Stax and Primeur agree exclusive distribution deal on recycled range

The UK’s leading producer of garden products manufactured from recycled rubber has signed an exclusive new distribution deal with Stax Trade Centres. Read more - open to all

L-R: Sarah McLafferty, Simon Wright of Stax, Primeur’s Jenny Douthwaite & Stax’s Matthew Ball.

Blue Diamond offers to sell shares after record profits

Blue Diamond offers opportunity to buy shares after reporting a 56% increase in half year profits following strong trading in the core business and the 9 garden centres purchased from Wyevale.  Read more - members only

Bicester Avenue

Latest results show mixed financial fortunes

Latest updates to our Company Results show 2018 was a year of mixed fortunes. Updates include Blue Diamond UK, Longacres, Stax, The Millbrook Garden Company, Pennells Holdings, Grange Fencing, Ball Colegrave and Synchemicals. Read more - open to all

Apollo's acquisition warms its winter trade

Apollo Gardening has recently acquired Manor Reproductions, an online retailer and wholesale supplier of fireside furnishings. Read more - members only

What next for Wyevale? 

What next for Wyevale? Why did Terra Firma choose to break up the group? Will the Wyevale name survive? Where did Wyevale go wrong? Are garden centres future proof? Gardenforum talks to Justin King and Anthony Jones. Read more - members only

Justin King

Aldermaston hits £6m in year 1

Rosebourne is celebrating 'a fantastic first year of trading' at Aldermaston after turning over more than £6 million. Read more - members only

Wyevale buys Aviva annuity to secure pension benefits

Wyevale Garden Centres has paid £44m for a bulk annuity policy with Aviva to ensure the long term security of pension members’ benefits. Read more - members only

Trebaron Garden Centre has been sold

Trebaron Garden Centre at Newton-Le-Willows near Warrington has been sold for an undisclosed sum to Newbank Garden Centres. Read more - members only

Wyevale Garden Centres sells remaining trading business

Wyevale Garden Centres today announces that it has sold its remaining trading business to British Garden Centres. Read more - members only

Pennells withdraws planning application after local objections

Pennells has withdrawn plans to extend Four Seasons Garden Centre near Sleaford after objections from residents nearby. Read more - members only

Evergreen Garden Care reconnects with customers

Two years after Exponent launched Evergreen Garden Care, the new management looks to reconnect with customers and grow the overall gardening category with 3 new ranges at Glee. Read more - members only

Mark Portman

Mr Fothergill’s raises £150,000 for charities and looks for growth

At yesterday’s open day Mr Fothergill’s revealed a strong performance from Darlac and that it is ready for further acquisitions. It also launched a sweet pea for next year's celebration of the sailing of the Mayflower. Read more - members only

Tim Jeffries and Jemma Rix of Children in Need

Wyevale sells Findon but closes Rayleigh

The manager of Findon and his partner are the first management team to buy their garden centre from Wyevale.  The group has also announced the closure of Rayleigh GC without a sale. Read more - members only

Tong eyes further expansion with new sites

Sales have trebled since the current owners bought Tong garden centre. Now they have reorganised to prepare for further growth and adding new sites. Read more - members only

Left to right : Mark Farnsworth, David Stanhope, Tom Megginson, Sharon McNair, Charlie Barker

Squire’s includes nature in new play area

Squire’s has opened an environmentally friendly children’s play area at Milford garden centre as part of a major upgrade that completes next spring. Read more - members only

Ricky Bowness, manager at Squire's Milford

Malcolm Scott helps resolve the Whitehall conundrum

Despite having permission for the 11,000 sq.m re-development of Whitehall garden centre in Lacock, Wiltshire, starting the project would have breached their planning terms. Read more - members only

Rosebourne gets consent to expand Solihull

Rosebourne gets planning consent to expand and create its full offer at Solihull garden centre, formerly Hampton in Arden, that it acquired from Wyevale. Read more - members only

Neudorff turns to DLF Seeds for UK distribution

Having withdrawn from exhibiting at Glee at the last minute, Neudorff has revealed that, with immediate effect, DLF Seeds will be distributing its garden products in the UK. Read more - members only

Ames’ Antony Harker returns to garden centres

Antony Harker, formerly of Tong and Kelkay, is to step down as MD of Ames UK having acquired a stake in part of British Garden Centres. Read more - members only

Richard Slade, Antony Harker and Richard Pyrah

Glendale Horticulture predicts a return to profit

Results from Alston Investments projects a return to profit for Glendale Horticulture in 2019 after posting a loss before tax of £-1.9m for 2018. Read more - members only

B&Q and France pull Kingfisher sales down

Departing Kingfisher CEO Veronique Laury reports a drop in sales and profits in the last 6 months as B&Q sales fell -3.2% (like/like). Read more - members only

Who's bought which Wyevale? As Elm Court is the last to go

The destination of all 145 Wyevale garden centres in the group in May 2018, has been decided. We list their new owners as Elm Court is returned to its landlord. Read more - members only

Syon Park garden centre, Wyevale HQ is to close

Sipcam, SBM and Neudorff change delivery methods

Sipcam and SBM have already announced that they have changed their distribution route to garden centres using T&M and Stax respectively.  Neudorff pulled out of Glee, pending an announcement. Read more - members only

Stewarts invests £5m at Broomhill to entertain and inspire

Stewarts has started building a state-of-the-art agri-tech nursery, part of a £5m redevelopment at Broomhill garden centre.  It will be as much about inspiring and educating customers as it is about growing. Read more - members only

Martin Stewart surveys the groundworks for the new nursery

What is next for Dobbies? The CEO reveals his plans

Having doubled in size what is Dobbies strategy and is it financially robust? Turnover already matches Wyevale’s before the sell-off. Graeme Jenkins explains his strategy. Read more - members only

Graeme Jenkins

WGC sells Bournville GC and transfers Swindon GC

Wyevale Garden Centres have sold Bournville Garden Centre to British Garden Centres. They will also transfer ownership of Swindon Hay Lane to the landlord in September Read more - members only

Bournville Garden Centre

Hillier grows to 17 with John Browns

Hillier buys a fifth, John Browns, from Wyevale.  The group also reveals that Thatcham garden centre will close at the end of September. Read more - members only

John Browns at 3 Legged Cross

Squire’s takes control of Wyevale’s Heathlands GC

Wyevale’s Heathland garden centre has become Squire’s in Wokingham following the completion of the purchase announced last month. Read more - members only

Graham Carter (Centre Manager), Martin Breddy (MD) & Sarah Squire (Chairman)

Stax Trade Centres purchases MP Smith

Stax Trade Centres has announced the purchase of hardware and ironmongery manufacturer M.P. Smith and Co. Ltd, maker of security products under the SECURIT® brand.  It has been a supplier to Stax for many years. Read more - open to all

Mike and Gloria Popek Smith, with David Hibbert (first left) and Eddie Brady (second left) of Stax

Longacres and Maidenhead buy from Wyevale

Wyevale has announced the sale of 2 further garden centres: Springfield to Longacres and Par to Maidenhead Aquatics. This leaves 32 remaining to be sold. Read more - members only

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive