Builders merchant Travis Perkins is shutting its City Plumbing Supplies (CPS) store in Dyce, but the group’s other north outlets have escaped the axe in a programme of branch closures.
The Wellheads Crescent-based plumbing, heating and renewable energy products supplier is one of two Scottish CPS stores closing after Travis Perkins announced it was to shed more than 30 branches in a move affecting 600 jobs.
The group, which is Britain’s largest builders’ merchants company and also owns Wickes DIY stores, warned in October the cuts would hit its trade brands such as Travis Perkins, Benchmarx and plumbing and heating businesses.
Yesterday a spokesman for the firm said: “Two CPS stores in Scotland will close; one in Aberdeen, Dyce, and one in Cumbernauld.”
The company did not respond to inquires on how many jobs would be lost.
There are two other CPS branches in Aberdeen, at Whitemyres Avenue and Causeway End, as well as stores at Elgin, Inverness and Oban.
Covering an area between Thurso and Oban, there are nine Travis Perkins outlets in the Highlands, four in the north-east and two in Moray as well as branches of the group’s BSS and PTS brands in Aberdeen and Inverness.
The warehouse, yard and trade counter premises of Travis Perkins’ outlet in Dingwall is currently being advertised as available to rent, but it is understood it is relocating to another site on Strathpeffer Road in the Ross-shire town.
October’s branch closure announcement was made by Travis Perkins chief executive, John Carter, as the group issued a warning over its full-year profits amid “uncertain trading” and cautioned over the outlook for next year.
The company also said it would close 10 smaller distribution centres and put its heating and plumbing division under review.
At the time, Mr Carter said it was “still too early” to predict customer demand for 2017.
He added: “Given this uncertainty we will be closing over 30 branches and making further efficiency-driven changes in the supply chain, resulting in an exceptional charge of £40-50million this year.”
The group’s retail chains, Wickes and Toolstation will not be affected.
Travis Perkins is just over halfway through a five-year overhaul, which is seeing it shut unprofitable stores and expand in better performing areas. It has also hired 4,000 staff and opened 20 new branches this financial year and has re-fitted 50 Wickes stores as part of a revamp.
In November, Travis Perkins was demoted from the FTSE 100 index of the 100 largest “blue chip” companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.
