Wyevale Garden Centres (WGC) has sold its remaining trading business to British Garden Centres (BGC). This includes the sale of 20 centres, plus a further two centres expected to be sold shortly.
The acquisition of these centres largely completes the WGC sale process that began in May 2018 with 145 sites. The deal is WGC’s fifth transaction with BGC following the sale of one centre in December 2018, five centres in February, eight centres in June 2019, and one centre in August 2019.
All sites will continue to operate as garden centres and the sales are expected to complete between late-September and early-October. BGC will use this strong portfolio of centres as a springboard to enter the south of England market.
In addition, WGC and BGC have worked closely with the owners of both Enfield and Windsor garden centres, to agree a new two year licence arrangement, with the centres targeted to be operating under BGC from late September.
Anthony Jones, COO of Wyevale Garden Centres, said, 'I am delighted to announce the sale of all remaining Wyevale Garden centres to British Garden Centres. I am also pleased we have facilitated discussions between British Garden Centres and the respective owners of Enfield and Windsor garden centres and expect to confirm a new licence to be granted to British Garden Centres shortly.
“We have built a strong relationship with Charles, Phillippa and their team over the course of five transactions, and I am excited to see what the future holds for these ambitious, experienced operators who can now showcase their successful garden centre operation on a national scale.
“I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all of our colleagues across these sites for their hard work and passion which has been instrumental in facilitating this positive outcome and I wish them all the best for the future.”
Charles Stubbs, Managing Director of British Garden Centres, said, “This is a very exciting new chapter for British Garden Centres – this additional portfolio takes us to 49 centres and launches us in the south of England, making us a truly national operator.
'I have witnessed huge improvements at Wyevale Garden Centres over the last 18 months and I am therefore delighted to have acquired so many fantastic centres that in my opinion have never looked better.
'We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues and working with them as we transition these centres over to British Garden Centres and introduce our wonderful new ranges to further enhance the offer for customers.
'I would like to thank Anthony and his team for their professionalism and support in working with us to put together this exciting portfolio of garden centres at the end of their sale process.”
