Dobbies has confirmed it will close 12 stores after its restructuring plan was approved by the Court of Session in Scotland. According to the Retail Gazette and other mainstream media this evolves the original plan announced at the end of September to close 17 stores – it appears that the pain is marginally smaller now.
The garden centre chain said it will now exit the leases of 10 loss making sites while two additional sites in Morpeth and Stapleton will move to other garden centre operators.
“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”
Dobbies added that its flagship in Antrim, which was previously earmarked for closure, will remain open following an agreement with the landlord.
In the original announcement, the retailer said it was planning to shutter 17 unprofitable stores, including 11 mainline sites and six Little Dobbies before the end of the year.
The garden centre chain said the restructuring plan, alongside other strategic initiatives, will “enable Dobbies to return to sustainable profitability, unlock access to future investment and deliver a strong and well capitalised platform for the business going forwards”.
A spokesperson for Dobbies said: “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 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
