What went wrong at Dobbies?

Dobbies recorded a drop in earnings over the last two years in its first accounts since 2023. The garden centre reported results covering both 2023 and 2024 due to the timing of its restructuring disrupting its usual schedule.

What went wrong with the Dobbies?

'Rising rents, energy costs, and staffing expenses have put pressure on profitability, leading many businesses to reconsider their viability. ' In October, garden centre chain Dobbies announced it would be closing 17 stores by the end of the year - with nearly 500 employees affected.

Is Dobbies in trouble?

The brand intends to shutter 'unprofitable stores' as part of a restructuring plan. Sixteen 'mainline' and 'Little' Dobbies shut in 2024, then eight more closures were announced at the start of this year. Now, three more Dobbie's are getting the axe.

Why are Dobbies shutting down?

Garden centre group Dobbies has revealed plans to shut 17 stores before the end of the year, in a move which will hit 465 jobs. The company says it is putting in place a restructuring plan to address "historically uneconomical rent costs and ensure a return to sustainable profitability".

Are Dobbies closing down in 2025?

A MAP has revealed the locations where Dobbies garden centres are shutting in 2025. Eight branches are closing this year, including in Rugby, Stapleton and Leicester, as well as Morpeth, Havant and Aylesbury.

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Why did Tesco sell Dobbies?

TESCO has sold Dobbies Garden Centres, the UK's second largest garden retail chain, for £217 million in a deal nine years after it bought the Scottish business. The move comes as the company continues to shift focus back to its supermarkets by offloading non-core assets.

Who is taking over Dobbies stores?

British Garden Centres has announced that it has acquired Dobbies Rugby, as well as exchanging on the lease of the latter's site in Northampton. These additions bring the chain's total number of centres to 72.

Who owns Dobbies Garden Centres now?

Ares Management acquired Dobbies Garden Centres in February 2023 from Midlothian Capital Partners and Tesco. The private equity firm stated at the time that its funds “have been lenders and shareholders since the business was acquired from Tesco in 2016.

Are garden centres in decline?

There has been some recent media speculation that garden centres are increasingly under threat of closure. This is just not true.

Is Sainsbury's still in Dobbies?

Dobbies Garden Centre's has launched a new partnership with Waitrose after resident grocery supplier Sainsbury's pulled out of supply deals.

How much debt are Dobbies in?

Dobbies was acquired and successfully refinanced by funds managed by Ares Management, its largest shareholder, in February 2023, eliminating debt and interest whilst providing a new working capital facility. The group moved to a net assets position of £53.8m (27 February 2022: net liabilities of £84.1m).

Is Homebase in trouble?

Homebase enters administration with 2,000 jobs at risk. Homebase has collapsed into administration, putting 2,000 jobs at risk. Hilco, the owner of Homebase, had been looking to sell the struggling retailer but has not managed to find an outright buyer.

Is Gates taking over Dobbies?

Gates Garden Centre has confirmed it has taken over Dobbies Stapleton. Gates Garden Centre, a family business with over 75 years of history, took over former Woodlands Garden Centre near Hinckley on the 1st February 2025.

Is Dobbies in financial difficulty?

Dobbies, a household name and one of Britain's biggest specialist garden centre retailers, has been forced to close many of its outlets over the past year as part of a court-approved restructuring plan after years of financial difficulty.

Who is the new CEO of Dobbies?

David Robinson has been CEO of Dobbies since July 2023.

Where are the biggest Dobbies?

Dobbies has officially opened its largest ever garden centre at The Junction Retail and Leisure Park in Antrim on 5^th October, creating 120 new jobs.

What are garden centres called in the USA?

A garden centre (American English spelling; U.S. nursery or garden center) is a retail business that primarily sells plants and related products for domestic gardening. Gardening centers usually revolve around outdoor home improvement and décor, selling anything from plants to outdoor ordainments.

Are garden centres profitable in the UK?

By diversifying their products and services, garden centres have seen a huge increase in footfall, dwell time and revenue. Garden centre cafés now contribute around 20% of turnover. With 68% of UK adults visiting a garden centre at least once last year, there's a whole lot of opportunity.

Why are all plants closing down?

But behind the scenes, there were financial troubles brewing. It registered losses of £9.7M in the seven months to March 2023, with revenues declining to £4.1M, a period Petrides described as “the most intensely choppy waters we've ever sailed the Allplants ship through”, according to the company's latest accounts.

Why are Dobbies closing down?

The garden centre brand shared it's closing the stores in a bid to "address historically uneconomical rent costs and ensure a return to sustainable profitability". Altogether, Dobbies will close 11 of its main larger sites and six of the Little Dobbies stores around the UK.

What is the largest garden centre chain in the UK?

Dobbies are the UK's largest chain with almost 80 sites, followed by British Garden Centres with over 60.

What is the turnover of Dobbies garden centre?

Accounts for 2023/24 show a £270m turnover and for 2024/25 a £257m turnover. Previous accounts were for the year to 5 March 2023 and showed £278m turnover with a pre-tax loss of £130m. They were published in December 2023, 21 months ago. EBITDA losses were £1.7m and £6.2m for the respective 2024/25 and 2023/24 years.

Do Tesco still own Dobbies?

On 17 June 2016, Tesco sold the company on to a group of investors led by Midlothian Capital Partners and Hattington Capital for £217m.

How are Dobbies doing?

Dobbies to close 17 outlets to reduce rent costs

Dobbies has said all sites will continue to operate until the restructuring process is given the green light. The garden centre chain fell to a £105.2 million pre-tax loss in the year leading up to March 2023, against a £7 million loss a year prior.