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Garden centre chain Dobbies has posted a fall in earnings over the past two years, as its latest financial results reveal the impact of adverse weather and a major restructuring programme.
The retailer’s newly published accounts cover both the 2023 and 2024 financial years, after a change to its reporting schedule caused by the overhaul of its operations.
For the year ending February 2024, Dobbies reported sales of £270 million and an underlying EBITDA loss of £1.7 million. Revenue fell to £257 million for the year to 23 February 2025, with losses widening to £6.2 million.
The company said trading in 2024 was hit by poor weather, while restructuring activity in 2025 added further disruption. Despite this, Dobbies reported a double-digit rise in revenues in its current financial year to date.
“These are historic,” chief executive David Robinson told Retail Week. “Since February we’ve had good weather and strategic initiatives landing. We’re double-digit up like-for-like, and basically we’re where we expected to be.”
The results come as Dobbies invests £4 million in store development, even as it streamlines its estate. In December, the company announced the closure of 12 sites after securing court approval in Scotland for its restructuring plan.
As part of the shake-up, Dobbies will exit leases on 10 loss-making stores, while two other locations — in Morpeth and Stapleton — will transfer to other garden centre operators.
