MBO completes at £7.5m-turnover garden centre business
A management buyout of one of the leading garden centre businesses in Yorkshire has been completed.
Family-owned Langlands Garden Centre, which trades from three sites in York, Leeds and Sheffield, has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by James Ducker, whose grandfather Walter Ducker founded the business in 1955.
The deal will see Walter’s son, John Ducker, retire after 54 years in the business whilst John’s son Ian, who has also worked in the business for many years, will leave to pursue other business interests.
Langlands Garden Centre, which is headquartered in Shiptonthorpe outside York with further operations in Whinmoor, Leeds and Loxley near Sheffield, employs over 180 staff and has a turnover of £7.5m. The business provides plants, home and garden furniture to a growing client base across Yorkshire and the UK, and continues to diversify its operations by opening giftware, farm shops, café bars and award-winning eating outlets.
James Ducker said: “After almost 30 years in the business I can honestly say that I love coming into work every day, and this is down to our amazing team and loyal customer base.
“For customers it will be business as usual. Looking forward I’m keen to maximise our nurseries potential and develop the food offering across the business, with more of a ‘field to fork’ focus. I know that with the team’s long-standing industry experience and expertise, customers will continue to benefit from the same high standards of service and support that we have endeavoured to provide throughout our 63-year history.”
On his retirement from the business, John Ducker said: “Ian and I, together with our wives Sarah and Eileen, would like to thank all of the Langlands staff both past and present for all their hard work and support over the last 54 years. It is greatly appreciated and we wish them and the business every success.”
The transaction sees James Ducker become the majority shareholder with his father Robert Ducker retaining a shareholding.
Steve Hubbard and James Atkinson from RSM’s corporate finance team supported the management team, with tax support from Chloë Ellis and Clare White. Richard Field at Rollits acted as legal adviser, and the funding was provided by Richard Tarrega and Adam Kelly at HSBC. Martin Frost from Lupton Fawcett solicitors and Tony Farmer from Garbutt & Elliott’s corporate finance team advised the vendors.
Hubbard added: “Langlands is an ambitious regional business with a loyal customer base and huge potential to respond to the growing opportunity in the market. We’re delighted to have supported a long-standing client to achieve the next phase of growth as the business looks ahead to the future.”
