Plantasjen closes Gardenworks in Dublin

Plantasjen, the 100 strong Scandinavian garden centre group is closing one of its two stores in Ireland defeated, says the Irish press, by the difficult retail sector. See more… Read more - members only

Gardman’s new CEO starts on Monday

Stewart Hainsworth starts work with Gardman on Monday as its new Chief Executive Officer. He completes the new team at Gardman under chairman, Jonathan Halford. See more... Read more - members only

Garden and Leisure sells half of Percy Throwers to Waitrose

It has taken two years for Garden & Leisure to tie up a deal with Waitrose to redevelop Percy Throwers. The garden centre multiple has announced today that it has sold half the site to the supermarket chain. See more... Read more - members only

Whetmans carries the flag for the UK, in Canada

Can Whetman Pinks be named the world’s best grower at the first congress of the AIPH to be organised by Tim Briercliffe, which will be held in Canada, this Autumn. See more... Read more - members only

Independence for Bellagio UK

Bellagio UK, originally a subsidiary of the Bellagio Group, has become an independent UK business after Julian Windsor and his family bought the shares they didn’t already own. See more... Read more - members only

Smart Solar buys Greentree

The transformation of Smart Solar, since Paris Natar bought a controlling stake, continues with the acquisition of Greentree. Gary Ackers becomes commercial director of Smart Solar. See more... Read more - members only

Production problems lead to second Sinclair profit warning

A second profit warning from William Sinclair knocks 15% from its share price, wiping out gains made during July. See more… Read more - members only

Glendale Horticulture buys RA Meredith

Bedding plant producer RA Meredith has been bought by Glendale Horticulture in a pre-pack administration deal from the joint administrators David James Bennett and Ian Stewart Carr, joint administrators of Grant Thornton LLP. See more... Read more - members only

Homebase Ireland in examinership

Homebase has joined the growing list of troubled retailers in Ireland. Yesterday an examiner was appointed as the business struggles to cope with falling retail sales and increasing rents. See more ... Read more - members only

Stagecraft back in full production

Stagecraft is back in full production after a disastrous fire gutted their factory in March. See more… Read more - members only

The GCA announces South Thames winners

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) reveals the Best in Area garden centre winners. See more... Read more - members only

James Barnes leaves Dobbies - UPDATED

Dobbies staff were told yesterday James Barnes, CEO and finance director Sharon Brown have left the business. See more… Read more - members only

Highgate garden centre to close

Highgate Garden Centre, one of five within the Capital Gardens group, is to close in the next couple of weeks following its sale last year. See more… Read more - members only

Marshalls predicts a return to growth for landscapers

Interim results published by Marshalls give a good guide to what is happening in the landscape sector. Domestic sales fell 3% in the first 6 months but order books are a week longer than a year ago. A return to growth is forecast for the landscape market next year. See more… Read more - members only

Public support Notcutts/Waitrose development at Bagshot

Plans have been submitted for the £14m development that will see a Waitrose store added to a revamped garden centre at Notcutts Bagshot. See more... Read more - members only

Solus seeks to rebuild after departures from sales team

Gardenforum talks to Solus, the leading garden wholesaler, to assess the impact of recent departures from the sales team. See more... Read more - members only

Former Hobbycraft CX offers craft service to garden centres

The former chief executive of Hobbycraft is introducing a specialist craft service, C-Crafts, to independent garden centres. In the past he believes they have not handled the category well. See more... Read more - members only

Next continues its rapid expansion of Home & Garden stores

Next opened its fourth and largest Home & Garden store last month and has 4 more confirmed, probably opening in time for next spring. See more… Read more - members only

Allensmore Nurseries doubles growing space

Allensmore Nurseries has acquired additional land to provide the space to grow in the next 10 years, along with its key customers. See more… Read more - members only

Second garden centre for Longacres

Longacres has signed a lease on Shepperton garden centre. The opening for what will be Longacres’ second garden centre, is planned for the autumn. See more... Read more - members only

After the heat, the floods

Three garden centres in the Midlands suffered flooding in the storms that marked the breakdown of the heatwave. See more... Read more - members only

Fine weather boosts B&Q outdoor sales by 20 per cent UPDATED

In a pre-close second quarter trading update Kingfisher reports strong garden leisure sales thanks to fine weather. See more... Read more - members only

The GCA announces best in area winners

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has revealed the Best in Area garden centre winners at four awards presentation evenings. See more... Read more - members only

October opening for Tesco/Dobbies Kings Lynn complex

Construction work on the new Tesco/Dobbies complex in Kings Lynn is progressing so well, trading will begin much earlier than planned. See more... Read more - members only

A sign of the times at Squire’s

Squire’s confirms that it is making a limited number of redundancies in its garden centres as part of a cost control exercise in case the sales levels of the last two years become the new norm. See more... Read more - members only

The Garden Centre Group outlines its strategy for growth

Four new board appointments show the direction in which The Garden Centre Group is moving. Gardenforum finds out more about its strategy from CEO, Kevin Bradshaw.  See more… Read more - members only

Next wins permission for Sheffield Home & Garden

Work will start as soon as possible after Next won permission, on appeal, for a new Next Home & Garden in Sheffield. This will be their fifth. See more… Read more - members only

Scotts agree partnership deal with AeroGrow

Scotts Miracle-Gro has taken a 27% stake in AeroGrow, the supplier of dirt free AeroGarden products in the US, with the aim of expanding the market for indoor gardening. See more... Read more - members only

Garden centres in the News

Waitrose sets date for opening on Northampton garden centre, Frosts team up with Diarmuid Gavin, conifer thefts in Derbyshire and a Gloucestershire garden centre fights the planners. See more... Read more - members only

Nick Davies reassures customers he remains managing director of Solus - UPDATED

Contrary to rumours, Nick Davies reassures customers and business partners that he is very much at the helm as managing director of Solus. See more... Read more - members only

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