A small number of Waitrose supplied food halls in Dobbie’s Garden centres are at risk of closure.
On Monday, Dobbie’s announced plans to close 17 sites across the UK as part of a turnaround plan that would affect some 465 jobs. Under the proposals Dobbie’s will close 11 of its “unprofitable” garden centres as well as its entire six store estate of Little Dobbie’s high street chains. It’s also negotiating with landlords at a further nine sites over temporary rent reductions.
Five of the sites – Reading, Gloucester, Huntingdon, Harlestone Heath and Stratford-upon-Avon – have food halls supplied by Waitrose. All 11 garden centres have John Lewis Click & Collect points.
If the plan is approved, all sites are expected to close by the end of the year. All would continue to operate as normal while the process was ongoing, Dobbie’s said. All stores would cease trading with the sites being taken on by the landlord if it goes ahead.
“These are proposed closures at this stage, so we continue to supply the Dobbie’s Food Halls where Waitrose products are offered,” a Waitrose spokeswoman said.
Waitrose currently supplies groceries to more than 30 Dobbie’s sites across the UK, through a third-party supply agreement launched in 2022. It supplies around 2,000 chilled, ambient and “store cupboard” staples, including many from its premium Duchy Organic and newly relaunched No.1 Range.
The high-end grocer has been expanding the number of third-party supply agreements over the past couple of years, typically favouring locations where it doesn’t currently have an existing Waitrose or Little Waitrose store. Alongside Dobbie’s it also has supply agreements with independent chain Margiotta in Scotland, and Alliance Foodstores in the Channel Islands. It also supplies 90 Shell forecourt sites.
Dobbie’s owner Ares Management first began drawing up plans to restructure in August, after the chain fell to a £130.8m loss in 2023.
The closures would leave Dobbie’s with 60 sites across the UK. It also has concessions tie-ups with Hotel Chocolat and Cook at a number of its sites. Both were contacted by The Grocer for comment.
It comes as Waitrose gears up to begin a major store expansion plan, with proposals to open 100 new convenience stores, and four supermarkets over the next five years.
No comments yet