| Blue Diamond UK Limited | |
| Industry: | Garden centres |
| Founded: | 1904 |
| Location: | Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, UK |
| Key People: | Alan Roper (CEO) |
| Website: | https://www.bluediamond.gg |
Blue Diamond Garden Centres (legally incorporated as Blue Diamond UK Limited, and commonly known as Blue Diamond) is a British chain of garden centres based in Eastleigh, Hampshire.[1]
As of 2024, it is the largest garden centre group in the UK and the Channel Islands.[2]
Blue Diamond Garden Centres began as the Fruit Export Company in 1904, based in Guernsey, with John W. Dorey appointed as manager, and his son Percy as the company's secretary.[3] Percy would later be a part of the States Controlling Committee, a group charged with running Guernsey in conjunction with German forces, during the German occupation of the Channel Islands.
Following the end of the World War II, Percy's son, John Dorey, was appointed as managing director of the Fruit Export Company until his retirement in 1978. John's son, Geoffrey Dorey, started working at the company in 1962, assisting in the sundries store, and fruit collection for export. Following his father's retirement in 1978, Geoffrey became the company's managing director, serving a dual role of managing director and chairman from 1990 to 1998, and continuing to serve as chairman until his retirement in 2015.
In 2021, Blue Diamond began a partnership with The Soil Association, a charity spreading awareness of the importance of sustainable food, farming, and forestry.[4] [5] The partnership aims to offer nature-friendly alternatives that reduce the usage of chemical-based products, through the promotion and focus on natural alternatives across different areas of the garden.[6] Examples of the partnership include plant feed, seeds, and bug houses, all approved by The Soil Association.
In August 2022, Blue Diamond began a partnership with the National Trust in a five-year collaboration to develop new seeds, bulbs, and plants inspired by the gardens operated by the National Trust.[7] This collaboration also involves designing a show garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2024, alongside Ann-Marie Powell Gardens.[8] [9]
In November 2022, Blue Diamond acquired the Van Hage group of garden centres.[10] The three centres are the flagship store at Great Amwell, the Van Hage centre in Peterborough, and Chenies located between Amersham and Rickmansworth.
Blue Diamond currently operates 44 garden centres across the UK and its dependencies.[11] Some of the locations include a range of restaurants and cafes.[12]