Changes at Wyevale

The UK garden centre chain Wyevale, the market leader with 114 stores at present, has announced a package of measures aimed at countering the poor business trend. Sales increased during the first six months by 0.4 per cent to £ 108.6 mio (€ 157.11 mio), with a like-for-like increase of 0.7 per cent. The measures announced include the sale of 28 smaller garden centres. It is also intended to concentrate primarily on large-format stores in future in line with customer demand, with existing stores being renovated and enlarged. Chairman David Williams, who took over the post in March, appears confident: “The evaluation confirms that we have substantial opportunities to transform Wyevale’s retail performance.” The previous Chief Executive Bob Hewitt is standing down after 16 years at Wyevale. No successor has yet been appointed.