GCG confirms aquisition of Barton Grange Group's Bolton centre

Garden Centre Group (GCG) has confirmed it has made its first garden centre purchase since being taken over by Terra Firma in March 2012.

As tipped by Horticulture Week, Barton Grange Group's garden centre in Bolton has been confirmed as the subject of the acquisition.

Barton Grange put the centre on the market with Gilbert Evans in February 2013.

At the time MD Guy Topping said: "This decision has been many months in the making but we have finally concluded that the best way forward for our business is to concentrate our efforts on the further development of our larger garden centre near Preston."

GCG chairman told HW in November 2012 he was keen to buy more centres: "They have got to be at the right place and price. Acquisition multiples have to be sensible."

Kevin Bradshaw, chief executive of GCG said: "We are delighted to have acquired Bolton Garden Centre and to be integrating this great property and team into our Group. Our garden centres have a reputation for outstanding plant quality and we look forward to expanding the range and quality of plants at Bolton as well as offering membership of The Gardening Club to all our new customers. This acquisition further strengthens our position as the largest plant and garden focused retailer in the UK.

The purchase makes GCG 130-strong.

Source : Matthew Appleby - Horticulture Week
www.hortweek.com