Wyevale Nurseries re-opens Management Trainee Programme

Wyevale Nurseries has re-opened its Management Trainee Programme and is calling for people to apply for a position. Read more - members only

Andy Johnson

Wyevale to launch full multi-channel offering

Wyevale results show how they have introduced a higher level of flexibility in their workforce.Margins and concession income are up, which has impacted the overall sales increase. Read more - members only

Uncertain future for Sinclair

Costs incurred during the commissioning of Ellesmere Port have led to a significant requirement to raise funds in the next few weeks.  The company is in discussion with third parties and major stakeholders.   Read more - members only

The Newey Group acquires Eagle Plants Ltd

The Newey Group managing director, Alex Newey, today confirmed the group’s acquisition of Eagle Plants Ltd. The business will relocate the short distance from Banbury to the Young Plants Limited HQ. Read more - members only

Jason Eagle and Alex Newey

Hillier’s new garden centre team gets results

There has been a transformation at Hillier's garden centres in the last 18 months. Seven have a new look and feel and there is a new confidence in Hillier’s plant heritage. Read more - members only

Chris Francis with Hillier Heritage plants

Garden centres are up 10.5% in May

Garden Centre sales are up 10.5% in May and 5% for the year so far according to the GCA.  It appears some garden centres are recovering their confidence with garden furniture, but not all.  Plants and garden sundries continue to lose share. Read more - members only

Monkton Elm Restaurant

French minister calls for ban on over-the-counter sales of Roundup UPDATED

French minister has called for a ban on over-the-counter sales of Roundup after an agency affiliated to the WHO classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen to humans. Read more - members only

Somerset garden centre seeks alternative use

A North Somerset garden centre is asking planners for permission to replace its buildings with houses, blaming competition from Cadbury for years of slow trading. Read more - members only

Shoot Gardening raises £500,000 to fund ambitious expansion

Shoot Gardening promises an ambitious fast-track expansion having raised £500,000 through the crowdfunding platform, Crowdcube. Read more - members only

Nicola Gammon

Kettler GB unaffected by restructure announcement

Heinz Kettler Gmbh & Co KG has entered a period of self-administration in order to restructure its German business but leaves the UK operation unaffected. Read more - members only

Site closures and job losses as Sinclair restructures

Sinclair has announced that sites will close with around 100 job losses as it restructures and consolidates on its Ellesmere Port site. Read more - members only

Ellesmere Port

Easy Gardener bought by Centre Lane Partners

Centre Lane Partners, a New York-based private investment firm, announced that it has acquired Easy Gardener Products Inc. (“Easy Gardener”). Read more - members only

Early fears turn to joy for bedding growers

Despite a luke warm start to this year’s bedding season, growers across England report sales really hotted up as the late spring holiday got under way. Read more - members only

Sinclair warns of aggressive operational changes to resolve funding shortfall

The new Sinclair management says it is confident of long-term success for the business if it can raise new funds.  It is also addressing unprofitable customer contracts. Read more - members only

Garden furniture sales were up 31% in April

Garden centres are 4% up for the year so far according to the latest figures from the GCA. The North and West have outperformed the Southeast. Garden furniture is the best performing product category. Read more - members only

Volmary buys Delamore Young Plants

Volmary has acquired the entire share capital of Delamore, following a partnership deal announced in May 2014. Read more - members only

Permission granted for new garden centre near Coventry

Malcolm Scott wins permission for a new garden centre just outside Coventry.  It will, they believe, be the first new build garden centre on a new site in the last 10 years. Read more - members only

Stewart Plastics raises £11m for expansion

Stewart Group raises £11m to build stocks and invest in the latest, more efficient, pot making machines. Read more - members only

Taylors Bulbs invest in seed potatoes

Taylors Bulbs have announced a £200k investment in a new packing line and a further £160k investment in a 1400 tonne cold store facility both primarily for the supply of seed potatoes. Read more - members only

Gardman is sold to a management buy-out

Gardman has been bought in a management buy-out, led by chairman Jonathan Halford and backed by private equity. Read more - members only

Jonathan Halford

Marlows DIY and Garden Centre has been sold

Marlows DIY and Garden Centre is sold after 35 years trading.  It has been acquired by Con Mech Group that already owns a nearby country store. Read more - members only

Two incidents show how watchful garden centres must be

Beckworth Emporium lost cash in a violent break while the phone line of a Walthamstow garden centre was hacked in an elaborate attempt to cash a fake cheque. Read more - members only

Rosebourne secures funding and buys its first plot

A band of industry veterans has come together to form Rosebourne, a vehicle to develop a new style group of food and plant centres. Read more - members only

Jon Kitching and David Brown at the opening of Beckworth Emporium

Wyevale buys Armitage’s garden centres

Wyevale has bought Armitage’s Pennine and Birchencliffe garden centres owned by the GCA chairman, Will Armitage, and his parents. Read more - members only

Industry outsider joins Notcutts as new chief executive

Nick Burrows is to be the new Notcutts chief executive from September. Recently he has been the executive chairman at both the First Sports Group and The Thames Club. Read more - members only

Nick Burrows

Further expansion for Highfield Garden World

Sales have grown 24% at Highfield Garden World since it was redeveloped a year ago. It has now been granted permission to extend further. Read more - members only

B&M grows while B&Q shrinks

The changing face of retail is highlighted by the contrasting results announced by B&Q and the rapidly growing B&M, chaired by Sir Terry Leahy, former CEO of Tesco. Read more - members only

Chapelwood to be No 1 in bird food within 3 years

Scotts’ UK boss says we are going to do a Scotts job on Chapelwood and hints at big innovations for growing media this autumn. Read more - members only

Chapelwood Insect habitat

Change of emphasis pays off for Klondyke

The change in emphasis for Klondyke Group pays dividends as profits increase by 29%. The priority will remain on redeveloping existing garden centres for the next three years. Read more - members only

Kelso

Scotts puts Solus brands up for sale

After an extensive review of the Solus brands Scotts says that Chapelwood has a significant future but it will exit the remaining brands at the earliest opportunity. Read more - members only

Scotts brands

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