EWM bids for then withdraws from Wyevale
Soon after Sky News reported that Edinburgh Woollen Mill owner Philip Day had lodged an offer for Wyevale, their bid was withdrawn. Read more - members only
EWM bids for then withdraws from Wyevale
Soon after Sky News reported that Edinburgh Woollen Mill owner Philip Day had lodged an offer for Wyevale, their bid was withdrawn. Read more - members only
Homebase to axe 300 head office jobs
Hilco has started its remedial action after taking control of Homebase with an announcement that 300 head office jobs will go by November. How many stores will close? Read more - members only
Independent garden centres at either end of the country expand
Building starts on a new garden centre in Honiton, while work is nearly completed on an additional retail building for Threaplands in Scotland. Read more - members only
A record May means Garden Centres close in on last year's figures
After a terrible start to the year, garden centres prospered in the warm May weather and all but recovered the sales lost in the earlier months. Read more - members only
Pandemonium caused at Reigate Garden Centre closing down sale
Till queues were reported to be over 100 yards long at the ‘invitation only’ closing down sale at Reigate Garden Centre. Read more - members only
Award winning Cowell’s saved from closure
Cowell’s garden centre, winner of the GCA’s best plant area, has in the last 3 weeks been saved from closure. Read more - members only
Strikes at Stokesley rising from the ashes
The first major phase in the resurrection of Klondyke’s Strikes Stokesley centre is getting underway. Read more - members only
Fire-risk pet cushions company fined £30,000
Highly-flammable cushions found at Coletta & Tyson’s garden centre led to a £30,000 fine for manufacturers Rosewood Pet Products. Read more - members only
Weather restrains B&M’s strong growth
A disappointing spring has held back like for like growth to 4.7% for y/e March 2018 after a good 2017 Spring/Summer garden and outdoor leisure season. Read more - members only
ITE agrees to buy the owner of Glee and Spring Fair
ITE has agreed to buy 7 exhibitions from Ascential, formerly EMAP, that include Glee, Spring and Autumn Fair. Read more - members only
New owners for Stansted Park Garden Centre
Stansted Park Garden Centre becomes the second to be branded ‘Your Local Garden Centre’, having been bought from administrators by Paul Richards and Tim Mason. Read more - members only
Terra Firma, raises the ‘For Sale’ signs over Wyevale
Terra Firma has appointed Christie & Co to sell Wyevale Garden Centres as a whole or garden centre by garden centre. Read more - members only
Ivy House all day kitchen opens at Groves Nurseries
Family owned Groves Nurseries in Bridport welcomed visitors for the first time last week to the Ivy House Kitchen, their new restaurant designed by Malcolm Scott Consultants.
Read more - members onlySmart Garden is one of Europe’s 1000 fastest growing companies
The FT has listed Smart Garden Products in Europe’s 1000 most rapidly growing companies. Further growth seems certain as stock levels have been raised by 50% at its new warehouse. Read more - members only
Maxicrop UK is renamed Valagro UK
Valagro, has announced that its subsidiary Maxicrop (UK) Ltd, has changed name to Valagro UK Ltd, selling to the professional market. Last year SBM took on sales to the domestic garden market. Read more - members only
Scotts in UK becomes Evergreen Garden Care
Evergreen Garden Care UK is the new name for The Scotts Company (UK) and signals a new strategy and direction for the business. Read more - members only
Will Wyevale be broken up?
Terra Firma says it has received a significant number offers for all and for parts of the business and is now considering its options. Gardenforum considers the signs to look out for. Read more - members only
Shire Garden Buildings fully operational after a major fire
Around 50 firefighters and 12 appliances were called to a major fire yesterday at Shire the garden buildings manufacturer at Wisbech in Cambridgeshire. Read more - members only
Scheurich to buy Deroma
Scheurich in co-operation with Baikap is to buy Deroma by the end of 2018. This is the first of several new growth stages for the Scheurich company. Read more - members only
Court victory for Hare Hatch Sheeplands
Court victory lifts the threat of jail hanging over Rob Scott after action taken by Wokingham Borough Council against Hare Hatch Sheeplands was ruled unfair and unjust. Read more - members only
Wesfarmers confirms completion date for Homebase sale
Wesfarmers has confirmed 30th June as the likely completion date for the Homebase sale to Hilco. The industry now waits to see what steps the turnaround specialist will take to return Homebase to health. Read more - members only
The Wyevale sale – a 2 stage process
Christie & Co says there is interest in almost every one of the 145 Wyevale Garden Centres put up for sale last month and explains how the sale is likely to progress. Read more - members only
Garden products part of Tesco Direct’s huge clearance
Following the announcement last month that its loss-making non-food on-line business is closing next month, Tesco has launched a series of clearance offers on some of its garden products. Read more - members only
Wyevale values garden centres at £446m
Christies & Co have unveiled a list of the 145 Wyevale garden centres for sale and their valuations, with Woodcote Green topping the list. But what if the group is broken up? Read more - members only
Hilco nails Homebase for £1
Hilco, the turnaround specialist behind HMV has bought Bunnings UK and Ireland. Job losses are likely to follow. Also a CVA? Read more - members only
A decision on Homebase could come within days
Multiple reports suggest that a decision on the buyer for Homebase could come within days. Two turnaround investors appear to be leading the race. Store closures would be likely. Read more - members only
Proactive Blue Diamond shares the Brexit pain with suppliers
2017 growth for Blue Diamond, but “With a weakening economy over the coming years almost a certainty, pressures on margin are likely to mount as the marketplace becomes more fiercely competitive,” says MD Alan Roper. Read more - members only
Westland growth rate slows in 2017
A year of rapid growth following the purchase of William Sinclair, has been followed by 12 months to April 2017 when Westland Horticulture sales have grown little. Pre-tax profits have improved despite the impact of a large bad debt. Read more - members only
Farplants unveils mobile friendly portal for ordering plants
A new mobile friendly trade portal unveiled by Farplants will mean plant buyers can check availability and order stock while standing by their display benches. Read more - members only
Blue Diamond buys 21st garden centre
Blue Diamond has bought, Orchard Park, a North Dorset garden centre with planning consent to expand. Read more - members only