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

6x bags and tub

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

Garden4Less offers platform to Garden Retailers

There’s further evidence that online garden retailers and garden centres are converging. Garden4Less is offering a platform where retailers can sell product online, with no set up fee. Read more - members only

Wyevale cooks up Facebook storm in Hastings

A staff member at Wyevale’s Hastings Garden Centre caused a furore when he posted a job advert on Facebook that was branded ‘derogatory’ and ‘insulting’.  Read more - members only

Irish Nursery shortlisted for Laboratory Awards

Fitzgerald Nurseries, the only plant production company to enter the prestigious Irish Laboratory Awards, are hoping that their state of the art micro propagation unit will be awarded the accolade of Laboratory of the Year. Read more - members only

Dr Abdullah Sayegh checking progress on new cultures

MBO secures future of Suttons Seeds

David Robinson and Rufus Roberts have completed a management buy out of Suttons Seeds with the backing of its former owners.  Read more - members only

Raglan becomes number 143 for Wyevale

Former GCA chairman has sold Raglan Garden Centre in South Wales to Wyevale, with more deals expected soon. Read more - members only

Massive new site for Architectural Plants

A massive new site for Architectural Plants is nearing completion next to Brinsbury College.  The first 4 acre poly-tunnel will be ready to start trading in February. Read more - members only

Wyevale finally completes purchase of Trelawney Ashford

A month after it was announced by the vendors, Wyevale has confirmed that it has purchased the smaller of the two garden centres trading under the Trelawney banner. Read more - members only

Inspector's rejection creates opportunity for an Eden type project in London

The rejection of plans for luxury housing on Highgate garden centre creates an opportunity for a London version of the Eden Project.  Read more - members only

Is Sinclair about to bounce back?

William Sinclair issues a further profit warning, but the company claims to be well placed to grow following very significant capital investment, investment in an exciting new range of products and its brand rejuvenation. Read more - members only

Former Gardman FD joins Smart Garden

Richard Browne, until a year ago the long standing finance director of Gardman, has joined his old boss Paris Natar at Smart Garden, as sales beat target by a year. Read more - members only

Sinclair opens Ellesmere Port supersite

Sinclair promises to revolutionise the growing media sector as it opens the 50 acre Ellesmere Port manufacturing and distribution site filled with world leading technology. Read more - members only

Sinclair’s new 50 acre growing media plant at Ellesmere Port

Choice and Gardman expand trading partnership

The Aftershocks from the Solus earthquake continue with news that Choice Marketing has formed a deeper trading relationship with Gardman. 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

Steve Harper to leave Bord na Mona for Gardman

Steve Harper is set to leave Bord na Mona and join Gardman at the beginning of February.  Terry Murphy will also be moving to the company. Read more - members only

Steve Harper

Van Hage withdraws Waitrose planning application for resubmission

In face of local opposition Van Hage has withdrawn a planning application to add a Waitrose store at Great Amwell.  A modified plan will be submitted after Christmas. Read more - members only

Wyevale buys one of the first garden centres

Wyevale Garden Centres today announced it has acquired Podington Garden Centre, which the Read family founded in 1976 and built into a leading independent garden centre. Read more - members only

Next opens Sheffield garden centre in January

Next is to open its latest Home & Garden superstore at Meadowhall, Sheffield tomorrow, although the garden part will be delayed till January. Read more - members only

Newey Group to take full control of Roundstone in the new year

Young Plants owner, the Newey Group, expects to take full control of Roundstone Nurseries on January 1 2015 once all the legal processes have been completed. Read more - members only

Scotts pushes ahead with Solus integration

Earlier than expected, Scotts has unified the Solus and Scotts sales teams into one, 50-strong, sales force. Read more - members only

Planning permission granted for Green-tech’s new A1 development

Landscape and forestry supplier, Green-tech has been granted planning permission for a new site in North Yorkshire, just off the A1 between junctions 47 and 48. Read more - members only

Planning permission - off we go

Wyevale will ‘Meet the Buyers’ twice a year

Wyevale says the ‘Meet the Buyer’ day hosted by BHETA and GIMA exceeded expectations and has committed to two similar events a year.  Read also about the next GIMA Day Conference. Read more - members only

Wyevale is to rebuild St Mellons as before

Having explored the options for expanding its Cardiff garden centre destroyed by fire 12 months ago, Wyevale is to rebuild St Mellons on a similar footprint. Read more - members only

Creditors back CVA rescue plan for John Woods

Unsecured creditors have given almost complete support to John Woods Nurseries and the CVA arrangements proposed at this morning’s meeting with creditors. Read more - members only

Landscaper order books continue to get longer

Interim results from Marshalls, the hard landscaping manufacturer, show strong growth in commercial and domestic sales and orders with landscaper order books getting longer. Read more - members only

B&Q pre-empts mandatory plastic bag charge

B&Q has introduced a 5p plastic carrier bag charge in England, a year ahead of when the law comes into force. Read more - members only

Will Gardman have new owner soon?

The Daily Telegraph reports that Gardman has appointed advisers to manage a possible sale as several private equity firms circle the business.  The company says whatever happens it's business as usual. Read more - members only

To see earlier stories - Look in the News Archive