Klondyke & Strikes Garden Centre Reports Best Ever Year

“Trading to September 2021 have been the best year the company has ever had.”  So says the recent accounts published by Klondyke Garden Centre Group.

Klondyke turnover for the year ending September 2021 was £64.9m, which is up +20.6% or +18.4% on a like for like basis. Gross margin also improved 54.1%.  These figures are published in the report and accounts recently published.

The EBITDA jumped from £9.6m in 2020 to £16.3m.

The company commented that trading in 2021 was no less difficult than the first Covid lockdown.

Klondyke has garden centres in Scotland Wales and England.  In the first quarter there were regional lockdowns and ultimately a more widespread lockdown after the 24th of December 2020. Garden centres in England were allowed to remain open although restaurants had to close.

Whereas, Klondyke’s garden centres in Scotland and Wales had to close and remained so until the 5th of April 2021.

Buyers were challenged

All buyers were challenged in keeping stock levels up.  There were challenges with shipping delays, high demand and UK transport problems but the report says “we still managed to trade extremely well”.

When restaurants reopened, they were faced with staffing shortage and recruitment issues. This has not really eased over the year and the company is still facing recruitment issues especially in the skilled roles such as chefs and bakers.

A new shop and restaurant reopened at Polmont on the 23rd of September 2021. The new restaurant is already trading as the group’s number one facility. Other capital projects whose plans are being finalised include rebuilding the Weavervale garden centre in Northwich.

Source : Reproduced with permission from George Bullivant at Gardenforum

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