The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared Poundland's proposed £55m takeover of the 250-strong 99p Stores chain. 

Currently one of the fastest-growing suppliers of tools, accessories and building supplies to the trade and home improvement industry, Toolstation has opened its 200th branch since its launch in 2003. 

Clothing and food halls/farm shops were on the up during July, according to the Garden Centre Association's Barometer of Trade (BoT) results. 

The Northern garden centre, with operations in Todmorden and Rochdale, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this month. 

Wholesaler Stax Trade Centres has been inundated with applications to work at its new £5m branch, which has promised to create more than 100 jobs. 

The Home Depot and Lowe's posted sales increases of more than 4% for the second quarter, with profits also up. 

Furniture, home accessories and house textiles formed three of the top four performing categories in the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for July, with sales boosted by a robust housing market. 

Poundbury Gardens, part of the Gardens Group, has donated a new computer to Ridgeway Radio, a volunteer-run 24-hour radio station based at Dorset County Hospital. 

The UKs only trade association bank, BIRA bank will celebrate 60 years of supporting independent retailers this September, coinciding with record levels of lending to independent retailers. 

Ikea plans to become the first major global retailer to offer a fully LED lighting range when the brand's LED roll out completes next month. 

A record number of members received highly-commended awards and awards of merit after the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual inspections. 

Family-run manufacturer of garden and hardware products, Parasene, is set to invest £2.2m in expanding its operations in the West Mildlands. 

Having outgrown its warehousing and distribution facilities in Wednesbury, hardware distributor Eliza Tinsley has relocated most of its products to a 120,000sq ft state-of-the-art facility in Brighouse, well placed for the motorway network. 

Glee has released the shortlist of names in its inaugural Buyers Power List, set up to recognise the individual garden retail buyers and buying teams who have gone above and beyond this year. 

Wild bird care market leader Gardman has signed a five-year partnership deal with the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), renewing a relationship that stretches back almost 20 years. 

The latest opportunity to meet with influential buyers from across Europe is now open to manufacturers of gardening and pet care products. 

The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) has teamed up with new retail partner Wickes to host another of its successful Meet The Buyer days and has also gained iconic housewares brand KitchenAid as its newest member. 

Online retail giant Amazon has announced that it has extended its Prime Now service to Birmingham and selected postcodes in surrounding areas. 

Cheshire business partners Duncan Pratt-Thompson and Richard Greenhill have this month acquired Global Garden Solutions Ltd (GGS), a leading supplier of premium resin garden storage and furniture. 

A 'souped-up' barbecue is top of consumers' garden wish list, according to new research by multi-media retailer QVC, with 38% saying they would like to own one.