Carr Farm opens 300 seat restaurant as part of major expansion
One year into a 3 year expansion project and Carr Farm Garden Centre has opened a restaurant and two new concessions. Read more - members only
Carr Farm opens 300 seat restaurant as part of major expansion
One year into a 3 year expansion project and Carr Farm Garden Centre has opened a restaurant and two new concessions. Read more - members only
Positive start to 2015 for garden centres
Members of the Garden Centre Association started 2015 positively with sales up 6%, building on the 13% increase in January 2014. However one in three garden centres missed out. Read more - members only
More chat from the aisles of the Garden Press Event
A new website for Westland, Showa’s bio-degradable gardening gloves, Eden Project seeds, a 10,000 strong Facebook community of Garden Goddesses and Hozelock’s electric weed killer were some of the innovations on show at the Garden Press event. Read more - members only
Johnsons calls upon all suppliers to eliminate the use of unsuitable varieties in their lawn seed mixes
Continuing a campaign started last year DLF Trifolium accuses some competitors of continuing to cut corners by bulking out their lawn seed blends with unsuitable low grade seeds. Read more - members only
Double joy for Arboretum
Arboretum, Ireland’s leading garden centre, has two reasons to celebrate. It has been named National Store of the Year and has signed up to buy the National Garden Exhibition Centre. Read more - members only
Garden centre owner gets driving ban lifted
The owner of Pyle Garden Centre is reported to have been let off a 6 month driving ban to keep his business afloat. Read more - members only
Bank backs Cobbins’ £650,000 biomass plant
Having installed a biomass boiler in the autumn, Cobbins Nursery will shortly start construction of a new glass house ready for the poinsettia crop later in the year. Read more - members only
GCA names best garden centres for plants and furniture
Sunshine Garden Centre and Van Hage are the best GCA outdoor living retailers. Cowell’s and Bents are the best for plants. Read more - members only
Board change at Notcutts
A trading update from Notcutts reveals a strong Christmas performance, a new chairman and a new deputy. The garden centre group is also looking for a new CEO. Read more - members only
Li-Lo buys Westwoods
Li-Lo Leisure has bought Westwoods Global. The companies will continue as independent entities, but the sales agents will sell both brands. Read more - members only
Tesco abandons plans for joint site with Dobbies
Plans to develop a joint Tesco/Dobbies store at East Kilbride have been abandoned. There are now no Dobbies stores being developed and there is no indication that the shop within shop concept will be repeated. Read more - members only
Management changes at Stewart Plastics - UPDATED
News has emerged that the Group CEO of Stewart Plastics left in October. This was followed by two more departures in December, including sales director Nigel Thompson, who becomes a consultant to the company. There is a new role for Gavin Wray. Read more - members only
Sinclair to sell Joseph Metcalf manufacturing site
William Sinclair is to sell the site where Gem was manufactured till 2008. Read more - members only
Smaller suppliers can’t compete with extended payment terms says GIMA
The Government is proposing legislation that would force Britain’s biggest companies to reveal their payment terms and performance, quarterly. GIMA welcomes greater transparency saying the garden industry is particularly bad when it comes to paying bills. Read more - members only
Wyevale buys the Golden Acres Group (Updated)
Wyevale Garden Centres has completed its 2014 acquisition campaign with the purchase of the four Golden Acres garden centres in the south of England. Read more - members only
William Sinclair chief exec departs with immediate effect
William Sinclair has announced the departure of Peter Rush as chief executive with immediate effect. He is replaced by a turnaround specialist after a poor start to the spring.
Read more - members onlyScotts to spend £7.5m on four TV adverts
Scotts Miracle-Gro is spending £7.5m this spring and summer on TV campaigns to drive customers in store. The advertising will start to air week commencing 30th March. Read more - members only
Online retailers raise their profile
The growing presence of online retailers was clear at the Garden Press Event with two established sites and two newcomers, one launched at the show and one being mysterious about its launch plans. Read more - members only
Wyevale damps down Dobbies speculation
Comments by Wyevale’s CEO, amplified by press speculation, have set the garden rumour mill turning at full speed. It appears that many are expecting a Dobbies purchase any day. They seem likely to have a long wait. Read more - members only
What will the scribblers be viewing at Thursday’s Garden Press Event?
The country’s gardening press converge on the Barbican on Thursday to get fresh ideas to write about this spring. What will catch their interest at the Garden Press Event? Read more - members only
Blue Diamond buys Newbridge Nurseries (UPDATED)
Blue Diamond has acquired Newbridge Nurseries, near Horsham bringing the number of garden centres in the group to 17. With this latest addition Blue Diamond sales are forecast to top £85m this year. Read more - members only
Cowell’s and Barton Grange retain their GCA titles
The GCA conference ended with the presentation of top awards to Cedar Associates, Cowell’s and Barton Grange. 10 garden centres won the coveted garden centre of excellence plaque. Read more - members only
Hagedorn axes Martin Breddy
Martin Breddy, who headed Scotts Miracle-Gro in the UK, has been axed as Jim Hagedorn continues to streamline his senior management team. Read more - members only
Tough trading conditions and teething troubles mean no dividend from Sinclair
Tough trading conditions and teething troubles led to static sales and a trading loss for William Sinclair. It now claims the industry’s most advanced production capabilities, but can it win back customers? Read more - members only
Fiskars chooses Birmingham
Fiskars, who recently celebrated its 365 year legacy, has chosen Birmingham as the new UK office location. Read more - open to all
No agreement for Hare Hatch Sheeplands
Local newspapers have interpreted a statement from the local council as a planning reprieve for Hare Hatch Sheeplands. But this is not the case says the owner. Read more - members only
Swiss Grill Limited goes into Liquidation
Barbecue supplier, Swiss Grill Limited (07465749) was put into liquidation on 30th of December. Read more - members only
Vitax buys manufacturer of 6x and Groworganic
Vitax has bought the shares of Organico Ltd, the manufacturer of 6x and Groworganic. The deal was announced today. See more… Read more - members only
Review of 2014 in the Garden Industry
2014 has been dominated by the repositioning of the major gardening goods distributors following the demise of Solus. The weather for once provided a good news story and towards the end of the year there was a flurry of activity from Wyevale as it picked up eight long established independent garden centres. See the full review – which is open to all… Read more - open to all
Scotts Miracle-Gro axes COO
The COO of Scotts Miracle-Gro is to leave as Hagedorn continues to streamline the business. This follows the departure of the CFO earlier in the year. Read more - members only