The Harkness Rose Company, one of the leading rose breeders in the world, has today announced it will be acquiring the sales and marketing division of Planet Gardening Ltd. Harkness will now be launching a brand-new wholesale company to sell high-quality bare root and potted roses to UK garden retailers and online partners.
Trading as Harkness Roses Wholesale, the new UK sales company will hold exclusive rights to sell the Harkness Masterpiece Collection® to garden retailers nationwide. All rose production will continue under Planet Gardening.
David White, Managing Director of Planet Gardening, says: “I’m really pleased to have agreed this deal with The Harkness Rose Company that comes into effect on 1 June 2022. This is a great opportunity to develop the wholesale market and to strengthen the Harkness brand”.
Julian Bromelow, Managing Director of Harkness Roses Wholesale, says: “I’ve been involved in the rose industry for almost 30 years. Over this time, I have seen many changes to the production of roses for the UK market and to the product being offered to retailers. Creating the Harkness Roses Wholesale company is a natural progression to the development of the Harkness Roses brand and further cements its position as one of the leading rose brands in the UK. We now have an experienced team across both our production and sales companies which I am excited to be a part of going forward”.
Harkness Roses Wholesale will operate from Woodlands Nursery in Bedfordshire and, as part of a wider redevelopment of the site over the next few years, will be developing a brand-new production facility. Production Director, Jason Trainor, says: “The plans that we have for the new container bed will make the production of roses more efficient and ensure the continued supply of premium roses for years to come”.
A brand-new management team has been appointed to manage both businesses, in addition to Dave Andrews and Jane Masters who will be continuing their roles in supporting sales for the Harkness Roses Wholesale company.
Dave Andrews, National Sales Manager, says: “I am proud to be working for such a great brand and the new wholesale business will give us direct access to all the new and exciting Harkness varieties. From a customer perspective, all aspects of production and supply will essentially remain the same, just under the new company as Harkness Roses Wholesale, which I think is important to highlight to the 325 garden centres we already supply across the UK”.
Regional Sales Manager, Jane Masters, says: “I am passionate about the plants that I sell and love the Harkness varieties. I think that these changes to the business will be really positive for all aspects of production and customer service. I will be presenting the Harkness Masterpiece Collection® to my garden centre customers with renewed enthusiasm!”
Sales Director, Susie Greenslade, says: “I am really looking forward to stepping into the role of Sales Director at Harkness and working with Dave and Jane who continue to bring a wealth of experience and expertise to our business. The next step in the Harkness Roses Wholesale journey is an exciting one and I’m thrilled to be a part of it”.
Harkness Roses Wholesale will be exhibiting at the National Plant Show in June on stand 58 and at Four Oaks in September.
We are in the process of contacting all customers directly to update them with the exciting news.
ENDS.
About the Harkness Masterpiece Collection®
This product range is a harmonious blend of modern and traditional roses that showcases the very best of British rose breeding. Founded upon their 140-year heritage, the collection encompasses more than 200 varieties of the finest roses from the dedicated Harkness breeding programme. With their exquisite beauty, superb fragrance and award-winning quality, Harkness Roses are world renowned for producing reliable cultivars, as well as classic old roses, that will flourish in any garden.
