Toolstation-moeder sluit misschien 165 vestigingen

Die overweging blijkt uit de Trading Update die Travis Perkins vorioge week gaf.

In de maand mei stond de groeps-omzet op 60% van het peil van vorig jaar, weliswaar in een opwaarte trend. De wekelijkse omzetten gaan in de richting van de 85-90% waarbij vooral Wickes' kern-assortimenten in DHZ en Toolstation het cumulatief beter deden dan vorig jaar, vooral ook dankzij hun sterke online mogelijkheden.

Ondanks de trend richting herstel gaat de Travis Perkins groep doorpakken en overweegt het zelfs 165 vestigingen – dwars door de groep heen – te sluiten (8% van het netwerk).

We do not expect a return to Pre-Corona-conditions

Nick Roberts, Chief Executive, zei het als volgt: "The COVID pandemic has created significant challenges across our Group and I have been hugely encouraged by the flexibility of our colleagues to adapt our business models successfully and at pace, which has enabled us to maintain safe working practices whilst continuing to provide an effective service to our customers. Whilst we have experienced improving trends more recently, we do not expect a return to pre-COVID trading conditions for some time and consequently we have had to take the very difficult decision to begin consultations on the closure of selected branches and to reduce our workforce to ensure we can protect the Group as a whole. This is in no way a reflection on those employees impacted and we will do everything we can to support them during this process. The Group has a robust balance sheet, strong liquidity position and I am confident that these proposed changes will enable us to trade successfully through this period of uncertainty with a cost base that better reflects the environment we are operating in."