Semichem has announced it is to close six stores and all six trial Fragrance House stores over the next few months, resulting in around 90 job losses, including several roles at the Semichem warehouse in Livingston and specific Head Office support services.
It is intended that all Fragrance House stores will be converted to Semichem clearance stores until leases expire during a managed exit.
John Brodie, Chief Executive Officer of Scotmid Co-operative which owns Semichem said: “Companies across the UK have been facing some of the most challenging times in a generation, with some organisations putting unprofitable parts of their business into administration. In contrast, Scotmid has fought to keep a number of unprofitable Semichem stores open by negotiating more favourable lease deals with landlords.
“This year will see a significant proportion of the Semichem estate with lease breaks and this gives us a number of options in deciding the future of certain stores. If landlords can help with more favourable lease deals then stores which are currently unprofitable can be kept open.”
He added: “Whilst we are a co-operative, we are also a commercial organisation, which at times has to make difficult but necessary decisions. By acting now, we can protect the majority of our workforce, whilst still looking at future opportunities to grow.
“All staff have been informed and discussions are currently underway to determine if there are opportunities for employees within other areas of our business who have been impacted by these decisions. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff and customers for supporting us throughout these challenging times.”
The Semichem stores that will close between now and March 2014 are:
- South Shields
- Dundee Wellgate Centre
- Dunfermline
- Carryduff
- Raeburn Place Edinburgh
- Livingston
The Fragrance House stores that will close are:
- Aberdeen
- Falkirk
- Braehead
- Livingston
- Dundee
- Buchanan Galleries Glasgow