End of bidding war for Dobbies

Tesco has gained the majority stake in Dobbies, the British garden centre chain, as reported by the UK’s Gardenforum online service. With its 53 per cent stake in the company, the British supermarket giant now controls the Dobbies business in which Tom Hunter, owner of the biggest British garden centre chain, Wyevale, was also interested. However, he has now lost the bidding battle. The Dobbies brand is to be further developed under the Tesco umbrella, though how that will actually turn out in the future also depends on Tom Hunter: his West Coast Capital investment firm holds a 29 per cent stake in Dobbies. Ref: www.DIY-global.com