One of Ireland's Gardenworks garden centres is to close after the company reported huge losses in 2011 and failed to keep the store alive.
Irish firm Gardenworks Ltd is owned by and trades as Norwegian garden retailer, Plantagen. In 2011 the retailer made a loss of €1million and Plantagen had to pump €900,000 into the business. The Norwegian firm had originally announced plans to open 30 outlets across Ireland by 2017. It has now reported, however, that its Gardenworks Malahide store near Dublin is closing very soon.

Plantagen bought half the Gardenworks company in 2007, but it now owns 100% of the business. The retailer's other store, in Dunboyne in the county of Meath, still remains open.

Nigel McEvoy, operations manager at the store, told diyweek.net: "We had a break in our lease with the Malahide store and tried to negotiate a new rent contract based on the current market rates. Unfortunately we weren't successful and decided to part ways with it. We're now looking at new ventures in Dublin.

"We're undergoing restructuring and looking at our current customer base and how we can improve it," added Mr McEvoy.

It's been reported that the Malahide store is now empty after bargain hunters cleared the shelves.