British garden centre chain Dobbies has signed a five year agreement with Ocado Group subsidiary, Speciality Stores, for the provision of online services.

The partnership will enable Dobbies to launch a new online store early next year serving the whole of the UK.

Dobbies is expected benefit from Speciality Stores’ technology, software and logistics, and its online orders will be fulfilled using Speciality Stores’ general merchandise warehouse.

The full terms of the five year agreement have not being disclosed.
Nicholas Marshall, CEO of Dobbies, said: “Online, excluding food, is now approaching 40 per cent of UK retail sales and rapidly growing. Yet, online garden retailing is just a few per cent.

“The garden centre industry is at least ten years behind the rest of the retail world. The gardening market in the UK is worth £4 billion so the potential is therefore enormous. For us to partner with Ocado the best online retailer in the UK is a brilliant opportunity for Dobbies and its customers.”

James Matthews, managing director of Ocado General Merchandise, added: “We are pleased to announce this agreement which will enable Dobbies to launch a new online service for their customers, powered by our technological and logistical know-how.”

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