Dobbies Garden Centres are undergoing a significant restructuring plan that may lead to multiple store closures.
- More than half a dozen Waitrose concessions within Dobbies are at risk due to this restructuring.
- Seventeen stores have been identified as unprofitable by Dobbies, with seven housing Waitrose concessions.
- The Waitrose concessions marked for potential closure are located in Gloucester, Gosforth, Harlestone Heath, Huntingdon, Reading, and Stratford Upon Avon.
- Waitrose has announced it will continue to supply Dobbies food halls during this period.
Dobbies Garden Centres has announced a restructuring plan that may result in the closure of several stores, significantly impacting its partnership with Waitrose. In particular, more than six Waitrose concessions positioned within Dobbies are under threat.
Specifically, Dobbies has pinpointed seventeen of its stores as unprofitable and has proposed their closure. Among these, seven sites host Waitrose concessions, indicating potential cessation of operation at these locations. This risk affects sites in Gloucester, Gosforth, Harlestone Heath, Huntingdon, Reading, and Stratford Upon Avon, where the upscale supermarket’s concessions may be discontinued.
The collaboration between Dobbies and Waitrose originated in 2022, with Waitrose taking over from a previous arrangement with Sainsbury’s to supply over 2,000 food items to Dobbies outlets across 47 locations. This partnership has seen Waitrose provide a significant volume of food supplies to these garden centre stores.
Despite the current challenges, Waitrose has stated its commitment to continue supplying all Dobbies food halls. This reassurance offers a degree of continuity amidst the potential disruptions caused by the restructuring plans.
Since its inception in July 2020, Dobbies’ food hall initiative has undergone several iterations, starting with a supply partnership with Sainsbury’s, later transitioning to Waitrose in a bid to enhance its premium offerings.
The restructuring efforts at Dobbies Garden Centres pose a significant threat to several Waitrose concessions, highlighting the challenges faced by retail partnerships.
