Dobbies has launched a restructuring plan, which will see it close 17 unprofitable stores, as it aims to “address historically uneconomical rent costs and ensure a return to sustainable profitability”.
The garden centre will close 11 mainline sites and six Little Dobbies stores, all of which are unprofitable, with 465 of its 3,600 employees impacted. The move will leave it with 60 garden centres.
The retailer will also work with landlords to seek temporary rent reductions at a further nine sites.
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While the process is ongoing, all shops will continue to operate as normal. It also noted that there would be no impact to suppliers.
The gardening specialist expects the 17 sites to cease trading by the end of the year, subject to the restructuring plan being successfully approved.
The move comes after Dobbies began planning a financial overhaul of the business in August, which it warned would lead to rent cuts and shop closures.
The stores set to close are:
- Altrincham
- Antrim
- Gloucester
- Gosforth
- Harlestone Heath
- Huntingdon
- Inverness
- King’s Lynn
- Pennine
- Reading
- Stratford-upon-Avon
Little Dobbies
- Cheltenham
- Chiswick
- Clifton
- Richmond
- Stockbridge
- Westbourne Grove
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