Weather restrains B&M’s strong growth

A disappointing spring has held back like for like growth to 4.7% for y/e March 2018 after a good 2017 Spring/Summer garden and outdoor leisure season.  Read more - members only

ITE agrees to buy the owner of Glee and Spring Fair

ITE has agreed to buy 7 exhibitions from Ascential, formerly EMAP, that include Glee, Spring and Autumn Fair. Read more - members only

New owners for Stansted Park Garden Centre

Stansted Park Garden Centre becomes the second to be branded ‘Your Local Garden Centre’, having been bought from administrators by Paul Richards and Tim Mason. Read more - members only

Paul Richards (L), James White and Tim Mason

Terra Firma, raises the ‘For Sale’ signs over Wyevale

Terra Firma has appointed Christie & Co to sell Wyevale Garden Centres as a whole or garden centre by garden centre.  Read more - members only

Wyevale Head Office

Ivy House all day kitchen opens at Groves Nurseries

Family owned Groves Nurseries in Bridport welcomed visitors for the first time last week to the Ivy House Kitchen, their new restaurant designed by Malcolm Scott Consultants.

Read more - members only

Smart Garden is one of Europe’s 1000 fastest growing companies

The FT has listed Smart Garden Products in Europe’s 1000 most rapidly growing companies. Further growth seems certain as stock levels have been raised by 50% at its new warehouse. Read more - members only

Maxicrop UK is renamed Valagro UK

Valagro, has announced that its subsidiary Maxicrop (UK) Ltd, has changed name to Valagro UK Ltd, selling to the professional market. Last year SBM took on sales to the domestic garden market. Read more - members only

Gardman to start TV advertising

Gardman is to run a TV advertising campaign leading up to the next bank holiday weekend. Catalogues with new ranges will appear during the summer. Read more - members only

New owner for Leighton Buzzard Garden Centre

Leighton Buzzard garden centre is the latest from the Home & Garden Group to be sold. This follows confirmation that QD Stores has acquired David’s Nurseries. One other is under new management. Read more - members only

Syngenta launches mildew resistant Busy Lizzie through B&Q

A new, downy mildew resistant Busy Lizzie bred by Syngenta is to be unveiled by B&Q. The Busy Lizzie is back, said Tim Clapp, “This is the biggest thing I have been involved in over my 20 years in horticulture.” Read more - members only

Tim Clapp with Imara Bizzie Lizzie

Steve Millington leaves Tildenet

Tildenet is looking for a sales and marketing director to look after its portfolio of brands and companies after it announced that Steve Millington is to leave the business. Read more - members only

Steve Millington

B&Q hints at move onto the high street

Kingfisher CEO, Veronique Laury, has hinted that the future for B&Q would be to focus on smaller convenience stores, drawing on the success of Screwfix. Read more - members only

Veronique Laury

Start-up challenges larger manufacturers on plastic

Dan Robson, MD of recent start-up Green Digit, has laid down a challenge to larger manufacturers: If a young start-up company can successfully sell products – across Europe - made from sustainable, biodegradable materials, then surely others can too. Read more - members only

Fewer independents will sell their garden centres

Fewer independent garden centres will sell in future, said the owner of St Peter’s, Worcester. He also invited suppliers to consider running their gardening shops as a franchise. Read more - members only

Tony Blake

Bunnings opens 24th Store as PE buyers circle

Bunnings has opened its 24th store in Somerset amid reports that private equity firms are eyeing a potential bid. The Aussie chairman is also visiting UK stores. Read more - members only

Wyevale values garden centres at £446m

Christies & Co have unveiled a list of the 145 Wyevale garden centres for sale and their valuations, with Woodcote Green topping the list. But what if the group is broken up? Read more - members only

Chilton garden centre valued at £2.4m

Hilco nails Homebase for £1

Hilco, the turnaround specialist behind HMV has bought Bunnings UK and Ireland. Job losses are likely to follow. Also a CVA? Read more - members only

A decision on Homebase could come within days

Multiple reports suggest that a decision on the buyer for Homebase could come within days. Two turnaround investors appear to be leading the race. Store closures would be likely. Read more - members only

Bunnings in Frome

Proactive Blue Diamond shares the Brexit pain with suppliers

2017 growth for Blue Diamond, but “With a weakening economy over the coming years almost a certainty, pressures on margin are likely to mount as the marketplace becomes more fiercely competitive,” says MD Alan Roper. Read more - members only

Alan Roper

Westland growth rate slows in 2017

A year of rapid growth following the purchase of William Sinclair, has been followed by 12 months to April 2017 when Westland Horticulture sales have grown little. Pre-tax profits have improved despite the impact of a large bad debt. Read more - members only

Farplants unveils mobile friendly portal for ordering plants

A new mobile friendly trade portal unveiled by Farplants will mean plant buyers can check availability and order stock while standing by their display benches. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond buys 21st garden centre

Blue Diamond has bought, Orchard Park, a North Dorset garden centre with planning consent to expand. Read more - members only

Orchard Park

David’s Nurseries is a major purchase for Cherry Lane Garden Centres

QD Group has confirmed Cherry Lane’s purchase of David’s Nurseries in Martin Hussingtree, Worcester from the administrators of the Home & Garden Group. Read more - members only

Carol Paris to head Somerton, a new garden centre company

Former HTA chief, Carol Paris has set up Somerton, a new garden centre company that will trade as a franchise of Rosebourne.  Read more - members only

Carol Paris

Beast from the East hampers progress at BUKI

Third quarter results from Wesfarmers show a more resilient performance from BUKI (Bunnings UK and Ireland) as reports persist that it is prepared to offer ‘a dowry’ to potential purchasers of the former Homebase group. Read more - members only

Scotts Miracle-Gro invests further in hydroponics

Scotts Miracle-Gro is to purchase Sunlight Supply the largest US distributor of indoor-growing equipment strengthening its position in the medical marijuana market and indoor vegetable cultivation. Read more - members only

Chessum Plants appoints administrators and is for sale

The rose grower Chessum Plants, a sister company to Home and Garden that appointed administrators last month, is for sale having also entered administration. Read more - members only

Gardman availability up to 1200 SKUs

Gardman says Kings Lynn is fully operational again with over 1200 SKUs in stock and increasing as some lines are being flown in from the Far East. Read more - members only

Millais Nurseries has been granted a Royal Warrant

David Millais of Millais Nurseries has been granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as supplier of Rhododendrons and Magnolias.  Read more - open to all

David Millais and his team

Jonathan Halford to run the London Marathon

Jonathan Halford, chairman of both Forest Garden and Gardman, is raising funds for CLIC Sargent by running in the London Marathon. Read more - open to all

Jonathan Halford

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