Following the sale of four of Golden Acres' garden centres to Wyevale Garden Centres (WGC), the group's former owner and managing director Paul Richards has revealed ambitious plans to launch a new chain of garden centres.
Mr Richards told diyweek.net that he hopes ultimately to create up to 10 new outlets, the first of which will be Badger Garden Centre in Studley, Warwickshire, which he bought in 2011. Currently being developed, it was the fifth centre within the Golden Acres Group but not included in the sale to WGC.

Mr Richards, 50, said he had previously built his business by buying existing garden centres and adding value to them, but that that would now change.

"I'm excited about being able to build brand new garden centres because that's what I've wanted to do for a long time," he said. "We're continuing to finish Badger Garden Centre, which is currently being completely rebuilt, and I'm looking to buy more garden centres which I'm looking to develop in the future. [The Wyevale deal] gives me a nice cash pool of money, and I've kept all my buildings team, and certain other members of administrative staff are staying with me."

He said he intended to create between five and 10 new garden centres in total.

He went on: "I've got a new company now, Mappleborough Green Garden Centre Ltd, which is the initial trading company which will be running Badger Garden Centre. And my daughter, Charlotte Richards, is coming in with me and is now also a shareholder."

He said he would be launching a new brand too, which would see Badger Garden Centre renamed.