Wyevale expands portfolio with purchase of Podington Garden Centre

Located in Wellingborough, Northants, the 6,000sqm garden centre brings the size of the Wyevale Garden Centre estate to 144 centres.

Colin and Norma Read started the centre as a small Nursery in 1976 and built it into a 2,500sqm covered shop on 1.4ha and a plant area containing more than 9,000 varieties.

Wyevale Garden Centres chief executive Kevin Bradshaw said: "Podington Garden Centre is a first rate family business, which has been run with real passion and expertise for 30 years. It has provided a significant economic boost to the local area and become a truly important part of the community. This complements our commitment to being a responsible citizen in the communities where we operate and a positive resource for employees, customers and the other people our business touches, and we look forward to carrying on this tradition."

HR director Lisa Cherry said: "The top-notch plant quality the Podington centre is known for is a testament to the strong horticultural skills of its team, and they will be an invaluable addition to Wyevale Garden Centres. We recognize that our knowledgeable and dedicated employees are fundamental to our success as a company and we look forward to the Podington centre becoming a part of our apprenticeship scheme, which introduces a new generation of young people to the world of work, as well as the world of gardening."

Podington’s Colin and Norma Read, together with their sons Philip and Jonathan, said: "We are proud of what we built at Podington and that we have always ensured any developments had our customers in mind. We would like to thank our wonderful team for all they have done for us. Wyevale Garden Centres can now drive the business forward and build on the success the centre has enjoyed."

Gilbert Evans acted for Wyevale.

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