Blue Diamond secures £60m Caledonia investment to fund expansion
The Blue Diamond garden centres group has secured a £60 million investment from Caledonian which will be used to fund further expansion.
The deal will include Caledonia acquiring a 16% stake in the group and providing up to £40 million to support development over the next five years, including store acquisitions. It will also provide £20 million to fund share buy-backs.
Established more than 100 years ago Blue Diamond is the largest garden centre business in the UK with 54 sites. In 2025 its sales increased by 19% to £395 million while pre-tax profit grew by 44% to £31 million. The business employs around 5,000 people.
Subscribe to TRBThe investment is subject to Blue Diamond shareholder approval at its AGM on 2 July.
Blue Diamond chief executive Alan Roper said: “We are delighted to welcome Caledonia as an experienced long-term partner, at an exciting point in Blue Diamond’s development.
“We are ambitious to seize the significant opportunity we see in the garden centre sector. Caledonia’s support will enable us to pursue the next phase of our growth without compromising the financial and operational discipline that has always been so crucial to our success.
“We also welcome the chance to provide our current shareholders with a liquidity opportunity that rewards their patience and support to date.”
Tom Leader, head of Caledonia Private Capital, said: “Blue Diamond is exactly the type of business with which we look to partner: a clear market leader with an outstanding management team delivering excellent cash generation which can be re-invested to grow the Business.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Blue Diamond and look forward to supporting the company through its next phase of growth.”
