Wyevale buying team optimistic for the future
The Wyevale buying team introducing the 2018 Christmas range in London said a siege mentality had brought them all together and creating real optimism for the future. Read more
Wyevale buying team optimistic for the future
The Wyevale buying team introducing the 2018 Christmas range in London said a siege mentality had brought them all together and creating real optimism for the future. Read more
Capital Gardens buys Studley Green from Hillview
Capital Gardens has bought Hillview’s Studley Green garden centre becoming the fourth in the group. Hillview had decided it no longer fitted their refined model. Read more
Rosebourne to open at Aldermaston on Sept 28
Rosebourne is to open its second food and plant centre at Aldermaston, near Newbury on Sept 28. Its design follows the template developed at their first site at Andover. Read more
5th generation joins the Hillier board
George Hillier and Martin Hillier, respectively sons of Robert and John Hillier, have been appointed to the Hillier Nurseries board, becoming the 5th generation at the grower and garden centre group. Read more
Perrywood buys Sudbury as Wyevale sells 4 more centres
Wyevale announces the sale of a further 4 garden centres. An update on the remaining garden centres is expected soon. Read more
Homebase rescue plan wins creditor approval
The threat of administration has been lifted from Homebase. But 42 stores will close leading to 1500 job losses. Read more
Sale and leaseback funds Blue Diamond deal
Blue Diamond reveals it has sold 3 garden centres in a sale and leaseback deal to fund in part buying the 8 Wyevale garden centres announced last month. Read more
New Dawn for 8 Wyevale Garden Centres
Blue Diamond has, today, moved in to the eight garden centres it bought from Wyevale telling the employees it’s a ‘New Dawn’. Read more
31 August vote on Homebase CVA
Homebase has confirmed it is planning a Company Voluntary Arrangement and lists a further 42 stores that will close over the next 16 months. Read more
Mr Fothergill’s Seeds celebrates its 40th year with a Pudsey link
Mr Fothergill’s Seeds celebrated its 40th year by announcing several initiatives for 2019 including a link with BBC Children in Need. Read more
New gardening director for Homebase
Homebase appointed Mike Norton as director of gardening and building in July. The group, recently purchased by Hilco, is reported to be closing its horticultural offices in Swindon. Read more
Ames starts process of merging sales teams
Ames UK has started the process of rationalising the agency sales teams of Kelkay, La Hacienda and its most recent acquisition Anchor Fast. Read more
Anchor Fast acquisition demonstrates Ames’ UK ambitions
Ames makes its 3rd acquisition in a year, adding Anchor Fast to its UK stable that already holds Kelkay and La Hacienda. It plans continued expansion in the UK and Ireland. Read more
New MD for Vitax
Vitax Limited, one of the UK’s leading garden and horticulture manufacturers has appointed a new managing director as it drives forward with its ambitious growth plans. Read more
Syngenta buys Floranova to build its flowers business in Asian markets
Syngenta announced today it has acquired Floranova a flower and home garden vegetable seeds breeder with a broad portfolio and customers in over 50 countries. Read more
B&Q stumbles as Kingfisher profits crash
Kingfisher emphasises halfway point in transformation plan as like for like sales fall at B&Q “within the context of a continuing weak consumer backdrop”. Read more
New Wyevale likely to retain 100+ garden centres
The latest position on the sale of Wyevale Garden centres that emerged from the aisles of Glee is one of last minute negotiations that will determine how many are sold out of the group. However, there will be problems for the new owners to resolve. Read more
Evergreen unveils its brands for 2019
The new team from Evergreen, the successor to Scots Miracle-Gro in the UK, has unveiled its brands and strategy for 2019 and beyond. Read more
Flopro in huge £2m consumer giveaway to create a ‘must stock’ brand
Crest will give away 30,000 Flopro hose reels through garden centres, absolutely free, next spring in a deal with a national newspaper. The move aims to establish Flopro as a ‘must stock’ brand for all garden centres. Read more
Eggesford garden centre is to close
Owners of struggling Eggesford Garden Centre in Devon are closing the business blaming roadworks as the final tipping point. Read more
Ames to explore Glee for further acquisitions
Having completed 3 acquisitions in a year Ames UK managing director, Kelkay’s Anthony Harker, will be using Glee to meet a number of businesses to explore potential opportunities. Read more
Wyevale sells 5 more garden centres including a 9th for Blue Diamond
Wyevale has announced the sale of 5 more garden centres. Two will remain as garden centres, including a nostalgic 9th for Blue Diamond. The others are expected to be redeveloped. Read more
Gardman goes back to Robson’s
Gardman has served notice on its logistics partner, XPO. From 10th September Gardman brands will be delivered by its former carrier, Robson`s of Spalding as it targets 95% service levels. Read more
Kingfisher unveils B&Q growth for May, June and July
Good sales growth for B&Q in Q2 were driven by a strong performance of weather-related categories. Read more
Peter Utting, CEO of Gardman provides an update on stock availability
Following the devastating fire on the 12th March that destroyed almost all our inventory, we have been working hard to quickly rebuild stock cover and service to our customers. Due to production capacity constraints of a limited number of our suppliers they have not been able to meet these delivery dates and here is an update. Read more
Homebase set to announce store closures next week
Hilco owned Homebase is expected next week to announce a CVA and closure of around 60 more stores. Read more
Hortipak is co-founder of a new international horticulture media group
Hortipak has joined leading horticultural marketing groups across Europe and the USA to form the Media Concept Group. Read more
Squire’s Garden Centres purchases Frensham Garden Centre
J. Squire & Co. Ltd (“Squire’s”) and Wheelhouse Warehousing Ltd (“Wheelhouse”) are pleased to announce the purchase of Frensham Garden Centre by Squire’s from Wheelhouse. The purchase was completed on 1 August 2018. Read more
Graeme Jenkins is the new CEO of Dobbies
Dobbies names Graeme Jenkins as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect replacing Nicholas Marshall, who has not been seen at the business for some months. Read more
Notcutts gets consent for £multi-million upgrade of Woodbridge GC
Notcutts has been given planning consent for a major redevelopment and upgrade of its Woodbridge garden centre, the group’s original site. Read more