SHOP DROP
Full list of Scottish WHSmith under threat as iconic chain gets set to abandon high street after 233 years
They are focusing on another area
WHSmith is set to disappear from Scotland's high streets after hundreds of years.
The iconic chain has been a staple of town centres for the past 233 years.
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But bosses have sold off 500 of their high street shops which will see the iconic blue and white signs disappear.
The £76m deal saw the stores sold to retail investor Modella Capital.
They will soon be rebranding the shops to TGJones.
Despite the loss of the high street shops, WHSmith will live on in the form of travel stores.
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They will still have 580 stores in airports, train stations, hospitals and service stations.
The group said back in January that it was looking to flog its high street arm, as it turns its focus to its money-making travel business.
The stationer said it wanted to open 15 new shops in airports, railway stations and hospitals before the end of 2024.
This formed part of wider plans to open 110 new branches worldwide.
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WHSmith already confirmed plans to shut up to 20 stores by this May.
The shake-up means up to 60 Scottish stores could be under threat.
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Carl Cowling, Group Chief Executive, commented: "As we continue to deliver on our strategic ambition to become the leading global travel retailer, this is a pivotal moment for WHSmith as we become a business exclusively focused on Travel.
“We have a highly successful Travel business, operating in fast growing markets in 32 countries and we are constantly innovating to deliver strong returns and meet our customers’ and partners’
needs.
"Our Travel business currently accounts for around 75% of the Group’s revenue and 85% of its trading profit.
"With the ongoing strength in our UK Travel division, and the scale of the growth opportunities in both North America and the Rest of the World, we are in our strongest ever position to deliver enhanced growth as we move forward as a pure play travel retailer.
Full list of Scots WHSmiths at risk
- Glasgow - Argyle Street
- Glasgow - Sauchiehall Street
- Glasgow - Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
- Glasgow - Killermont Street
- Glasgow - Gartnavel Hospital
- Glasgow - Royal Infirmary
- Glasgow - Braehead
- Aberdeen - St George Street
- Aberdeen - Bon Accord Shopping Centre
- Aberdeen - Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
- Edinburgh - Gyles Avenue
- Edinburgh - Lady Road
- Edinburgh - Fort Kinnaird Retail Park
- Edinburgh - Royal Edinburgh Infirmary
- Edinburgh - Cameron Toll Shopping Centre
- Larbert
- Renfrewshire
- East Kilbride
- Kirkintilloch
- Paisley
- Fort William
- Perth
- Elgin
- Inverness - High Street
- Inverness - Academy Street
- Peterhead
- Banchory
- Montrose
- Arbroath
- Dundee - Murraygate
- Dundee - Ninewells Hospital
- St Andrews
- Cupar
- Glenrothes
- Kinross
- Dunfermline
- Stirling - Thistle Shopping Centre
- Largs
- Troon
- Ayr
- Stranraer
- Dumfries
- Gretna Green
- Biggar
- Kelso
- Galashiel
- Dalkeith
- Livingston
- Bathgate
- Airdrie - two stores
- Hamilton - two stores
- Monklands
- Kilmarnock
- Kirkcaldy - two stores
- Wishaw
“As our Travel business has grown, our UK High Street business has become a much smaller part of the WHSmith Group.
"High Street is a good business; it is profitable and cash generative with an experienced and high-performing management team.
"However, given our rapid international growth, now is the right time for a new owner to take the High Street business forward and for the WHSmith leadership team to focus exclusively on our Travel business. I wish the High Street team every success.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
“As we look forward as a simplified, travel-focused Group, I am excited about the Group’s future prospects.
"With a clear strategy, a strong balance sheet, and operations in high growth and attractive markets, we are well-positioned to generate substantial growth and value for all stakeholders.”
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