Nursery World - Fast Eddy buys into UK market

From its humble beginnings in 1988 - its first nursery was in a renovated church in suburban Brisbane - the Australian-based ABC Learning Centres has become the largest publicly-listed childcare operator in the world. It has accumulated 2,321 centres in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and, with the acquisition of 48 Busy Bees nurseries and its voucher business, it will have gained a vital toehold in the UK market (see box).

It has accumulated 2,321 centres in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and, with the acquisition of 48 Busy Bees nurseries and its voucher business, it will have gained a vital toehold in the UK market (see box).

Husband-and-wife teams are common in the childcare business. Most restrict themselves to running a single nursery or a small chain, while a few go on to head larger operations. None can rival the commercial exploits of ABC chief executive Eddy Groves and his wife Le Neve. The speed and scope of the way they have come to dominate the international childcare market is breathtaking.

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