October 2013: F.A.Secrett Ltd has sold its garden centre in Milford to Squire’s Garden Centres for an undisclosed figure. Gilbert Evans advised Secretts on the transaction. Following the acquisition, Squire’s Garden Centres now operates 15 garden centres in Surrey, North and West London, Berkshire and Sussex.
Secretts Garden Centre was a wholly owned subsidiary of F.A.Secrett Ltd and the company stresses that all other parts of the business will be unaffected, with the Farm Shop, Farm and Pick Your Own remaining the focus of the business.
“Secretts wish to concentrate their efforts on food production and food retailing” said Managing Director Charles Secrett. “The interest in local home grown food continues to drive our business, and we see not only strong growth in sales through our Farm Shop in Milford but also an increasing demand from the top restaurants in London and across the South of England”.
Colin Squire, Chairman of the Squire’s Group said “Secretts Garden Centre is a very long established and highly regarded centre and I am delighted that it has become part of our group. I believe it is an excellent fit both in terms of its location and also the ethos of the business”