Garden products supplier Fiskars has announced that it will close its Bridgend operation later this year, integrating operations into its Nottingham-based Sankey site.
The Bridgend facility, which measures just under 52,000sq ft and employs 26 staff, is set to close by November 30 this year. Fiskars has operated from the site since 1992.

Fiskars told DIY Week that the move "will result in redundancies" and all affected employees had been through a period of consultation. The 26 staff at Bridgend are employed mainly in distribution, customer service and accounting departments, and are, said the company, likely to continue to work for the business until November 30. Fiskars added that, "new roles will be created in Nottingham".

The move allows the company to centralise ordering and distribution for all its UK brands, including Fiskars (both garden tools and scissors), Sankey and Kitchen Devils, which have traditionally operated as separate businesses.

Fiskars Brands UK md Andrew Smith said: "This move, while a difficult decision as it ends a long history in Wales, will provide a major boost to the UK business."

It will mean a change in company contact details. However, Fiskars is working in partnership with its key clients to ensure a smooth transition and will implement a "gradual switchover of systems to give our customers time to adjust". All Fiskars customers should continue to use the existing contact details until that switchover is made.