In This Issue
Highest week for plant sales - but not quite a record overall - GTN Bestsellers update
Record sales on record breaking Bank Holiday - updated with figures from Dobbies
Bids start coming in for Bunnings/Homebase
Smart gardening with Lechuza
Cherry Lane acquires David's Nurseries in Worcester, as revealed by GTN Xtra
Blue Diamond staff get naked for pictures on social media
Carol Paris launches new garden centre group Somerton
Can we make up 11% in May?
Introducing new HTA Board members
Phoenix Natural Gas supports Hillmount kids club
Garden centres add support to The National Rose Festival
Strikes Stokesley partially reopens after devastating fire
10 years of leading greenhouse manufacture from Vitavia
Wyevale provides plants for BALI’s stand at Malvern
Durstons’ Dan takes up a position on GIMA Council
RHS licensing partners help bring new project to life
Zest 4 Leisure trio celebrate marathon success
Places available at GCA Plant Area Forum at Ball Colegrave
Deputy Centre / Planterea Manager
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Decco appoints Andrew Ballantine as new Chief Operating Officer
Garden product sales down for 11th consecutive week
Plenty of potential for veg plant sales
Roller coaster ride for growing media
Cold weather is a boost for Wild Bird Care sales
Date confirmed for GIMA Buyer Connect
Book your place at the table at the HTA Catering Conference – 5-6 June 2018
Beth Chatto Symposium honours 95th birthday
The best of last week's
Home & Garden group of centres to be split up
Average April means May Bank Holiday weather is crucial
QD Group buys David’s Nurseries to make Cherry Lane No 12
Wesfarmers seeks fast-track exit from the UK
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to GTN Bestsellers
Situations Vacant
Deputy Centre / Planterea Manager

Hillview Garden Centres have a vacancy for Deputy Centre / Plantarea Manager at Scotland Nurseries Garden Store...

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Carol Paris launches new garden centre group Somerton
 

Carol Paris, the former CEO of the HTA, has announced the launch of a new garden centre group called Somerton Ltd.

 

Developing garden centres in Southern England, the business will focus on high growth sectors, including fresh local food and table service restaurants..

 

Puma Investments and individual investors have financed the creation of Somerton Ltd.

 

Puma Investments is the principle investor in Rosebourne, which opened its first garden centre in Andover 18 months ago and is currently developing a further site in Aldermaston set to open later this year.

 

Somerton Ltd has signed a franchise agreement with Rosebourne and will trade at its centres under the Rosebourne brand.

 

Carol Paris takes the helm as CEO of Somerton Ltd, bringing five years of experience as CEO of the Horticultural Trades Association. Rich in knowledge, she oversaw a £45million turnover at the Garden & Leisure Group as Operations and Buying Director before it was sold to Wyevale in 2013.

 

Rupert West, Investment Director at Puma and Head of Puma EIS, said: “We are delighted to be backing Somerton Ltd and to have such an experienced retailer at the helm in Carol Paris. 

“There is proven demand in the market for the kind of high quality offer that Somerton will be providing and the company is now well funded for site acquisition and development.”

 

Puma Investments is a fund management business with offices in London, Liverpool and Edinburgh.  It provides growth capital of £1million to £10million to UK SMEs across all sectors – https://www.pumainvestments.co.uk/growth-capital.

 

To get in touch with Somerton regarding potential sites contact: carol@somertongroup.co.uk

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