Northamptonshire-based Harrowden has expanded its national footprint after acquiring Buckinghamshire landscaping supplier George Davies Turf & Stone.
The Islip-headquartered business, which describes itself as the UK’s largest grower and distributor of turf and mat products, said the acquisition will create a combined business employing more than 130 people across seven UK locations with annual turnover approaching £20 million.
George Davies Turf & Stone, founded in nearby Olney in 2001, supplies turf and landscaping materials to more than 3,250 trade customers and delivers around 1.4 million rolls of turf each year.
The deal builds on a long-standing commercial relationship between the two businesses, with Harrowden having supplied products to George Davies Turf & Stone for many years.
Chantall Ridd-Jones, director at Harrowden, said: “We’ve admired what George and his team have built for a long time. George Davies Turf & Stone has an excellent reputation within the industry for the way it looks after its customers and the relationships it has built over the last 25 years.
“What stood out to us during our conversations was how closely our values align, and we’re excited about what we can achieve together, while preserving the culture and standards that have made both businesses successful. This is about building on those strengths and creating new opportunities for our customers, employees and the wider business.”
George Davies will remain part of the senior leadership team for at least the next three years as the businesses integrate.
George said: “After 25 years of building George Davies Turf & Stone, this was one of the biggest decisions I’ve ever had to make. When the opportunity arose, it quickly became clear that it was the right fit for the business, our customers and our team.
“Harrowden stood out because they share many of the same values and recognise the strength of the business our team has built together. They want to build on that success rather than fundamentally change it.”
George Davies Turf & Stone will continue trading under its existing brand, with Harrowden saying customers will continue working with the same teams while benefiting from additional investment and the wider group’s capabilities.
Founded more than 60 years ago, Harrowden is headquartered in Islip, near Kettering, and supplies turf, green roof and biodiverse landscaping products across the UK.
Image: George Davies, founder of George Davies Turf & Stone (left), with Stuart Ridd-Jones, chairman of Harrowden, and Chantall Ridd-Jones, director of Harrowden, following the acquisition of the Olney landscaping supplier by the Northamptonshire-based business.
