preparation for the closure of the Buralls operations at Wisbech. See more…
Byline: Burall Floraprint and Floramedia UK 04 May 07

Webbs celebrate 70 years at Wychbold Webbs, the UK Garden Centre of the Year, is celebrating 70 years at Wychbold in Worcestershire with an exhibition highlighting the family firm's remarkable history on the site. Click on the website button to see photos and the full story.
Byline: Webbs 03 May 07

70% growth for Scotts UK Scotts have published results showing that UK consumer purchases grew 70% for the 3 months to 31st March. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 02 May 07

Van Hage is set for expansion As Van Hage reshapes itself for growth, the North London garden centre group announces that it is to be the anchor tenant in Garden Park Investments’ proposed garden centre at Peterborough. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Apr 07

Guaber becomes Spotless Guaber UK is to change its name to Spotless UK. The company sells garden, pet and household brands such as Fito, Vape, Vapet, Vim and Bionsen. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 26 Apr 07

Dobbies up 39% since November Figures released at Dobbies’ annual meeting show sales have grown 38.8% since the beginning of November (+12.6% on a like-for-like basis). Earlier this month, Sir Tom Hunter increased his shareholding. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Apr 07

Police called in to move B&Q staff from All-In-One Garden Centre The following report appeared in the Middleton Guardian. GARDEN centre war has broken out in Middleton with police called in after a rival firm set up a marketing campaign on the doorstep of the opposition. See more…
Byline: The Middleton Guardian 17 Apr 07

NWF opens its 6th garden centre NWF Group has opened Ashton Park Garden Centre within Snipe Retail Park in Ashton Under Lyne. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 17 Apr 07

Wyevale horticultural centres to trade as Blooms Jon Kitching has agreed to run Wyevale’s division of smaller, horticultural garden centres, which will assume the Blooms name. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 16 Apr 07

Klondyke buys Holland Arms Garden Centre Klondyke makes it 23 garden centres with the acquisition of Holland Arms Garden Centre on Anglesey. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 16 Apr 07

85,000 sq ft garden centre for Peterborough (Edited) Permission has been granted to a new breed of garden centre developer, for a large garden centre at Eye, on the edge of Peterborough. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Apr 07

Wyevale commits to Green agenda Wyevale says it is determined to lead the industry in setting a green agenda. Firm commitments announced today include a carbon footprint review of its entire product range. For example, Wyevale has already decided to phase out the sale of gas powered patio heaters. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Apr 07

Dobbies proposes £8m garden centre for York Dobbies has added York to the pipeline of new garden centres in either the construction or planning phase. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Apr 07

Walton Garden Buildings re-establishing its trade roots Walton Garden Buildings is relaunching itself this month. The move culminates the work of the new management team since Close Brother Private Equity acquired the business in February 2005. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 04 Apr 07

Syngenta to buy Fischer Syngenta has announced the purchase of Fischer, a world leading breeder of pelargonium (geranium), poinsettia and New Guinea impatiens. The deal worth around $67m should complete in the early summer once regulatory approvals have been given. See more...
Byline: Syngenta 30 Mar 07

Ignorance led to fine for Flamingo Flowers Flamingo Flowers continually polluted Childers South Drove at Spalding when they poured a flower nutrient chemical mix into a surface water drain, the town’s magistrates were told. They pleaded guilty and were fined. See more...
Byline: Environment Agency news release 22 Mar 07

Wyevale explains the way ahead As the first of Wyevale’s ‘Project Revolve’ stores come on line, chief executive, Barry Stevenson, explains his strategy to win back customers and grow the country’s leading multi-channel garden retailer. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Mar 07

Sinclair spells out new environment policy Sinclair, maker of J Arthur Bowers and New Horizon composts, has given details of a wide and all embracing environmental policy, which will include a massive reduction in peat, carbon footprint data on bags, and a new Synchro Boost logo. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 18 Mar 07

Seed company seeks help D T Brown, which celebrates its centenary in 2008, admits it has very little archive material and would love to hear from anyone who has any of its old catalogues. See more...
Byline: D T Brown 16 Mar 07

Environmentalists challenge plans for Dobbies garden centre Defenders of the green belt in Southport are urging planners to refuse an application from Dobbies for a £10m garden centre. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 15 Mar 07

Sinclair promises greater environmental focus The repositioning of William Sinclair continues as the group promises to focus on more environmentally friendly gardening solutions. Low season losses have reduced as low margin sales are cut out. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Mar 07

Wyevale seals Blooms deal WCC has declared its bid for Blooms of Breesingham unconditional having secured over 90% of the shares. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Mar 07

The Gardens Group emerges Three West Country garden centres, Castle Gardens, Brimsmore Gardens and Poundbury Gardens have been united as The Gardens Group. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Mar 07

