Gardman goes to Glee next month with a greatly enhanced product range following this summer’s management buy-out that has left the company in its strongest financial position for eight years.Chairman Jonathan Halford, who led the buy-out, says the new management structure, backed by private equity investor Rutland Partners, which owns Pizza Hut, Bernard Matthews and Maplin, gives the company a stability it has not had since 2007.
Headline news at Glee will be the introduction of a stock availability guarantee, made possible by an extra £5 million secured from the new backers for the purchase of additional stock.
Buyers at Glee will see evidence of the huge strides Gardman has made since the launch of its brand development strategy two years ago. This centres on four categories – core gardening, garden living, wild bird care & wildlife, and pet – with footfall-building promotions and quality products that encourage consumers to trade up.
Halford intends to recruit a new CEO to replace Stewart Hainsworth, who left in the spring. This move will complete a management team that already includes, Jason Richardson and Lolly Lee (Sales), Tim Goff and Henry Corbett (Category), Rebecca Griffiths (Marketing), Scott Kilshaw (Supply Chain) and Mark Little (Finance). Several senior managers have invested in the new business.
To help future growth, Gardman will be on the look-out for complementary businesses. Halford says Rutland Partners has substantial funds available for appropriate acquisitions.
Gardman at Glee: hall 19, stand E31-G31.
