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For the five weeks from 27 November-31 December, UK retail sales increased on a like-for-like basis by one per cent from December 2015 after a strong last week before Christmas, according to the British Retail Consortium/KPMG. Source: Garden1

The Good(s)Factory, part of the Elho Group, has completed the acquisition and integration of Fiskars’ garden plastic container business Ebertsankey, announced in September, 2016. Source: Garden1

Bents Home & Garden in Glazebury, Cheshire has opened a £700,000 staff facility, aiming to make its back of house as high a quality as its front of house offer. Source: Garden1

Like-for-like retail sales in December fell 0.1 per cent year-on-year, according to analysts BDO, while online sales in the month rose 19 per cent year on year. Source: Garden1

Garden Centre Fresh will launch a new online florist solution for garden centres and other retail outlets under the brand name of ‘Our Florist’. Source: Garden1

As the UK awaits the launch of the first Bunnings pilot store, HW took the opportunity over Christmas to review the features of Belrose Bunnings in Sydney. Source: Garden1

The second of two GIMA Day Conferences of 2016 saw 90 delegates hear from Wilko and British Garden Centres Group at Clumber Park Hotel and Spa near Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Source: Garden1

Plant Plot Garden Centre in Lichfield, Staffordshire has changed hands following a funding deal by Yorkshire Bank. Source: Garden1

Ten-year-old Aidan Parmar has designed a glove template for Briers. Source: Garden1

Some 80 exhibitors are booked for the Garden Press Event at the Barbican in London on 16 February, which is 14 per cent up on 2015. Source: Garden1

Retail analysts expect a “general upward trend” in prices in 2017, after a year of deflation in many sectors including DIY, gardening and hardware. Source: Garden1

Sue Biggs and Heather Barrett-Mold are among those from the industry recognised in the New Years Honours. Source: Garden1

Briers, the UK manufacturer of garden gloves, footwear, kids’ and branded garden ranges, has stepped up its involvement with the European Floral and Lifestyle Product Suppliers Association, with two appointments to key positions within the organisation. Source: Garden1

Organisations involved in the UK food and farming sectors, including the British Crop Production Council (BCPC), have expressed great concern at the European Commission’s proposed criteria for endocrine disruptors (EDs) within the Plant Protection Products Regulation. Source: Garden1

A stay for six people in a beautiful villa in Puglia, Italy set within private grounds with a swimming pool and views across olive, fig and apricot groves, features among a stellar line up of items to be auctioned in January’s fundraising Party for Perennial. Source: Garden1

Retail sales growth accelerated in the year to December, with volumes rising at the fastest pace since September 2015, according to the CBI’s latest monthly Distributive Trades Survey. Source: Garden1

Garden centres must fight back against black marketeers undercutting their Christmas trade, says a retail consultant, who is urging government and the garden industry to wage war on the so-called bit players. Source: Garden1

Science experts at the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) this week came together to make further deliberations on glyphosate. Source: Garden1

Two of the world’s biggest names in agrochemicals finally agreed this week to merge after shareholders agreed a deal worth a whopping £53bn. Source: Garden1

The festive season has brought mixed blessings for garden centres, with some enjoying strong tree sales and others seeing trade hampered by competition from “bit players” and carparking limits. Source: Garden1