Blue Diamond has acquired Highfield Garden World in Gloucestershire, taking its portfolio to 55 garden centres across the UK and Channel Islands.
The family-run business, located in Whitminster near Gloucester, has joined the group after more than a century of independent trading.
Founded in 1920 as a traditional nursery, Highfield has grown into one of the South West’s leading destination garden centres, spanning plants, garden products, homewares, gifts, food and hospitality.
Blue Diamond said it planned to invest in the site, while preserving the local identity and customer following that Highfield had built over generations.
Chief executive Alan Roper said: “Highfield Garden World has built an outstanding reputation over generations and is a fantastic addition to the Blue Diamond family.”
He added that the group would support the existing team and build on the garden centre’s established foundations.
The deal includes the purchase of Highfield’s freehold and completed on 1 July.
The centre is expected to continue trading under the Highfield Garden World name before undergoing a full refurbishment early next year. It will subsequently introduce Blue Diamond’s wider product range and branding.
Highfield generates annual sales of around £8.5m, with Blue Diamond targeting growth to approximately £12m following its planned investment in the business.
Blue Diamond recently secured plans for a £60m investment from Caledonia Investments to accelerate its expansion.
The funding package includes a £40m war chest for store acquisitions and investment, while Caledonia has agreed to make up to a further £40m available over the next five years.
Blue Diamond recorded sales of £395m in 2025, up 19 per cent, while pre-tax profit jumped 44 per cent to £31m.
It currently employs around 5,000 people, and has increased sales by almost 90 per cent over the past five years after adding an average of four garden centres to its estate each year.
Highfield is Blue Diamond’s latest addition after it acquired Holt Garden Centre in Norfolk earlier this year, which became the group’s 54th location.
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