Dobbies chief executive James Barnes has confirmed that the company is still on track to have 100 garden centres by 2020, while ambitions to create a £1bn business "have not changed".
Mr Barnes spoke to delegates at the Garden Industry Manufacturers' Association (GIMA) business meeting yesterday, reiterating his long-term strategy to increase sales ten-fold in the next ten years.

He also set out to dispel a few myths about the Tesco takeover and "excite" delegates about the chain's future and its plans to strengthen and build on the Dobbies brand as a sustainable retailer.

Other speakers at the event were Peter McDermott from Lead The Good Life and www.gardenbargains.com, Agentbase md Paul Brown, Jeremy Crook from presenta connect and Bev Channell from the Edible Garden Show.

Read more about James Barnes' speech to delegates in the October 22 issue of DIY Week.