As predicted in last week’s GTN Xtra, the Park group’s Lechlade and Cheddar garden centres have been acquired by The Garden Centre Group, whose portfolio now numbers 132.

It is the group’s second deal of 2013 – following acquisition of Barton Grange’s Bolton site earlier in the summer – but sources believe it is unlikely to be their last.

Suppliers were contacted earlier this week about payment arrangements, with instructions to invoice all goods and services supplied after 5 September to the new owners.

TGCG’s CEO Kevin Bradshaw said the leisure offering at Cheddar and Lechlade would be expanded.

Park Garden Centres director Phil Hodges said he had been been personally involved with Cheddar and Lechlade from their beginnings. “I would like to thank all the staff at Cheddar and Lechlade who have contributed to our success over the years,” he added. “These businesses are now well placed to build on that success with the backing of The Garden Centre Group and Terra Firma, who have been a pleasure to deal with.”

The acquisitions are expected to add around £6m to TGCG’s turnover, with the smaller five-acre Lechlade site contributing slightly more than the eight-acre Cheddar centre.

Park’s HQ site at Almondsbury remains in family ownership.