Geoffrey Wilson, Senior Business Manager at Danske Bank and Alan Mercer, Partner at Hillmount pictured at Hillmount Carrick
One of Northern Ireland’s most successful family-owned garden centre businesses has expanded its footprint with the opening of a fifth location in Carrickfergus, thanks to a £1.5 million investment backed by Danske Bank.
The Mercer family, owners of the Hillmount garden lifestyle brand, acquired the long-established Sunnybank Garden Centre earlier this year, transforming the site into Hillmount Carrick and creating 10 new jobs for the local area.
The newly upgraded premises reopened with a 60-seater café, new car park, expanded plant area, and significantly extended retail sections offering giftware, garden furniture, and clothing — all aimed at enhancing the customer experience.
Geoffrey Wilson, Senior Business Manager at Danske Bank and Alan Mercer, Partner at Hillmount pictured at Hillmount Carrick
Alan Mercer, Partner at Hillmount, said:
“Hillmount is at the forefront of quality of garden centres in Northern Ireland, offering so much more than just plants. Our family business has bloomed for decades with assistance from Danske Bank and, with our recent expansion and opening of our fifth store, we have experienced first hand what makes such a seasonal offering work all year round.
“We are delighted that Danske Bank has enabled us to bring our 85 years of gardening retail experience to the Carrickfergus community.
“Sunnybank Garden Centre is a testament to the Hardy family and the work they put into it over the years. We hope to do them proud as we carry on the torch as Hillmount Carrick.”
Founded in East Belfast in 1940, Hillmount has evolved from a local garden centre into a growing retail brand, with additional locations in Bangor, Newtownards and even a lifestyle store in Cheshire.
The Carrickfergus expansion was made possible with the continued support of Danske Bank, which has worked closely with the business for more than 30 years.
Geoffrey Wilson, Senior Business Manager at Danske Bank and Alan Mercer, Partner at Hillmount pictured at Hillmount Carrick
Geoffrey Wilson, Senior Business Manager at Danske Bank, commented:
“Hillmount has been a customer of Danske Bank for over 30 years, and we have supported them through all their acquisitions and new store openings. It is fantastic to see what was already a thriving garden centre in Sunnybank, expand even further and continue to grow.
“With retirement and succession in family businesses ever topical, it is great to see this garden centre in Carrickfergus remain in safe hands. We wish the Mercer family all the best of luck with their new store, especially as we enter what will be a busy season for them.”
The Hillmount Carrick development signals a continuing trend of family-owned businesses investing in local communities across Northern Ireland, bringing both employment opportunities and enhanced retail experiences to regional towns.
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