Major DIY retailer with over 300 UK stores to close branch after 20 years – with up to 40 staff at risk of job losses
A MAJOR DIY retailer is set to close one of its high street stores next month.
B&Q in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, is set to pull down its shutters for the last time on August 9.
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The home improvement store, on Buchan Way, opened in 2005.
However, the lease on the unit is about to expire and the landlord plans to occupy the space themselves.
Forty staff members are at risk of losing their jobs, although the company is searching for alternative premises in the area.
John Eason, Director of North, ROI & Islands, B&Q, said: "Our team of 40 B&Q colleagues have been serving the Peterhead community, helping them to improve and enjoy their homes, for the last 20 years.
"They would very much like to continue to serve the local residents and we are continuing to look for an alternative store location in the area.
"Due to the lease expiry, it is with regret that we propose to close the store on 9 August this year.
"In the meantime, we look forward to continuing to welcome our Peterhead customers to our store, and I would like to thank our colleagues for their ongoing hard work and commitment.'
B&Q has over 300 brick-and-mortar branches in the UK and Ireland and sells over 30,000 products in store - with a further 300,000 available online.
Earlier this year the company was forced to apologise after listing a bathroom cabinet which was easy to assemble 'even if you are a girl'.
The sexist product listing for their flatpack bamboo unit appeared on the company's website.
You'd never know I live in a council house thanks to how good it looks - I shopped in IKEA & an Amazon tip saved me cash
The 140cm x 33cm cabinet was shown storing towels, bathroom plants and toiletries.
Its product information said: 'Tall storage cabinet is perfect for saving space, slim design to fit in almost any corner.
'Three shelves provide plenty of storage to keep essentials organised and neat, and the cabinet door provides added privacy.
"Easy to assemble the cabinet even if you're a girl.'
However, the iconic retailer has also has some big hits this year, with shoppers in May rushing out to buy a 'classy' looking garden furniture set that was retailing for only £100.
In the financial year 2024/25, annual sales at B&Q rose 0.4 per cent to around £3.84 billion.
However, the market has proved challenging for other companies in the home improvement space.
Earlier this year arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft announced that it was closing nine of its stores.
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