New DC for Zest, plus a university link
Timber product supplier, Zest 4 Leisure, has just bought a new distribution centre in Saltney, Flintshire. It has also announced a collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University. Read more - members only
New DC for Zest, plus a university link
Timber product supplier, Zest 4 Leisure, has just bought a new distribution centre in Saltney, Flintshire. It has also announced a collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University. Read more - members only
Investment pays off for Creative Gardens
Creative Gardens beats the GCA averages following improvement works. Overall, almost as many centres were down in July as up. Read more - members only
Trading to remain challenging for Bunnings UK
The historical poor performance of Homebase is expected to continue in the short term, despite encouraging sales growth in gardening categories, as customers continue to adjust to the Bunnings offer. Read more - members only
What is happening at Wyevale Garden Centres?
Following recent rumours and reports about the preformance and funding of Wyevale, Gardenforum talks to major suppliers and people close to the company and gets a better understanding of what is happening. Read more - members only
London’s Garden Bridge project is abandoned
The project to build a Garden Bridge over the river Thames has been abandoned, officially, following the Mayor of London withdrawing his support. Read more - members only
Innovation from Mr Fothergill's
As well as the acquisition of Darlac, Mr Fothergill’s revealed other innovations, including a new RHS AGM range, a starter range endorsed by David Domoney and the introduction Seasol and Optigrow. Read more - members only
Wyevale Garden Centres in possible re-financing deal
It has been reported that Terra Firma is negotiating a re-financing deal for Wyevale as the garden centre group has not met its trading targets. Read more - members only
La Hacienda has been sold to the Griffon Corporation for $11m (UPDATED)
It will be business as usual for La Hacienda, the global manufacturer, importer and distributor of outdoor heating and outdoor living products, after it became part of Griffon Corporation. Read more - members only
Wyevale is rated one of the 10 worst companies to work for
The Daily Telegraph listed Wyevale Garden Centres as one of the ten worst companies to work for, based on scores from the jobs website Glassdoor.co.uk. Gardenforum finds other garden retailers scored much better. Read more - members only
“It’s been an interesting ride” says PJ Davis
“It’s been an interesting ride” says the BUKI chief as he opened the fifth Bunnings pilot store in a former B&Q at Folkestone. Read more - members only
Vitax invests in expansion after a busy season
Vitax is to expand its production facility in Skelmersdale and warehouse in Coalville after faster than expected growth this year. Read more - members only
Frosts sells landscape maintenance division
Frosts has sold its landscape maintenance division to Nurture to focus on its core construction and garden centre operations, where profits fell last year. Read more - members only
B&M experiences best like-for-like growth in 3 years
Excellent sales in seasonal categories, particularly garden and outdoor living, and strong grocery sales contribute to strong like-for-like growth for B&M as it presses ahead with store openings. Read more - members only
Bonnett promises innovative ideas that will be new to garden centres
It has now been confirmed that Gardening Express owner, Chris Bonnett, has acquired his first bricks and mortar garden centre and called it Bonnetts Garden Village. Read more - members only
Bunnings doubles the number of Homebase pilot conversions
Early success encourages Bunnings to double to 20 the number of Homebase stores converted to the new format, but still says the success of the pilots remains a precursor to additional investment. Read more - members only
The Orangery Collection launches in two garden centres
Lolly Lee was so convinced that her new venture would be a success that she sold her house to fund the launch of The Orangery Collection, introducing design led ranges from artisan producers around the world. Read more - members only
Squire’s plans a ‘Raffles style’ Café Bar at Shepperton, with a piano
Squire’s plans to open a new 'Raffles' Café Bar at Shepperton Garden Centre, which will include a new style of service - where orders are placed at the till then an electronic tracker is taken to the table. Read more - members only
Marshall unveils his 3-year plan for Dobbies
New CEO, Nicholas Marshall unveils his £40m, 3-year plan to re-establish Dobbies’ reputation as a quality retailer of British plants. He also has ambitions to expand. Read more - members only
Barton Grange begins construction of £8m leisure venue
The Barton Grange Group has started the construction of its £8m leisure development to be built alongside its award-winning garden centre at Brock on the A6 near Preston. Read more - members only
Bunnings names its first Homebase conversion in the South West
Two more Homebase stores to be converted as Bunnings pilots, bringing the total to 10. The latest include Weston-super-mare and Harlow. Read more - members only
Mr Fothergill’s Seeds has acquired Darlac Garden Tools
Mr Fothergill’s Seeds has acquired Darlac, the garden tools supplier based in Slough, to expand its offer to garden retailers. Read more - members only
EP Barrus buys Town and Country
EP Barrus has bought the gardening glove and footwear manufacturer, Town & Country. Its founder and chairman Barry Page is to retire. Read more - members only
Fatal Legionnaire’s Disease incubated in a hot tub display
The owners of a regional DIY chain await sentence after an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease that ‘probably’ come from a hot tub display in its garden centre led to two deaths. Read more - members only
The battle between Hare Hatch Sheeplands and the planners is over
Hare Hatch Sheeplands has finally complied with the council’s enforcement notice. The garden centre operation has been shut down, yet Rob Scott says the business has a bright future as a specialist nursery building on the heritage of the Floral Mile. Read more - members only
Blue Diamond acts after unacceptable food hygiene report at Fryer’s
Blue Diamond has replaced the front of house manager and head chef after Fryer’s garden centre received a ‘0’ rating, the lowest possible, for food hygiene in May. Read more - members only
Fire at Stephen H Smith Otley UPDATED
Local news report a fire at 11.15 last (Tuesday) night at Stephen H Smith garden centre at Otley, attended by 50 firefighters. A number of pets are reported to have died in the fire. Read more - members only
HTA is to recruit a chairman, a figurehead for the industry
The HTA is to complete its restructuring by recruiting a part-time chairman to be the figurehead that speaks for the industry. Read more - members only
SBM ready to take centre stage
It is 7 months since SBM completed its purchase of Bayer garden and established SBM Life Science. So far it has kept a low profile. At Glee the industry will see how culturally different the ambitious, family owned group will be. Read more - members only
Bents celebrates 80 years and looks ahead
Ron and Matthew Bent celebrate an 80-year history in which it has evolved from rose grower to a £20m garden centre and look 10 years ahead. Read more - members only
Bonnetts Garden Village – amended story
A new garden centre has started trading at Bonnetts Garden Village, managed by a former Dobbies general manager. Read more - members only