Griffon reviews future of Ames

Griffon Corporation, the ultimate parent company of Kelkay, La Hacienda, Apta and True Temper is reviewing its operations. This might lead to a sale of some or all its businesses. Read more - members only

Celebrity opening for Rosebourne’s extension to Weyhill

David Domoney cut the ribbon to Rosebourne’s 600m2  undercover extension at Weyhill, watched by MD Carol Paris and buying director, Stuart Whalley. Read more - members only

David Domoney cuts the ribbon watched by Carol Paris and Stuart Whalley

Notcutts seals the deal with Frosts

Notcutts have completed the acquisition of Frosts’ Brampton garden centre near Huntingdon and now run 19 garden  centres.  Read more - members only

See text for names of those in the photo

Two new Garden Centre members for Choice Marketing

Two new members brings the total number of centres within Choice Marketing to 45 and a group retail turnover in excess of £160m. Read more - members only

Pacific Nurseries plants

YGC buys Stephen H Smith Garden Centres

The takeover of 2 Stephen H Smith garden centres by YGC Group, the parent company of Tong, creates a Yorkshire group that will have 5 destination garden centres. Read more - members only

Tom Megginson, Sharon McNair, Chris Smith, Mark Farnsworth, Richard Cogghill, Charlie Barker

Hillier completes transformation of Three Legged Cross

Hillier has transformed Three Legged Cross Garden Centre. It now offers bright and spacious shopping, with new features to create an inspirational gardening experience. Read more - members only

Dobbies introduces vet practice to Chesterfield

Plans to include vets services at Dobbies Garden Centres have taken a step forward with the announcement that Carrick Vets practice will open at Chesterfield. Read more - members only

Garden furniture sales increased in May, against the trend

If catering is excluded, total garden centre sales fell in May.  However, according to the GCA, garden furniture and clothing sales increased.  Year to date total income is down -9% on 2021. Read more - members only

Dobbies appoints new CFO

Dobbies has appointed Anthony Liam Grace as its new CFO.  An announcement is also expected on the refinancing of Dobbies £225m term loan. Read more - members only

Another acquisition for Duke Street’s Compo

Duke Street has announced the acquisition of another business by Compo, one of Europe's leading suppliers of branded products for the home and garden. Read more - members only

Blaze at Grosvenor Garden Centre

Today at around 3.30am in the morning the warehouse at Blue Diamond's Grosvenor Garden Centre in Chester caught fire damaging a large amount of stock.  The garden centre remains closed. Read more - members only

Fire at Grosvenor Garden Centre

All-In-One garden centre to close

The Stafford family has announced that the All-In-One garden centre in Middleton, Manchester is to close in July after more than 51 years serving the community. Read more - members only

Pandemic made B&M an even better retailer

Despite a -4.1% sales fall in the last 12 months B&M says it has sustained the step up in sales and profit compared to pre-pandemic levels. Read more - members only

Cherry Lane acquires Riverside Nursery & Garden Centre in Hockley

Cherry Lane, the value garden centre group owned by QD Stores, has acquired Riverside Nursery & Garden Centre in Hockley, Essex, bringing its stores number to 17. Read more - members only

Product of the year win for Dobbies at Chelsea

Dobbies new peat free John Innes compost range has been named the sustainable product of the year at the 2022 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Read more - members only

Hozelock's multi £m investment in expansion

Hozelock has acquired an additional manufacturing and warehouse facility at its production and distribution base in the West Midlands.  Read more - members only

Hozelock announces new CEO

Hozelock, Britain’s leading watering and plant protection expert, is pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Davies as CEO.  He had been group sales and marketing director.  Read more - open to all

Simon Davies, new Hozelock CEO

Perrywood and Old Railway Line are Garden Centres of the Year

The Garden Centre Association has revealed the best and the most improved Garden Centres in Wales & West England and North Thames regions.  Read more - members only

Perrywood Garden Centre, Sudbury

Local moves for Dobbies

Dobbies has applied for a late licence to serve alcohol and play live music at Tewkesbury. It has also opened its first Waitrose Foodhall, in Edinburgh. Read more - members only

Webbs has bought and opened at Millets Farm

One half of the two centre sale announced by Frosts last month has been completed with Webbs opening at Millets Farm near Abingdon. Read more - members only

Waitrose to replace Sainsbury’s in Dobbies

Dobbies' foodhalls have formed a new partnership with Waitrose replacing its 2020 deal with Sainsbury’s. Read more - members only

Best year ever for Klondyke

“Trading to September 2021 have been the best year the company has ever had.”  So says the recent accounts published by Klondyke Garden Centre Group. Read more - members only

Polmont Restaurant

We are now Carbon Neutral – Forest Garden

Worcestershire-based Forest Garden has become carbon neutral.  It has ensured that everything from sourcing to sawing, manufacturing to haulage is now carbon neutral. Read more - open to all

Amberol and Leafield Environmental join forces

Leafield Environmental has acquired Amberol which brings together two businesses with eight decades’ worth of experience in manufacturing sustainable plastic products. Read more - members only

Amberol planters

Frosts to sell Millets Farm as well as Brampton UPDATED

News has been broken by Robin Skilling, that the Frosts Garden Centre group is to sell a second of its four garden centres, with both sales completing in Mid-July. Read more - members only

Millets Farm

Cherry Lane celebrates 17 garden centres in 21 years

Value garden centre group Cherry Lane is celebrating its 21st anniversary. The business has grown from three sites to 17 and has planned a month of events, activities and special treats. Read more - members only

Nick Rubins and team at Pulham Market

Blue Diamond to install 300+ EV charging points

Mer has entered into an agreement with Blue Diamond to provide over 300 electric vehicle charge points at its 39 garden centres across the UK. Read more - members only

Tong seeks planning consent for 3rd garden centre

Tong will open Tingley Garden Centre in the autumn and has submitted plans to Leeds City Council for a 3rd site to open in 2024. Read more - members only

Tom Megginson, Sharon McNair and Mark Farnsworth

Sales fall -18% in first quarter at resilient B&Q

B&Q sales fall -18% in Q1 compared to strong, lockdown affected, months last year.  It claims this was a good performance across all categories on a 3-year basis. Read more - members only

St Bridget Nursery destined for housing

St Bridget Nursery, a long established Exeter garden centre and nursery, could be replaced with up to 350 new homes according to Devon Live. Read more - members only

image: Google Maps

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