WCC extends offer for Blooms WCC has given shareholders an extra two weeks to accept its bid for Blooms of Bressingham. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Mar 07

Russells withdraw from Webbs sale Webbs of Wychbold's quest to build a large garden centre on the outskirts of Coventry has been brought to a halt as the owners change their minds. However, Webbs are still negotiating elsewhere. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Mar 07

Fire closes Burrington Combe Garden Centre A fire on Friday has caused substantial damage to Burrington Combe Garden Centre in North Somerset. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Mar 07

Three Legged Cross buy makes it four for Golden Acres Hard on the heels of a very successful GAN tradeshow last month, the Golden Acres Group has bought Three Legged Cross Garden Centre. The price for the centre near Verwood, Dorset, was not disclosed. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 05 Mar 07

Hawkesmill Nurseries acquires Batsford assets Hawkesmill Nurseries, the Warwickshire based grower of perennials, ferns and grasses, has taken over the stock and assets of the hardy fern specialist Batsford Nursery. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Mar 07

End of March launch for The Online Gardener The Online Gardener, the gardening website that will work in tandem with local garden centres is on track to launch at the end of March. It is already claiming to have the largest range of gardening products in the UK. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 28 Feb 07

Solus invests to react faster to customer needs Solus Garden and Leisure is realigning its business to reflect the changing garden market place. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Feb 07

Landform Consultants win APL's top award Judges at yesterday's APL Awards urged garden designers and landscapers to work together more closely to raise standards. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Feb 07

Hunter seals Blooms bid within 24 hours The day after announcing a bid for Blooms of Bressingham, Sir Tom Hunter has control of over 50% of the shares. His attention may also be turning to online gardening. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Feb 07

Hunter launches bid for Blooms Sir Tom Hunter's West Coast Capital, backed by the same consortium that acquired Wyevale, has launched a formal bid for Blooms on terms that are recommended by the Blooms directors. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 13 Feb 07

Longacres dispels rumours Longacres Nursery has moved to dispel rumours that the business might be sold, before they unsettle suppliers and the trade. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Feb 07

Wyevale nails its green colours to the mast Wyevale's appointment of a government advisor, Dr Alan Knight, to its advisory board shows that the new management is serious about taking Wyevale green. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Feb 07

Three new websites from Notcutts Notcutts Nurseries has added a ‘Plant Buyers Tool Kit™’, an innovative online aid for retailers. Two other websites have also been given a face-lift to provide improved information for the consumer. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Feb 07

Optimism pushes job vacancies 33% higher Horticruitment, one of the leading recruitment agencies in the garden industry, sees a surge in vacancies at landscapers and garden retailers reflecting increased optimism for 2007. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Feb 07

Gardman continues to prosper Sales and profits growth continue at Gardman despite a difficult year. Chairman, Paris Natar, is delighted also to win GCA recognition for a second time. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Jan 07

Gross margin tops 50% at Dobbies Dobbies tells investors to take the long term view as it releases solid results for the year ending October 2006 and promises substantially faster growth. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 30 Jan 07

Third centre for Peter Barratt's Gateshead based Peter Barratt's Garden Centres has last week acquired a third outlet. It has taken on the lease of Vista Garden Centre. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Jan 07

Queenswood acquisition promises more choice for internet gardeners Pre-Packed Products Ltd is delighted to announce the acquisition of the Queenswood Garden & Home internet and mail order business. The Queenswood business will move to the company’s head office in Nazeing, Essex, where it will be fully integrated with the other marketing businesses that include Chempak Products, Garden Direct and the highly successful www.Wildbird.org web site.
Byline: Pre-packed Products Limited 25 Jan 07

New MD to transfer Hozelock HQ to Birmingham Following the successful transfer of Hozelock’s Aylesbury manufacturing operations to its main Birmingham factory, Britain’s leading producer of garden watering and aquatics equipment has announced the appointment of former operations director, Peter Rush as managing director.
Byline: Hozelock 24 Jan 07

Second profit warning from Flying Brands Flying Brands blames poor autumn and Christmas sales at its mail order brand Gardening Direct as it issues a second profits warning. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Jan 07

Administrators appointed at Springtime Springtime Nurseries in Cattlegate Lane, Crews Hill, Enfield, has been placed in administration. See more...
Byline: Peter Dawson 22 Jan 07

Monro Group snares Briers Briers, the importer of gloves and garden accessories, has been acquired by Monro South and is to be integrated with Growing Success. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 19 Jan 07

Blooms in bid talks Blooms of Bressingham has announced today that it is in discussions that may lead to an offer being made for the garden centre chain. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 16 Jan 07

Blooms encouraged by Christmas Like-for-like Christmas sales grew 7% at Blooms, which, while encouraging, was less than the garden centre group had expected. Weather has delayed the opening of Bicester. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Jan 07

