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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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