Acting Garden Centre Group ceo Stephen Murphy has announced that the 129-centre chain could expand by up to 70 more centres in the next five to seven years.
Speaking to DIY Week, Mr Murphy said the GCG had shareholder approval for plans "to expand both organically and by acquisition."

He added: "We would like to double our size and so through the acquisition of larger centres we anticipate that we could acquire up to 70 centres over [the] five to seven year period."

The plans are still in the early stages, however, and the former Virgin boss added: “There is no exact target and the speed would depend on what we are offered.”

Mr Murphy was appointed chairman of the GCG earlier this season, and has temporarily taken up the role of ceo since Nicholas Marshall's recent departure.