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Dobbies expands on back of sales increase
Tesco-owned garden centre chain Dobbies, the second largest in the UK after Wyevale, has bucked the sales trend of the past 12 months with an annual sales increase of 12% taking turnover to £97m.
Dobbies ceo James Barnes
And 2009 is already shaping up to be a strong year with sales of grow-your-own products boosting sales. In fact, the 24-strong chain has pulled in sales of £1m so far this year in the grow-your-own category - an increase of 82% against the same period in 2008. The company has sold more than 100,000 tomato plants in the past two months alone.
And things are only set to get better as the business takes advantage of the sales uplift, and the massive economies of scale provided by its parent Tesco, by expanding the store portfolio.
A 2,605sq m centre is set to open in Shepton Mallet this summer - the first in the portfolio to be converted from an existing Tesco store. An application has been made for an £8.5m in Aberdeen, which, if it gets the go ahead, could open in Spring 2010. And the company has just announced proposals for a new centre in Nether Alderley in Cheshire taking over from existing business S E Matthews.
The company said: "Dobbies will be working with S E Matthews and seeking to draw on the approved planning permission for relocation of the original Matthews Garden Centre (at another local site which is now considered undevelopable), in order to once more serve the gardening needs of the local community."
Click here to leave a commentComments
By sarah
totally opposed to Dobbies. ONCE AGAIN TESCO SEEM TO DO EXACTLY AS THEY PLEASE AND BULLDOZE THEIR WAY THROUGH GREEN BELT LAND AND PEOPLES LIVES. LEAVE NETHER ALDERLEY THE WAY IT IS PLEASE, TAKE YOUR GARDEN CENTRE ELSEWHERE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT IT!
By Steve
It seems that Tesco are a law unto themselves! I suppose Cheshire County Council have been held to ransom in someway (new jobs etc) or have they just given way under the pressure. If you or I wanted to develop some Green Belt land, what chance would we stand? none whatsoever!! Why does the area need another garden centre, there are plenty within 10-20 minutes drive from Nether Alderley.
By Nick
The Nether Alderley development will be horrific for the local community. What gives them the right to bully the council into letting them build on Green Belt anyway? The only reason they have rejecteed the site approved in the Matthews planning permission - "Considered Undevelopable" - is because the building them now want to build is 7 TIMES LARGER!! Ridiculous to compare this to the small Matthews nursery which has already relocated to Congleton, how can Dobbies use their planning permission but increase the size 7 fold?? The effect on local business will be terible, think of the small garden centres, farmers markets, cafes and shops that will be decimated by this, not to mention the supposedly "protected" countryside
02/02/2010 17:29:00
dobbies garden centreBy sarah
totally opposed to Dobbies. ONCE AGAIN TESCO SEEM TO DO EXACTLY AS THEY PLEASE AND BULLDOZE THEIR WAY THROUGH GREEN BELT LAND AND PEOPLES LIVES. LEAVE NETHER ALDERLEY THE WAY IT IS PLEASE, TAKE YOUR GARDEN CENTRE ELSEWHERE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT IT!
03/06/2009 13:12:00
Dobbies Nether AlderleyBy Steve
It seems that Tesco are a law unto themselves! I suppose Cheshire County Council have been held to ransom in someway (new jobs etc) or have they just given way under the pressure. If you or I wanted to develop some Green Belt land, what chance would we stand? none whatsoever!! Why does the area need another garden centre, there are plenty within 10-20 minutes drive from Nether Alderley.
20/05/2009 17:10:00
Dobbies Nether AlderleyBy Nick
The Nether Alderley development will be horrific for the local community. What gives them the right to bully the council into letting them build on Green Belt anyway? The only reason they have rejecteed the site approved in the Matthews planning permission - "Considered Undevelopable" - is because the building them now want to build is 7 TIMES LARGER!! Ridiculous to compare this to the small Matthews nursery which has already relocated to Congleton, how can Dobbies use their planning permission but increase the size 7 fold?? The effect on local business will be terible, think of the small garden centres, farmers markets, cafes and shops that will be decimated by this, not to mention the supposedly "protected" countryside
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