Specialist business property adviser Christie & Co has launched its annual Business Outlook report, 'Business Outlook 2026', which reflects on key market activity, trends and challenges of 2025 and forecasts what 2026 might bring across the industries in which Christie & Co operates, including the garden centre sector.
The report highlights a surge in transactional activity in the garden centre sector in 2025, with Christie & Co recording an 29% increase in garden centre sales compared with 2024. This landmark year of activity signals renewed confidence and sustained buyer interest in the sector, with more than 50% of sites on the market attracting four or more offers. This rise in activity was driven by favourable trading conditions, strategic acquisitions, and successful re-letting of key sites.
Corporate operators dominated activity in 2025, with transactions involving Blue Diamond, British Garden Centres, and Otter Nurseries, while leasehold deals increased and accounted for 43% of Christie & Co sales compared with less than 10% in 2024, largely due to re-letting former Dobbies sites.
Looking to the year ahead, the report outlines Christie & Co’s market predictions:
- Continued momentum with high transaction volumes expected in 2026
- Corporate buyers are likely to dominate, however private investors and lifestyle buyers will remain active
- Stabilising borrowing costs will encourage further investment and acquisition activity
- Sustainability and technological innovation will continue to shape the customer experience
- Diversification of services to future-proof businesses will rise
Tom Glanvill, Director – Garden Centres at Christie & Co, commented, “2025 was a record year for garden centre transactions at Christie & Co, with strong demand from corporate groups and private buyers alike. Our garden centre team continues to go from strength to strength, selling more garden centres in 2025 than the previous year, and we expect the sector to remain highly active in 2026.”
Click here to read the full report: https://www.christie.com/news-resources/business-outlook-2026/retail/garden-centres/