Christmas Cheer for Dobbies Strong growth in food and giftware grew Christmas sales 6.3% on a like for like basis at Dobbies Garden Centres. Overall, sales increased 31.7% for the 10-week Christmas trading period. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Jan 07

Pulborough Garden Centre to close Murrells Plant & Garden Centre in Pulborough is to close at the end of March. All creditors will be paid. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Jan 07

2006 News Review 2006 was the year when the decline of old order in the garden industry became irreversible. Gardenforum reviews the stories from 2006 and looks forward to 2007. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Jan 07

Husqvarna to buy Gardena Husqvarna, the world's biggest maker of chainsaws and lawnmowers, has agreed to buy Gardena, the German venture capital owned manufacturer of watering equipment. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Dec 06

Klondyke to acquire Garden Centres of Cheshire Klondyke Garden Centres, the Scottish based garden centre chain, is to acquire Garden Centres of Cheshire, a regional group of four garden centres. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 13 Dec 06

Hunter buys 29% of Country Homes & Gardens Sir Tom Hunter’s WCC, Wyevale’s ultimate owners, has taken a surprise 29% stake in Country Homes & Gardens in the same week that it bought almost 30% of Flying Brands. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Dec 06

Sir Tom Hunter strikes a new garden target Following his purchase of Wyevale last year and his 5.7% stake in Dobbies, Sir Tom Hunter has acquired 29.9% of garden mail order group Flying Brands. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 29 Nov 06

Management changes at Blue Diamond Blue Diamond, the garden centre group that built the award winning Trentham Garden Centre, has tripled UK sales in 2 years. It is shortly to announce management changes as Mike Vaudin retires after 45 years. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 27 Nov 06

Marshall is close to buying 6 centres from Wyevale Country Homes and Gardens, the garden centre chain being developed by Nicholas Marshall, is set to buy six garden centres from Wyevale. This will take its total to 12. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Nov 06

Scotts bags ASB facility Scotts has expanded its production capacity in the UK by acquiring the Lincolnshire manufacturing plant belonging to ASB Greenworld. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Nov 06

Gardman buys Parnell Lang Gardman is to expand into the pet sector following the purchase, last week, of Parnell Lang Enterprises which trades under the Ernest Charles banner. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Nov 06

Decco rationalises branches Decco, the hardware and garden wholesaler, is closing two depots at the end of the year as part of the ongoing restructuring of the business. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 14 Nov 06

FloraHolland BV and Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer are to merge The two largest auctioneers in the Netherlands are to merge, creating a single €4bn market for flowers and plants. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Nov 06

Receivers seek buyer for Roy Firman Administrative receivers are seeking a buyer for the furniture importer Roy Firman that was placed into receivership last month. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Nov 06

Founder sells Bridgemere & joins Wyevale Advisory Board It's official, Wyevale has bought Bridgemere Garden World from the Ravenscroft family. Today's announcement also reveals that John Ravenscroft will join Wyevale's Advisory Board. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Nov 06

Webbs of Wychbold to acquire a second garden centre Webbs has unveiled plans for a second garden centre, near Coventry. Given appropriate planning consents the centre is planned to open in Spring 2008. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 03 Nov 06

Yankee Candle to be sold for $1.7bn The US based Yankee Candle Company that supplies fragrant candles to UK garden centres, has announced that the company will be sold to a private equity house early next year. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Nov 06

Little growth for Dobbies Better sales in the second half, pushes Dobbies to 2% like-for-like growth for the year, as shares continue to climb. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 01 Nov 06

Sinclair braves loss of Wyevale contract William Sinclair says it will still achieve profit forecasts despite losing the contract to supply Wyevale with compost. They are not the only supplier to lose out to Wyevale's new management, see more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Oct 06

Unwins emerges from years of pain It’s two years since Westland Horticulture bought Unwins Seeds. A few eyebrows were raised at the time. What does Westland know about seeds? How will they cope when much of the expertise has already leached away? After two years down a sometimes rocky road, Unwins is now motoring. See more…
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Oct 06

Wyevale creates horticultural stores division Wyevale announces a new class of horticultural garden centre to run alongside its main chain. But six of the 31 centres recently withdrawn are being returned to the market for sale. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Oct 06

Controversy over Dobbies' expansion at Edinburgh Midlothian councillors have approved a £7.5m expansion plan for Dobbies flagship, Garden World at Lasswade. But Edinburgh Council will try to block the development. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Oct 06

Wyevale's Hodkinson addresses GIMA In the new Wyevale, customers will be able to shop cheap, shop fast and shop with certainty, they will also see retail theatre. So said Wyevale's new chairman at yesterday's GIMA gathering. He also failed to deny Bridgemere speculation. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 20 Oct 06

