Hillier’s new garden centre team gets results

There has been a transformation at Hillier's garden centres in the last 18 months. Seven have a new look and feel and there is a new confidence in Hillier’s plant heritage. Read more - members only

Chris Francis with Hillier Heritage plants

Garden centres are up 10.5% in May

Garden Centre sales are up 10.5% in May and 5% for the year so far according to the GCA.  It appears some garden centres are recovering their confidence with garden furniture, but not all.  Plants and garden sundries continue to lose share. Read more - members only

Monkton Elm Restaurant

French minister calls for ban on over-the-counter sales of Roundup UPDATED

French minister has called for a ban on over-the-counter sales of Roundup after an agency affiliated to the WHO classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen to humans. Read more - members only

Somerset garden centre seeks alternative use

A North Somerset garden centre is asking planners for permission to replace its buildings with houses, blaming competition from Cadbury for years of slow trading. Read more - members only

Shoot Gardening raises £500,000 to fund ambitious expansion

Shoot Gardening promises an ambitious fast-track expansion having raised £500,000 through the crowdfunding platform, Crowdcube. Read more - members only

Nicola Gammon

Kettler GB unaffected by restructure announcement

Heinz Kettler Gmbh & Co KG has entered a period of self-administration in order to restructure its German business but leaves the UK operation unaffected. Read more - members only

Site closures and job losses as Sinclair restructures

Sinclair has announced that sites will close with around 100 job losses as it restructures and consolidates on its Ellesmere Port site. Read more - members only

Ellesmere Port

Easy Gardener bought by Centre Lane Partners

Centre Lane Partners, a New York-based private investment firm, announced that it has acquired Easy Gardener Products Inc. (“Easy Gardener”). Read more - members only

Early fears turn to joy for bedding growers

Despite a luke warm start to this year’s bedding season, growers across England report sales really hotted up as the late spring holiday got under way. Read more - members only

Sinclair warns of aggressive operational changes to resolve funding shortfall

The new Sinclair management says it is confident of long-term success for the business if it can raise new funds.  It is also addressing unprofitable customer contracts. Read more - members only

Garden furniture sales were up 31% in April

Garden centres are 4% up for the year so far according to the latest figures from the GCA. The North and West have outperformed the Southeast. Garden furniture is the best performing product category. Read more - members only

Smart Garden Products buys Outside-In Designs®

Paris Natar’s Smart Garden Products has acquired Outside-in Designs and will introduce a new range of clocks. Read more - members only

Scotts calls time on Yeoman, Joseph Bentley and other Solus brands

Reports are circulating the trade, as yet unconfirmed, that Scotts Miracle-Gro has told its staff that all but one of the Solus brands are to be withdrawn from the market. Read more - members only

Expanding G Plants looks for sales personnel

G Plants has moved into new offices and warehousing covering 50,000 ft.² in Blackburn as part of a £600,000 expansion plan.  It is looking to recruit new sales personnel. Read more - members only

G Plants directors in the warehouse

Council explains why it must enforce against Hare Hatch Sheeplands

The latest twist in the enforcement battle between Wokingham Borough Council and Hare Hatch Sheeplands takes the form of a letter from the council’s chief executive to the many customers who have written to support their garden centre. Read more - members only

Gardman is sold to a management buy-out

Gardman has been bought in a management buy-out, led by chairman Jonathan Halford and backed by private equity. Read more - members only

Jonathan Halford

Marlows DIY and Garden Centre has been sold

Marlows DIY and Garden Centre is sold after 35 years trading.  It has been acquired by Con Mech Group that already owns a nearby country store. Read more - members only

Two incidents show how watchful garden centres must be

Beckworth Emporium lost cash in a violent break while the phone line of a Walthamstow garden centre was hacked in an elaborate attempt to cash a fake cheque. Read more - members only

Rosebourne secures funding and buys its first plot

A band of industry veterans has come together to form Rosebourne, a vehicle to develop a new style group of food and plant centres. Read more - members only

Jon Kitching and David Brown at the opening of Beckworth Emporium

Wyevale buys Armitage’s garden centres

Wyevale has bought Armitage’s Pennine and Birchencliffe garden centres owned by the GCA chairman, Will Armitage, and his parents. Read more - members only

Industry outsider joins Notcutts as new chief executive

Nick Burrows is to be the new Notcutts chief executive from September. Recently he has been the executive chairman at both the First Sports Group and The Thames Club. Read more - members only

Nick Burrows

Further expansion for Highfield Garden World

Sales have grown 24% at Highfield Garden World since it was redeveloped a year ago. It has now been granted permission to extend further. Read more - members only

B&M grows while B&Q shrinks

The changing face of retail is highlighted by the contrasting results announced by B&Q and the rapidly growing B&M, chaired by Sir Terry Leahy, former CEO of Tesco. Read more - members only

Chapelwood to be No 1 in bird food within 3 years

Scotts’ UK boss says we are going to do a Scotts job on Chapelwood and hints at big innovations for growing media this autumn. Read more - members only

Chapelwood Insect habitat

Change of emphasis pays off for Klondyke

The change in emphasis for Klondyke Group pays dividends as profits increase by 29%. The priority will remain on redeveloping existing garden centres for the next three years. Read more - members only

Kelso

Scotts puts Solus brands up for sale

After an extensive review of the Solus brands Scotts says that Chapelwood has a significant future but it will exit the remaining brands at the earliest opportunity. Read more - members only

Scotts brands

Top Chelsea Awards for Agralan, Hillier and Taylors Bulbs

Agralan wins garden product of the year at RHS Chelsea, Burncoose Nurseries wins plant of the year. There were golds for Hillier, Vital Earth, Taylors Bulbs. Read more - members only

Agralan's Mike Abel and Alan Frost with the Potato Pot

Sinclair FD steps down

Peter Williams steps down after 10 years as finance director at William Sinclair.  The company has appointed turnaround specialist, Sheryl Tye, as interim CFO. Read more - members only

Peter Williams

Westland to hold Twitter Q&A with Charlie Dimmock

Westland are experimenting with a twitter Q&A with Charlie Dimmock next Thursday – 21 May from 7-9pm - #GardenSecrets. Read more - members only

New owners promise dramatic growth for Tong Garden Centre

Tong, one of the country’s largest garden centres has been sold. The new owners have substantial redevelopment plans. Read more - members only

The new owners of Tong with Jonathan Holmes

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