Wyevale Garden Centres agrees sale of 11 stores

Gardening retailer Wyevale Garden Centres (WGC) has announced the sale of a further 11 centres, in four separate transactions to British Garden Centres (BGC), The Plant Area Limited, Coolings Garden Centres and Maidenhead Aquatics.

BGC will acquire eight centres: Albrighton, Birchencliffe, Bressingham, Gardenlands, Hemel Hempstead, Louth, Tarporley and Wolseley Bridge, following their earlier acquisition of six centres.

In separate transactions, The Plant Area Limited will acquire Woking garden centre, Coolings Garden Centres will acquire Wych Cross garden centre and Maidenhead Aquatics will acquire Dummer garden centre.

The latest sale takes takes the number of centres sold off this year 60, as the company continues to reduce its retail portfolio, with 101 sold off since the sale process began.

Anthony Jones, chief operating officer at WGC, said: “The sale of a further 11 centres takes the total number sold to 101 since the sale process began. I’m delighted that these 11 centres will remain as garden centres and would like to thank all colleagues for their commitment and contribution and wish them all well for the future.”

Charles Stubbs, MD of British Garden Centres added: “We are proud to announce the purchase of these additional centres into our rapidly expanding British Garden Centres family. Phillippa, Robert and I and all the British Garden Centres teams are looking forward to supporting the new centres in the set up for the autumn/winter trading period. We would like to express our thanks to all involved in this complex purchase process.”

Business property advisor Christie and Co is managing the sale process on behalf of the retailer.