Stock to clear as Allen Power Equipment folds Allan Power Equipment, the distributor of mowers and garden equipment, has been placed in administration and will close. Anyone interested in buying the remaining stock should contact the receiver. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Oct 06

New centres add growth to Blooms Despite the difficult season, sales at Blooms have grown 15% to £14.5m for the 6 months to the end of July showing the benefit of recent developments. Operating profit edged higher. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Oct 06

Wyevale reprieves smaller centres Wyevale has removed the sale notices hanging over the 31 smaller garden centres put up for sale in January when the group was under siege from Laxey Partners. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Oct 06

Notcutts strengthens its senior management Notcutts has appointed Nick Kirkbride, the former head of Scotts in the UK, as its next CEO. The move follows the nursery rationalisation announced in May and prepares the way for the retirement of Charles Notcutt after 50 years. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 09 Oct 06

Iball (Wholesale) faces voluntary liquidation Iball (Wholesale) has ceased trading and is calling a creditors meeting in order to put the company into voluntary liquidation. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 06 Oct 06

The Online Gardener gathers momentum The proposed marketing group for independent garden centres, based on theonlinegardener.com, has attracted key garden centres across the UK and is now introducing a second tier of membership for other centres regardless of postcode. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 05 Oct 06

Matalan 'abuse of power dispute' festers on Matalan’s dispute with many of its suppliers, following last November’s demand for a mandatory 2% discount on orders for the second half of 2005 to help compensate for tricky trading conditions, has brought action from a Government minister. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 27 Sep 06

Turnaround strategy pays off at William Sinclair William Sinclair Holdings have posted a pre-tax profit up 55% on turnover down 6% according to the preliminary results for the year ended 30 June 2006. The company has also announced it intends to transfer the company’s shares from the official market to AIM. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 27 Sep 06

Wyevale stops selling live animals Wyevale is dropping live animals from its product portfolio. The group sells pets in about half its centres. See more…
Byline: Peter Dawson 26 Sep 06

Guaber buys French competitor and splits Guaber, the Italian manufacturer of household and garden products, has acquired a French rival and restructured. Sales in the UK garden market are expected to rise threefold in as many years. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 22 Sep 06

Haemmerlin buys UK rival Haemmerlin, Europe's largest producer of wheelbarrows, has strengthened its UK position with the purchase of Chillington Manufacturing, the UK's largest manufacturer. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 21 Sep 06

Hagedorn to force culture change at Scotts There has been a major shake up at Scotts Miracle-Gro in the US. The president and chief operating officer of North America has departed as chairman Jim Hagedorn tries to force a culture change.
Byline: George Bullivant 13 Sep 06

Marshalls plans more Garden Transformation centres Marshalls, the specialist landscaping products group, is planning more Drive and Garden Transformation Centres as results from the trial site outperform the rest of the country. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 12 Sep 06

Dobbies develops 'Homes & Gardens' theme at Sheffield Dobbies has won planning permission for two new destination garden centres at the sites purchased earlier this year, Dunfermline and Sheffield. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Sep 06

The Garden Store buys garden centre No 5 The Garden Store, a garden centre chain started in 2001 by former executives of Country Gardens, has bought Charwood Garden Centre near Stokenchurch. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 07 Sep 06

Administrator appointed at Chinnor Garden Centre Administrators have been appointed at Andrews Garden Company, operator of Chinnor Garden Centre near Thame. The centre continues to trade while the administrator looks for a buyer. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 24 Aug 06

"Garden Centres may close..." "Garden Centres may close..." the headline to a lurid article in the Daily Telegraph's Comment last Saturday is misleading says Plimsoll, author of the report on which the article is based. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 23 Aug 06

Three bidders remain for UK's largest garden centre. Bidding for Bridgemere Garden World, the world famous garden centre on the Cheshire/Shropshire border owned by the Ravenscroft family, is entering its final phase. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 11 Aug 06

Ireland's Groundforce acquires competitor The consolidation of Irish garden distributors continues with Groundforce buying Goulding Garden Care. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 10 Aug 06

NWF Garden Centres return to profit NWF Group's garden centre division that acquired its 5th centre, Woodford Park, from Barton Grange earlier this year has edged back into profit. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 08 Aug 06

Hunter digs deeper into Dobbies Sir Tom Hunter has increased speculation that he might bid for Dobbies. West Coast Capital, his investment vehicle that bought Wyevale, has purchased a further 95780 shares taking his holding to 5.7% of the company. Since February Dobbies shares have jumped from 550p to 940p. Hunter revealed interest in June shortly before completing his purchase of Wyevale.
Byline: George Bullivant 04 Aug 06

Hozelock announces rationalisation Hozelock is to merge sales teams and bring production under one roof in a bid to save costs and improve efficiency. See more...
Byline: George Bullivant 02 Aug 06