In This Issue
Blue Diamond celebrate the refurbishment of Bicester Avenue
Wyevale Garden Club changes to a discount scheme tomorrow
“Watch this space”, say brand leaders SBM Life Science
Primeur launches Christmas Doormat to raise money for Greenfingers
Did you get the centres sold to Dobbies correct?
Taylors celebrate 100 years with Daffodil Day
Dobbies to boost focus on plants and gardening
April sales volumes start down on last year
GTN secures new Glee Official Media Partnership agreement
Handy Distribution rolls out range of Greenworks cordless garden-machinery across Dobbies centres
New jobs created as David's Garden Centre celebrates first birthday in Cherry Lane family
Pre-season planning pays off for Zest 4 Leisure
Garden industry warned to watch out for email scam
Haskins launches new Facebook page to encourage children to get outside and enjoy gardening
Bermuda Water Gardens to show at Glee 2019
Tong Garden Centre partners with TV gardener again
Henry Bell launches own wild bird care brand
WilkinsonEyre breaks ground on the National Centre for Horticultural Science and Learning
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Baytree of Hilgay
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Hillier Botley
Garden Centre Photo Tour - Forest Lodge
Category Manager for Horticulture
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
GIMA announces new Council at AGM
Linked sales keep tomato feed at the top of chart
Tomato plants dominate Veg-2-Gro sales
Growbag sales on the increase
Cold weather prompts bird feeding uplift
Tomato plants are number one sellers
Nursery working group visits plastics recycling centre
Adam Dunnett joins Hilliers board of directors
Haskins Snowhill raises more than £2,700 for Alzheimer's Society
An evening with Pam Rhodes at Castle Gardens
Final countdown to HTA Sustainability Matters
The best of last week's
Dobbies Garden Centres announces the acquisition of 31 centres from Wyevale
So what 31 Wyevale centres have been sold to Dobbies?
£194m generated from Wyevale sales so far, but who will be the buyers of the remaining 90?
Wyevale Garden Centres agrees sale of six more garden centres...four to Hilliers and two to Otter
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering
Surfers Against Sewage Business Champion Plaque presented to Engine Room Restaurant
Natural & Organic Products Europe captures mood of industry determined to power ahead
Situations Vacant
Category Manager for Horticulture
Van Hage
 
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So what 31 Wyevale centres have been sold to Dobbies?

 

The sale of 31 Wyevale centres to Dobbies Garden Centres for an undisclosed sum is the third transaction with Dobbies following the sale of five centres, plus a single site sale, both in October 2018.

 

The centres include: Altrincham, Andover, Beaconsfield, Brighton, Bury St Edmunds, Cadnam, Findern, Galton, Gosforth, Hare Hatch, Harlestone Heath, Havant, Hungerford, Keston, Leicester Rowena, Lelant, Marple, Moreton Park, Northampton, Pennine, Poppleton, Royston, Rugby, Shenstone, Stratford upon Avon, Stockton, Swansea, Swindon, Telford, Thornbury and World's End.

 

The centres will continue to trade as WGC over the coming weeks with completion of the sales phased from late May through to the end of June.

 

Following the sale to Dobbies, WGC remains a top three garden centre operator in the UK with 60 centres and a further four centres that are operating under licence. The announcement comes as WGC reports strong trading in the first quarter of 2019 with sales up 26% year on year, profitability significantly improved and high levels of liquidity. 

 

Anthony Jones, Chief Operating Officer of WGC, said “We are pleased to have agreed the sale of a portfolio of our centres to Dobbies Garden Centres. We would like to thank all of our garden centre colleagues for their contribution to Wyevale Garden Centres and wish them well for the next stage of their growth and development with Dobbies. I am delighted with our strong start to the year and am excited about trading for the rest of the main gardening season. Meanwhile, we also continue to evaluate a wide range of options as part of our ongoing sale process.”

 

Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies, said: “We are very pleased to have agreed this acquisition and look forward to welcoming our new customers along with 1,400 new members to our team.”

 

Separately, WGC today also confirms the commencement of a collective consultation process with all colleagues at its Syon Park Customer Support Centre (“CSC”). This process is required due to the potential reduction of at least 20 roles at the CSC and commences with the nomination and appointment of employee representatives before a 45 day collective consultation can begin.   

 

Anthony Jones, Chief Operating Officer of WGC, said “I appreciate the commencement of a collective consultation process is unsettling for our CSC colleagues. We are committed to keeping all our colleagues informed as the consultation process progresses and any potential impacts are clarified.”

 

Christie & Co, the specialist business property advisor managing the sale process on behalf of WGC, have run a two-phase process that has achieved considerable interest from a wide variety of buyers. The opportunity to run one, a small group or a portfolio of garden centres has ignited interest within the sector and beyond, and there are still opportunities to acquire strongly located well-performing centres.

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