Sturmer Garden Centre on sale for £2 million after pressures

Sturmer Garden Centre, located in Sturmer near Haverhill, is on the market following financial difficulties linked to a major supply chain problem.

The business, which sits on the Essex-Suffolk border and covers around 2.76 acres, has traded under the same family ownership since 1982 until 2024.

The centre has earned a strong reputation and enjoys a loyal customer base.

In 2014, an architect-designed building was added to house the garden centre shop and bistro.

Sturmer Garden Centre is being marketed by Christie & Co. The site is appealing to both established garden centre operators seeking expansion and owner-operators seeking a long-standing, reputable business, the property agent says.

The property also includes a large glasshouse and a former retail store, both of which could be repurposed to expand retail offerings or introduce new concessions.

At the rear, there is an undeveloped plot of land measuring roughly 0.42 acres that has been used for events.

A nearby forest school has expressed interest in renting the space to open a new setting.

The business has shown recent growth, with turnover for 2023 reaching £959,305, up from £912,158 the previous year.

Profitability has increased by more than revenue, thanks in part to stronger bistro sales and additional income from seasonal events.

The centre is run by owners who took over the site in 2024, and are supported by 13 full-time staff and six additional weekend staff for the bistro.

There is potential to expand both external retail areas and make greater use of the glasshouse.

The owners have improved both turnover and profitability during their tenure.

Despite these improvements, a spokesman for the garden centre says the financial loss from a supply chain issue last year proved too great to overcome.

A spokesman for the garden centre said: "It obviously hit us very hard and so the decision to go on the market was made."

The supply chain issues left them without key products during the height of the growing season last year, their "most vital trading period", which led to large financial losses.

Since sharing the news of the loss with customers earlier this year, the garden centre launched a crowdfunding campaign, which was heavily requested by visitors and those online.

The spokesman also cited pressures of the economy and fuel costs as reasons behind putting the site on the market, although they say the current owners would love to be able to stay.

The full property listing can be found at rightmove.co.uk/properties/730878848967760.