Family values at heart of Otter Garden Centres’ latest acquisition
Otter Garden Centres has announced the acquisition of Whitehall Garden Centre in Whitchurch, near Bristol - its eighth site and the latest step in a steady growth journey for the family-run business.
Whitchurch was previously one of three garden centres in the Whitehall Garden Centre business, founded by the Self family in 1970 and is now a fourth generation family-run operation. Whitehall shares many values with Otter which began just a few years earlier, in 1964, with a third generation of family members now also working in the business.
Jacqui Taylor, Managing Director of Otter Garden Centres, said: “We have known the Self family for many years now and have always admired their way of running an independent family business.
“What really appealed to us was how closely Whitehall’s ethos aligns with our own: family-run, customer-focused and with a strong commitment to quality and sustainability. Like us, they are known for offering exceptional plants, something our customers really value. We have three growing nurseries and with increased plant production we will be able to supply the garden centre with our own grown plants fresh from the nursery, which we are sure our new customers will love.”
Otter has confirmed that all existing team members, including the Centre Manager, will remain in place and that there will be no significant changes to the day-to-day running of the centre.
Jacqui added: “We’re thrilled to welcome the Whitchurch team and customers to the Otter family and are looking forward to building strong relationships with the local community and the many existing loyal customers.”
Claire Self, Director of Whitehall Garden Centres, said: “We would like to thank all of our dedicated and hard-working staff that have been part of the Whitehall team for many years and we wish them all the best with the new direction of the store and the future with Otter.”
Otter Garden Centres was established in Ottery St Mary by Malcolm and Marilyn White and has grown steadily over 60 years. The business now operates centres in Ottery St Mary, Torquay, Plymouth, Lymington, Wincanton, Taunton, Bishopsteignton - and now Whitchurch.
