Hampshire’s Hillier Garden Centres continues expansion with acquisition of Rosebourne

Hampshire-based retailer Hillier Garden Centres has acquired Rosebourne Ltd, which owns three boutique garden centres in Weyhill, Aldermaston and Hampton in Arden.

The acquisition brings the total number of garden centres owned by Hillier up to 22, with the firm also selling over the internet through its online store. Before Rosebourne, its most recent acquisition was Ducks Hill in Rusilip, which it acquired back in January.

Hillier has also recently refitted its WImbourne centre, and is in the process of redeveloping its centre in Newbury.

Under the deal, Hillier Nurseries range of home grown plants will join Rosebourne’s existing product range.

Carol Paris, who was appointed CEO of Rosebourne in 2020, has left the company.

The deal also sees investor Puma Equity Finance exiting Rosebourne, having injected £6.7 million across multiple funding rounds since it first backed the company in 2016.

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Chris Francis, Hillier wholesale and retail director, said: “We are delighted to be adding Rosebourne with its three fantastic garden centres to our business. They are all really impressive destinations, we feel they are a great fit for our business.

“We are looking forward to getting to know the Rosebourne teams and their local gardening communities and inspiring them with our great range of quality Hillier plants. This acquisition continues the rapid growth the company has seen over the last few years and makes it well equipped to move forwards confidently into the future”

George Hillier, director of property, who has been working with the Rosebourne team on the project, said: “I would like to thank everybody from the Rosebourne and Hillier teams who have collaborated to ensure this acquisition has been as smooth a process as possible.”

Rosebourne’s Carol Paris and Charles Good said: “We are delighted that we have been able to secure a sale to Hillier with such a strong horticultural pedigree and a family run business. We share a very similar company ethos and values, with the customer at the heart of all we do.

“We believe both companies will benefit from this collaboration and look forward to seeing the Rosebourne centres enter a new and exciting era.”

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Featured image credit: Hillier Garden Centres