Dobbies Garden Centres has officially confirmed the shutdown of 12 outlets following the green light for its restructuring proposal by the Court of Session in Scotland. This downsizing move will see the popular horticultural chain sever leases on ten unprofitable locations, with Altrincham’s outlet among those to close doors.
Moreover, two more sites, Morpeth and Stapleton, are set to change hands, being taken over by other operators within the same industry. Despite earlier fears, Dobbies’ Antrim flagship store has been saved from closure after striking a deal with the property owner, Retail Gazette reported today.
In a stark revelation made in September, the firm had disclosed intentions to shutter 17 loss-making stores before the calendar ticks over to a new year, which would potentially impact 465 workers out of a total workforce of 3,600. These closures were to encompass both the mainline and ‘Little Dobbies’ outlets.
Accordingly, Dobbies articulated that this critical restructure, supplemented by other strategic undertakings, is crucial to lay the groundwork for returning to a financially sound state, unlocking fresh investment horizons and crafting a robust, well-financed foundation for future business pursuits.
A representative for Dobbies conveyed their contentment with the development, stating: “We’re pleased to have worked constructively with landlords on the Restructuring Plan (RP).”
They added: “The approval of the RP means we can now be focused on the future, building a strong platform for a return to sustainable profitability in our stores across the UK. Thank you to all our colleagues, customers and suppliers who supported us during this process.”
The closures will mean large clearance sales will be underway at the sites.
The stores set to close are:
- Altrincham on 17 December
- Gloucester on 15 December
- Gosforth on 19 December
- Harlestone Heath on 17 December
- Huntingdon TBC
- Inverness on 23 December
- King’s Lynn on 15 December
- Pennine on 15 December
- Reading on 23 December
- Stratford-upon-Avon on 23 December
