// Wyevale Garden Centres agrees sale of six garden centres
// 4 locations in Cheddar, Dorking, Marlow and Lechlade sold to Hillier Nurseries
// Remaining 2 in Jack’s Patch and Taunton sold to Otter Nurseries
// Sales are part of Wyevale’s scheme to slim down its estate
Wyevale has announced the sale of another six of its gardening centres, this time in two separate transactions, as part of an ongoing scheme to trim down its store portfolio.
The gardening retailer confirmed that its stores in Cheddar, Dorking, Marlow and Lechlade will be sold to Hillier Nurseries, while the other two stores at Taunton and Jack’s Patch have been sold to Otter Nurseries.
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The deals are expected to complete during June and July.
Employees working at the six stores will not lose their jobs as part of the sale.
“The colleagues at these centres have played a key role in the success of their centres and I’d like to thank them for their continued passion and expertise, and wish them well for the future with their new owners,” Wyevale chief operating officer Anthony Jones said.
Hillier retail director Chris Francis said: “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of four new garden centres joining the Hillier family business, growing the group to 16 garden centres serving customers across the South of England.
“The Hillier team look forward to working with our new colleagues and getting to know the local gardening communities, inspiring them with our great quality products and wide range of home-grown plants, all backed by renowned Hillier expertise.”
Otter managing director Jacqui Taylor added: “As an independent, family run group of five garden centres in the South West of England, we are pleased to welcome Taunton Garden centre and Jack’s Patch Garden Centre to the team.
“We have three plant growing nurseries and look forward to expanding their plant growing production, supplying these two additional garden centres with their own home-grown plants.”
The latest transactions mean Wyevale has now sold 54 of its stores since it first announced plans to do so last year in May, after a huge investment scheme saw the garden retailer return to profitability.
One of the handful of buyers of Wyevale’s estate includes rival Dobbies, which snapped up at least six stores.
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