Vilmorin has removed the ‘For Sale’ signs from Suttons

Suttons Consumer Products has been fully reintegrated into Vilmorin, who have announced that the UK seed and bulb producer is no longer for sale. See more... Read more - members only

Sales up 6% at Wyevale

Nicholas Marshall looks at what has been achieved at The Garden Centre Group (Wyevale) in the first 6 months of 2009 as he releases news that sales have increased 6%. See more... Read more - members only

It has been a good nine months for Scotts Miracle-Gro

Strong consumer demand has increased sales at Scotts MiracleGro by 9% during the last nine months. Profits have increased by 21%. See more...

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Dobbies changes tack at York

Dobbies has withdrawn its planning appeal at York and has submitted an application to develop a Garden World at Livingston, the new town between Edinburgh and Glasgow. See more... Read more - members only

Whiteleys GC files for CVA

Woldelve Ltd, the company that trades as Whiteleys Garden Centre has filed a notice of its intention to enter a CVA to seek protection from its creditors. See more... Read more - members only

Alternative travel saves Petersham Nurseries

Diners substituted their 4-wheel drives for bicycles, the bus and boat to win a four-year planning battle for Petersham Nurseries, more famous for its restaurant than its plants. See more...
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Citrox is not to be confused with Citroxx

MD of Agralan Alan Frost, has issued a statement to avoid confusion between his product, Citrox, and the product called Citroxx, named in a recent BBC exposé, 'What's really in our food'. See more... Read more - members only

They are friendly and dynamic at Howard Nurseries

Double success for Howard Nurseries and GPS-controlled planting in Holland are covered in this month's nursery column. See more... Read more - members only

New 40,000 sq ft Garden Centre Development for 2011

Hammond Phillips have just received instructions to secure an occupier for Andover Garden Park, a 40,000sq ft garden centre development to the west of Andover. Read more - members only

Research shows how to boost sales of garden furniture

30% have bought garden furniture in the last two years, but only 8% in the last year. With ageing furniture in gardens and the willingness of the marginal gardener to respond to promotions, HTA research highlights the opportunities this summer. See more... Read more - members only

Gardman reports a buoyant start to 2009

Gardman has reported a buoyant start to 2009 despite the current economic climate. In the last 12 months sales have increased by around 20%. See more... Read more - members only

Monthly Nursery Round-up

Among the topics covered by Peter Dawson in his monthly nursery column are the HTA's opposition to the new AWB settlement for England and Wales. See more.... Read more - members only

New ideas to extend the GYO boom

From being a one-year wonder, GYO is set to expand according to speakers at last weeks GIMA business meeting who presented thought-provoking ideas to develop the concept. See more... Read more - members only

GIMA Sword of Excellence for AEL’s Glatz parasol

Judges said that the Glatz Alu Twist Parasol beat a very strong field to win the coveted GIMA Sword of Excellence at last night’s Industry award. By one point, Gardman retained the Supplier of the Year Award for an astonishing 8th successive year. For all the winners, see more... Read more - members only

Housing option on Portsmouth garden centre

GCA member, Keydell Nurseries could become a housing estate according to the Portsmouth News. See more... Read more - members only

Focus offers CVA to landlords

Focus DIY, which has been trying to renew its £50 million bank loan, has offered its landlords a deal under the terms of a CVA. If they don't accept it, the company is likely to fall into administration. See more... Read more - members only

Rowlinson restructures

Rowlinson Garden Products has notified customers that it will be restructuring, moving its manufacturing to Eastern Europe and the Far East and focusing sales in the UK on home delivery. See more... Read more - members only

Founders regain control of Briers

Nigel and Jackie Eades have regained control of Briers, the brand they formed in 2000 and sold to the Monro Group in 2007. See more... Read more - members only

Does anyone remember Wyevale?

Forget the name Wyevale. We will now have to get used to a new name, The Garden Centre Group. From July the country’s biggest garden centre chain will escape its history with a change of name. See more... Read more - members only

Weekend news round-up

Read what was said last weekend in the Press. Heinz targets garden centres with BBQ sauces, Dobbies to offer allotments and shoppers flinch at Smith & Hawken closing down sale. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies go ahead for UK's most eco-friendly garden centre

Aberdeen City Council has granted planning permission for a new Dobbies Garden World at New Park in Lang Stracht, Aberdeen. See more... Read more - members only

Smaller garden centres have performed best this year

A good gardening autumn and an expected increase in the price of Christmas trees should give garden centres a good start to the new gardening year. Sales since last July have increased by over 5% according to the GCA, with smaller garden centres improving the most. See more... Read more - members only

Profits suffer as companies release 2008 results

The latest updates in Company Results show sales grew in 2008 at Johnsons of Whixley, Thompson & Morgan and Woodlodge Products, but their profits declined. Park Garden Centre became a £10m+ garden centre for the first time and Klondyke sales grow by 19%. For further results, see more... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

Closing down sale starts today at Smith & Hawken

Scotts Miracle-Gro is to close Smith & Hawken, the American retail chain bought in 2004, having failed to find a buyer. See more... Read more - members only

Patience pays off for Dobbies in Northern Ireland

After four years Dobbies has won planning permission for a new garden centre at Lisburn, just south of Belfast. See more... Read more - members only

Novel way to spend a penny at the latest Dobbies' centre

The former Tesco store at Fosse Way, Shepton Mallet officially opened as the latest Dobbies Garden Centre last Sunday. It is the UK's first centre to be converted from a supermarket. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centres in local spat in Stratford-upon-Avon

Despite requests from the Stratford Garden Centre, an independent, family run business, the Wyevale group has refused to reconsider the new name for its Stratford outlet. See more... Read more - members only

Greenacres changes hands

Greenacres Nurseries in Stapleton, Leics, has been sold for an undisclosed sum. The deal was arranged by Alexander Mackie Associates. See more... Read more - members only

Resilient May confirms good year for garden centres

A strong end to May means garden centres have held on to most of the gains they made in the first 4 months of the year. Smaller centres actually increased sales in the month. See more... Read more - members only

Supplier concern over new Wyevale terms

Suppliers have expressed concern over new trading terms, issued last week by Wyevale. One supplier told Gardenforum, "I don't think our bank would allow us to trade under these terms, we would have to walk away." See more... Read more - members only

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