A well-known garden centre in the South East has been put up for sale for £2 million after hitting difficulties. Sturmer Garden Centre, located in Sturmer near Haverhill, is on the market following financial difficulties linked to a major supply chain problem.

It follows a number of high profile closures in the industry. Dobbies Garden Centres closed eight of its garden centres between January and March last year.

The closures were sites in Rugby, Morpeth, Stapleton, Havant, Hare Hatch, Leicester, Aylesbury and Northampton. This came after a turbulent period for the company, which has been reassessing its nationwide portfolio amid rising operational costs and shifting consumer behaviour.

In a statement, a Dobbies spokespersonsaid the decision formed part of a strategic plan to strengthen the business and improve its profitability. "The restructuring plan and other strategic initiatives are expected to return Dobbies to sustainable profitability through site rationalisations, rent reductions, and other tangible cost savings," the spokesperson said.

Sturmer Garden Centre, on the Essex-Suffolk border and covers around 2.76 acres, has traded under the same family ownership since 1982 until 2024. Sturmer Garden Centre is being marketed by Christie & Co. The site is appealing to both established garden centre operators seeking expansion and owner-operators seeking a long-standing, reputable business, the property agent says.

The property also includes a large glasshouse and a former retail store, both of which could be repurposed to expand retail offerings or introduce new concessions. The centre is run by owners who took over the site in 2024, and are supported by 13 full-time staff and six additional weekend staff for the bistro.

A spokesman for the garden centre says the financial loss from a supply chain issue last year proved too great to overcome. A spokesman for the garden centre said: "It obviously hit us very hard and so the decision to go on the market was made."

The supply chain issues left them without key products during the height of the growing season last year, their "most vital trading period", which led to large financial losses.

Since sharing the news of the loss with customers earlier this year, the garden centre launched a crowdfunding campaign, which was heavily requested by visitors and those online.

The spokesman also cited pressures of the economy and fuel costs as reasons behind putting the site on the market, although they say the current owners would love to be able to stay.

The full property listing can be found at rightmove.co.uk/properties/730878848967760.