State of the industry Garden retail

摘要

The past year has seen varying fortunes on the retail front. The opening of Webbs of Wychbold's new f 5m Worcestershire store last month showed an optimism that is far from universal in the sector. Elsewhere, investors with no previous involvement inthe gardening world are being lured in. Market leaderWyevale has kept its cards close to its chest since its ￡311 m takeover in April by a consortium led by Sir Tom Hunter and Icelandic investor Baugur, though it did not go unnoticed that Hunter subsequently increased his stake in Dobbies Garden Centres - a company whose estate is potentially a neat geographical fit with Wyevale's.