John Lewis' week got better and better following its award for best British Retailer as trading figures for the week to June 23 indicated sales rose 5.1%. 

Debenhams leases Irish outlet; Carpetright targets investments to fuel improvements; Galiform restructures 

Maisie Slater will end her 17-year association with the Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) on Wednesday (July 4). 

Midlands garden centre, Webbs of Wychbold was crowned regional winner of the Ruxley Rose Award for its plants department. 

Tom Hunter’s West Coast Capital investment vehicle has taken its stake up to 21.4% by acquiring a further chunk of shares at 1800p a share. 

This year’s HTA conference will not only be distinctly green in its business agenda, but will also be the first major carbon neutral event in the garden industry. 

Another day, another Dobbies tale to relate.
Sir Tom Hunter has gained 25.57% to block Tesco's cash bid, however it has emerged that Tesco reduced the acceptance level to shareholders saying its bid would be valid with only 50% of the shares taken. 

Speculation is mounting that after Akzo Nobel's £7.2bn offer for ICI, any one of a number of bidders – including BASF, DuPont, Dow Chemical, and private equity – will come in to try and trump the Dutch paint giant. 

Focus DIY was sold today to Cerberus. The private equity firm will pay off debts of £174m to bondholders, and bring in two former Wickes directors. 

Two men who revived the fortunes of Wickes in the 1990’s are set to be asked to repeat the trick at troubled Focus DIY. 

Sir Tom Hunter shows no sign of backing down in the face of Tesco's £156m bid after acquiring a further 10% of Dobbies' shares with backing from investment bank Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander. 

Focus DIY has today (Thursday June 14) confirmed it is in talks with US hedge fund Cerberus about a sale of the company. 

Chief Executive Terry Duddy is pleased with Home Retail Group's 'strong start' to the new financial year. 

NWF Group has announced the appointment of Richard Whiting to the board as chief executive designate as of October 1, 2007. 

It is looking increasingly likely that Tesco will be drawn into a bidding war for Dobbies after it emerged that one of its major shareholders, Sir Tom Hunter, is in talks with rival retailers, including Marks & Spencer. 

UK diyers hope to add £5,000 to value of their property with improvements carried out in the last 12 months. 

Butterfly Elite, suppliers of stainless steel housewares, is in discussions whether to close its UK subsidiary in Eastbourne. 

Tesco, has emerged as the shock bidder for Edinburgh-based Dobbies Garden Centres. 

First quarter results for Screwfix have been encouraging and showed sales growth of 25.9% to £103 million in the 13 weeks ending May 5, 2007. 

In the short term, the gardening industry should be cheered by Tesco’s proposed acquisition of Dobbies, the HTA said.