Sinclair acquires Growing Success assets

Having signed a distribution agreement for Growing Success Organics with Monro Horticulture a short time ago, William Sinclair has now acquired the assets of the business. See more... Read more - members only

Massive new warehouse for Gardman

Gardman has signed up for a massive new warehouse near to its main warehouse operations in Kings Lynn, Norfolk. It will help ensure that they hold enough stock during what they claim to be a growth phase. See more... Read more - members only

Further losses for garden suppliers

Latest results to be published on Gardenforum include suppliers Gardman, Decco, Europlants, Richard Sankey & Son and Smart Solar; plus the retailers, Coolings Nurseries, Castle Gardens Sherborne, Capital Gardens and Golden Acres. There was a sharp increase in profit for Danning and Symons. A number of garden suppliers are still making losses including Desch Plantpak, Deroma, Fiskars Brands UK, Forest Garden Group and Rowlinson Garden Products. See more... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

UK’s biggest finishing centre for plants to open in January

In January, Farplants will open the biggest plant consolidation and finishing centre in the UK. It will reduce costs and improve flexibility and could become the plant distribution hub for southern England. See more... Read more - members only

Harbo Fritid has been acquired by Da’core Group

Da’core has acquired the trading activities of Harbo Fritid, creating a large European supplier to the outdoor furniture market. See more… Read more - members only

Creature comforts not worth the cash

Animal friendly gardeners may be wasting money on ineffective and unnecessary shop-bought homes for wildlife warns Which? Gardening. Read more - members only

Local opposition to Notcutts proposed Central Distribution Depot

Residents have formed an action group to fight Notcutts’ plan to build a 100,000 sq ft central distribution warehouse in Woodbridge to service its garden centres. See more... Read more - members only

Solus sheds wholesaler label

Solus Garden and Leisure should no longer be regarded as a wholesaler. They are now a supplier of their own brands and a wholesale distributor for a few targeted manufacturers. See more...
Read more - members only

Kettler GB is not affected by the financial collapse of MWH

MWH Metallwerk Helmstadt, part of the Heinz Kettler group in Germany has appointed a provisional liquidator. Kettler GB, a LOFA member, is owned separately and is therefore unaffected. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies sales to multiply 10x in 8 years

Tesco’s commitment to making Dobbies a national brand is as strong as ever, James Barnes told GIMA today as he seeks to multiply sales 10 times by 2019. Dobbies products are set to appear on the supermarket’s shelves as the gardening equivalent of Tesco’s finest. See more... Read more - members only

Klondyke completes purchase of Byrkley Garden Centre

The Klondyke Group has finally completed the purchase of Byrkley Garden Centre at Rangemore, Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire from the Thompstone Brothers. See more... Read more - members only

Garden4Less Hit by Bosch / Amazon Scam

Local Internet retailer Garden4Less has been hit by a unique online scam involving the Amazon website. See more... Read more - members only

John Robinson Houseplants moves and changes name to House Plants Direct

John Robinson Houseplants has moved from Romsey to West Parley, near Bournemouth International Airport, and has changed its name to House Plants Direct Ltd. See more... Read more - members only

Outrage at blatant copying at Glee

Some of the most innovative companies in the garden industry have been outraged by blatant copying of their products at Glee. See more... Read more - members only

B&Q profits rise despite falling sales

B&Q warned that the immediate outlook for consumer spending is fragile and is likely to remain challenging for some time. See more... Read more - members only

Next to open garden centres

According to the Independent on Sunday, the high street clothing giant Next, plans to open stores with garden centres as part of a strategy for larger outlets. See more… Read more - members only

Westland takes Masterclass on the road

Westland Horticulture has announced a series of educational days across the UK for garden retail staff. See more... Read more - members only

DHL signs new distribution deal with B&Q

DHL, the global logistics group that is exploring with the HTA the idea of a central hub for the distribution of plants, has won a multi-million pound contract to manage B&Q’s distribution network. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centre fined for Easter Opening

Bay Tree Garden Centre in Essex faces a fine and costs of £3450 for trading on Easter Sunday, despite the owner claiming that a council officer had advised 2 years ago that they were permitted to open. See more... Read more - members only

Focus DIY appoints advisers re possible sale

The Observer reports that the owner of debt laden Focus DIY has called in investment bankers to look for radical ways to revive its fortunes. This might lead to a sale. See more... Read more - members only

"What's in a name?” asks Which? Gardening

The next issue of Which? Gardening reveals that Homebase and Argos are badging their own brand mowers as Qualcast and Spear & Jackson. It also reviews spades and garden forks. See more… Read more - members only

Flying Brands expands online offer with another acquisition

Web sales double as Flying Brands makes another acquisition, but it remains tough going in the garden division. See more... Read more - members only

Acamp rescued

GLG Acamp GmbH, the Austrian parent of Norfolk Leisure that called in an administrator on October 5, is to continue trading having resolved contract issues with its bank. See more... Read more - members only

Acamp calls in administrators UPDATED

GLG Acamp GmbH, the Austrian parent of Norfolk Leisure, has called in an administrator, having failed to agree seasonal funding with its bank. See more... Read more - members only

New Horizon up 44%

William Sinclair has published an optimistic trading update following the end of its financial year on Sept 30th. See more... Read more - members only

Whitehall buys Highfield Nurseries mail order

Whitehall Garden Centre in Lacock, Wiltshire has bought the Highfield Nurseries mail order business and website. See more... Read more - members only

Ambitious plans for GardeningTV

Gardening TV has new owners with ambitious plans to double the number of host garden centres within 12 months. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies opens first Northern Irish centre

On Friday 25th September 2010, Dobbies will welcome its first Northern Irish customers to a new 48,000sq ft Dobbies Garden World in Lisburn, Belfast – the company’s first centre in the Province. See more... Read more - members only

Glee New Product Awards 2010

Pop-up rain barrel/water butt scoops triple honours in the Glee New Product Awards. For a list of winners see More... Read more - members only

National Conifer Week starts 2nd October

The HTA’s PlantforLife campaign and British Conifer Group have produced banners and a merchandising guide to help retailers build eye-catching displays that will have gardeners up and down the country pining for British Conifers. See more... Read more - members only

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