Most retailers results show profits increased in 2009

2009 saw profit increases for Bents Garden Centre, Otter Nurseries, Polhill Garden Centre and OA Taylor & Sons Bulbs. There was a recovery in profits at Country Homes and Gardens, EP Barrus and Roundstone. See more for a summary of the latest additions to Company Results... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

RWAF targets retailers selling ‘cruel’ rabbit hutches

The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) is running a campaign against retailers who stock rabbit hutches that are smaller than the minimum standard. See more... Read more - members only

Two acquisitions for Flying Brands

Despite a drop in sales, Flying Brands is optimistic. It is to resume the payment of dividends and has announced two more acquisitions to accelerate its transition into an online garden and gift retailer. See more... Read more - members only

New owner has great plans for Tayberry

Clothing and footwear supplier, G. H. Tayberry and Co. has been bought by KSJ Knitwear, an international supplier of women's clothing. See more… Read more - members only

Key garden companies defy the recession

Tools and mower businesses show the effects of the recession in the latest results to be published on Gardenforum. But Westland Horticulture, Webbs Garden Centres and Solus Garden & Leisure grew strongly. See more... (This article is open to all readers)... Read more - open to all

Solus holds first ever sale as profits rise

Solus Garden & Leisure, the country's largest gardening wholesaler, is to hold its first ever end of season sale, starting on August 5th. Latest results show sales and profits recovered last year. See more... Read more - members only

Moss End Garden Centre goes into liquidation

The partnership that leased Moss End Garden Centre was placed into liquidation on Friday. However, the landlord had a new tenant ready to step in and keep the garden centre open. See more... Read more - members only

Hillier embraces new media

Hillier commits to a growing new media. Blogs from Chelsea, online video of new plants and now the webcasting of in-store events is propagating a new crop of customers. See more… Read more - members only

GIMA Sword of Excellence for Patch Magic

Scotts Miracle-Gro and industry newcomer Hug Rug, a barrier mat made from recycled materials shared the limelight at last night’s GIMA Awards. See more… Read more - members only

Fiskars and Sankey operations to merge

Fiskars, the European manufacturer of garden tools, is to merge its Fiskars and Sankey operations in the UK. From November both companies will operate from Sankey's Nottingham site. See more… Read more - members only

Dobbies plans six more garden centres for 2011

The Dobbies' pipeline for new garden centres is growing. Four new garden centres are scheduled to open next spring, with a further two later in 2011. See more... Read more - members only

Ransons Garden Centre to open on July 5

Former Notcutts manager Julian Ranson is opening his own centre, Ransons, on July 5 at the Hatton Experience. See more... Read more - members only

Logistics shake-up for B&Q

B&Q is to end its third-party logistics agreements and plans a huge new distribution centre at Swindon. See more… Read more - members only

Vital Earth changes name as it prepares for expansion

Vital Earth's main trading arm is Vital Earth (Derby) Limited. This name will change to Vital Earth GB Limited as the company prepares to open more composting sites. See more… Read more - members only

Deco-Pak invest £2.5 million in new premises

Deco-Pak is expanding its product range and investing in new premises in a quest to boost turnover to £8 million within two years. See more... Read more - members only

Councillors give go-ahead to Dobbies in Carlisle

Carlisle councillors have approved the scaled down plans for a new Dobbies Garden Centre in Carlisle. It will be one of four new centres to open next spring. See more... Read more - members only

Scotts to return $500m to shareholders as profits rise

Scotts Miracle-Gro doubles its dividend as third-quarter profits beat market expectations. There will also be a $500 million buyback of shares. See more... Read more - members only

Dobbies increases profit to £9.8m

Figures just released for last year show that sales and gross margin increased at Dobbies. Sales reached £104m with pretax profits almost £10m. See more... Read more - members only

Administrators appointed at the Ceramic Gift Company

The Ceramic Gift Company Limited regrets to announce that on July 23rd the company was placed into administration and Baker Tilly Restructuring & Recovery LLP was appointed as Administrator. Read more - members only

Squire's closes Shepperton for winter rebuild

The bulldozers have moved on to the Squire’s garden centre at Shepperton, flattening the old centre in preparation for a major redevelopment. See more... Read more - members only

TGCG continues to strengthen its horticultural credentials

The Garden Centre Group announced a major redevelopment of Bridgemere at a lunch to honour the founders John and Elizabeth Ravenscroft. The group continues to strengthen its horticultural base. See more.. Read more - members only

Lloyds holds on to The Garden Centre Group

Lloyds bank has sold many of its private equity investments, but The Garden Centre Group has been retained. See more... Read more - members only

Marshalls remains cautious despite slight recovery in sales

The results of hard landscaping specialist, Marshalls, give an insight into the fortunes of the landscape sector. There has been a slight recovery in sales in the first half of 2010. Installers’ order books have also lengthened. See more... Read more - members only

Vital Earth to distribute Bord Na Mona compost

Vital Earth and Bord Na Mona have agreed terms that give the UK manufacturer of compost derived from green waste, exclusive rights to distribute GroWise to UK independent garden centres. See more… Read more - members only

Sinclair offers peat substitute to rivals

Freeland has finally perfected the process of creating a peat substitute from garden waste that cannot be composted. Sinclair, its parent company, says this could provide the key to meeting the Government’s 2020 peat reduction targets. It will be made available to competing compost suppliers. See more... Read more - members only

Disappointing May sales fail to recoup spring deficit

According to the GCA, garden centre sales at the end of May remain 2% behind the first five months of 2009. Last month failed to regain sales lost to the cold spring earlier in the year. See more... Read more - members only

Blue Diamond sparkles at £44.6m

Blue Diamond, the Channel Islands based garden centre group, has continued its rapid expansion and is now fourth in terms of sales, behind The Garden Centre Group, Dobbies and Notcutts. See more.... Read more - members only

London’s oldest garden centre will celebrate 160 years

Clifton Nurseries claims to be London’s oldest garden centre. It was founded in 1851 and plans to celebrate its 160th birthday with events throughout next year. See more...
Read more - members only

Resilient figures from Homebase despite late spring

Homebase figures have held up well despite the later spring. Sales of garden furniture and barbecues increased. See more… Read more - members only

Administrators appointed at G H Tayberry and Co

Clothing and footwear supplier, G H Tayberry and Co has been put into administration. See more... Read more - members only

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