Nick Davies' new venture will help Westland to expand
Westland's backing of a new business venture to be run by former Solus Garden & Leisure MD Nick Davies will allow the company to expand without taking its eye off its key business areas.
That's the view of Westland's managing director Edward Conroy.
GTN Xtra's Trevor Pfeiffer spoke to Edward this week, and the Westland boss admitted that the company would still be concentrating on its key sectors while Nick Davies would be focussing on sourcing and providing innovative products and concepts across several areas for the garden centre industry.
The venture will operate as a standalone business within Westland, with Davies having full autonomy and decision-making powers. The business will be based initially at Westland’s Alconbury site in Cambridgeshire, using Westland’s infrastructure for start-up.
Davies told GTN Xtra: “Westland are investors in this but we shall have the freedom to do what we have to do.” He expects the business to begin trading early next year.
Davies said: “The aim of the new company is to bring to market a range of new ideas, concepts and products that will help drive the garden centre industry. I am in the process of pulling together a strong team to support me and will have further details in due course.”
Peter Madden, commercial director at Westland, said: “We are pleased to support Nick Davies in this new venture and help him to create this new garden products business focussed on quality and innovation. Nick has a strong track record and knowledge of the garden industry and I wish him and his team every success with this venture.”
