A major garden centre chain has closed a number of stores this year as part of a major restructuring plan aimed at securing the company’s long-term future. Dobbies Garden Centres closed eight of its garden centres between January and March.
The closures were sites in Rugby, Morpeth, Stapleton, Havant, Hare Hatch, Leicester, Aylesbury and Northampton. This came after a turbulent period for the company, which has been reassessing its nationwide portfolio amid rising operational costs and shifting consumer behaviour. In a statement, a Dobbies spokesperson said the decision formed part of a strategic plan to strengthen the business and improve its profitability. “The restructuring plan and other strategic initiatives are expected to return Dobbies to sustainable profitability through site rationalisations, rent reductions, and other tangible cost savings,” the spokesperson said.
They added: “These measures will secure Dobbies’ long-term future and allow access to future investment.”
However, not all of the locations will be lost to the gardening public. The Northampton branch, which closed in early March, was immediately taken over by British Garden Centres and continues to operate under its new ownership.
The closures mark a period of significant change within the UK’s garden retail industry. Many operators have faced challenges linked to rising rents, energy costs, and the lingering effects of inflation on consumer spending.
Despite the closures, Dobbies remains one of the largest garden centre operators in the country, and the company insists its restructuring plan will place it on a more sustainable footing for the future.
The 76 Dobbies garden centres still open
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