“The good news is we have fixed it,” says Dobbies CEO
Dobbies CEO, Graeme Jenkins, faced up to 80 suppliers at yesterday’s GIMA Day Conference and apologised for recent payment and communication problems. Read more - members only
“The good news is we have fixed it,” says Dobbies CEO
Dobbies CEO, Graeme Jenkins, faced up to 80 suppliers at yesterday’s GIMA Day Conference and apologised for recent payment and communication problems. Read more - members only
Blue Diamond hosts spectacular Awards Night
700 staff and guests, dressed for the 1920’s, danced the Charleston as the winners of the Blue Diamond garden centre awards celebrated into the early morning. Read more - members only
Two more garden centres for Blue Diamond before Easter
MD Alan Roper revealed to 700 staff at last night’s spectacular Folies Bergere style awards evening that Blue Diamond would have two more garden centres by Easter. Read more - members only
News from the aisles of the Garden Press Event
The 2023 Garden Press Event was filled with innovation driven by the quest for greater sustainability; and bloggers feeding the interest of younger plant lovers. Read more - members only
Alan Roper speaks about his plans for Peterborough
Blue Diamond Garden Centres MD Alan Roper plans to invest £3m in the newly acquired Van Hage garden centre in Peterborough with an official launch before Easter. Read more - members only
Senior lender takes control of Dobbies
The Dobbies chairman and 4 other directors resign as Dobbies shares are bought by its main lender, Ares Management. Read more - members only
YPHA pays tribute to mentor and friend Paul Cooling
YPHA members gathered at Coolings yesterday at a gathering initiated by Paul Cooling. They toured the nursery, heard from TV presenter Adam Frost and learned how the company is now owned by the staff. Read more - open to all
Blue Diamond restores Bridgemere Show Gardens
An extensive restoration by Blue Diamond has returned Bridgemere Show Gardens to their former glory and they have been awarded Partner Garden status by the RHS. Read more - members only
Klondyke dominates the GCA awards
Bents became the best GCA destination garden centre, while Klondyke Morton is the garden centre of the year as the group dominates the awards for smaller sites. Wyevale Nurseries is named best supplier. Read more - members only
Key growers retire from Hillier Nurseries
Two Hillier Nurseries innovators are retiring. Alan Postill, one of the UK’s greatest plant breeders, and Nursery Manager Dave Hooker, who has worked for Hillier for 43 years. Read more - open to all
Wilko is reported to have secured £40m in new funding
Sky News has reported that wilko has secured £40m in funding from Hilco. Read more - members only
Perrywood raises over £45k for the local community
Over the last two years, Perrywood Tiptree and Perrywood Sudbury have raised a grand total of £45,000 for local charities, schools and community projects. Read more - open to all
The headlines that made 2022 unique - a round-up
2022 was dominated by the recovery from the distortions to trade caused by Covid. It was a year of acquisitions. There were some game changers and sadly we lost some leading characters. Read more - open to all
New garden centre team at AMES UK
AMES UK has updated its garden centre team to offer even more value and support to its retail customers. Read more - open to all
Notcutts celebrates opening of new Brampton Garden Centre
Notcutts celebrated the official opening of their new-look Brampton Garden Centre at a community event on 2nd December. Read more - members only
BGC expands plant production capacity
British Garden Centres has leased Hawkesmill Nurseries’ unit at Temple in Warwickshire. Renamed Temple Nursery it will become BGC’s third production unit. [Updated] Read more - members only
BGC prepares for national Garden Re-Leaf fundraising extravaganza
British Garden Centres has got more than ever planned for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2023. The family-run group is hosting several special events nationwide to raise funds. Read more - open to all
Malcolm Scott unveils new identity
Rural operations and planning specialists Malcolm Scott Consultants have relocated to a new office as the business grows and develops its services. Read more - open to all
New product strategy for Dobbies
Dobbies unveiled a new focus at the Garden Press Event covering everyday value plus further commitments to sustainable gardening. Read more - members only
YPHA announce first set of ‘Supporters’ for 2023-2024
The Young People in Horticulture Association are excited to announce their first five supporters for the 2023-2024 sponsorship term. Read more - open to all
Hozelock to Introduce fingerprint drug testing
Hozelock is to implement drug tests to promote employee safety utilising fingerprint sweat-based technology from Intelligent Fingerprinting. Read more - members only
New supplier for British grown orchids and green houseplants
Double H nurseries is on a mission to transform houseplant wholesale. The Horti House web shop will supply garden centres with British grown orchids and green houseplants. Read more - members only
Work starts on 6th little dobbies
Work has started on the 6th little dobbies high street shop, that is reported to be the biggest yet. Read more - members only
Arena acquires Patch Plants
Arena Online Ltd, the UK’s leading ethical flower business, has announced the acquisition and merger of Patch Gardens Ltd (trading as Patch), the leading plant delivery business. Read more - members only
Bents' FD retires after nearly 30 years
Brian Daniels, Bents’ Finance Director who joined the team in 1993 when Ron and his wife Wendy were running the business, retires. Read more - open to all
Leadership changes at Evergreen Garden Care
Evergreen Garden Care has announced that Ian Hepburn, marketing director for two years, will be leaving the company with Rich Fisher succeeding him from January 3rd, 2023. Read more - open to all
Squire's buys long established plant supplier
D. J. Squire & Co. Ltd has acquired the shares of Barnsfold Nurseries Limited, a business it has worked with and admired for many years. Read more - members only
TGH rescues The Garden Trading Company
A Yorkshire private equity house has bought The Garden Trading Company out of administration after it was split from Joules. Read more - members only
Primrose has been bought by the founders of Crocus
Mark Fane and Peter Clay, the founders of Crocus, have acquired the assets of the online garden retailer, Primrose, from its administrator. Read more - members only
Tong to upgrade gardening at Harden
Last month YGC unveiled plans for the first phase of Stephen H Smith at Otley's revamp. It has now said it will spend £200,000 on the first phase of Harden's revamp. Read more - members only