A MUCH-LOVED alcohol company has announced that it is closing down for good, after seven years.
Garden Shed Drinks Co. announced the devastating news on Instagram, with fans racing to share their sadness over the closure.
Fans are devastated by the announcement of a popular gin company’s closure[/caption]
The award-winning company is closing down after seven years[/caption]
The Glasgow-based company, which was launched in 2017 was famed for it’s eco-conscious gins, inspired by local ingredients.
The firm said: “The Garden Shed Drinks Company is closing down.
“Join us in raising a glass!
“We’ve been lucky enough to have our little gin business for over seven years but the time has come to bid farewell.
“It was fun while it lasted and when we look back we realise just how far we’ve come.
“I think we can look back with pride at all the amazing things we’ve achieved.”
The award-winning business was set up by two friends, Ryan Grant and Ruaridh Jackson in a shed their Glasgow garden.
The rugby players wanted to create gin with botanicals that are found in the area and in the gardens that most people want to get rid of, like brambles and dandelions.
The firm quickly became more and more successful and their delicious floured gins even went on to win awards.
Over the years, the team scooped a silver medal at the World Spirits Awards and was shortlisted at the prestigious Scottish Gin Awards.
The company was also known for donating a portion of their profits to environmental charities.
The post continued: “From an idea that started in a garden shed to creating multi-award winning spirits which were exported to over 25 countries around the world and collaborating with some of Scotland‘s best hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants, all whilst doing our bit for the environment!
“We still have some stock available but once it’s gone we won’t be producing anymore so now’s your chance to get your last bottle of Garden Shed Gin before it’s gone forever!”
Fans of the brand flooded the post, to share their devastation at the closure.
Why are retailers closing stores?
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector.
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: “The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025.”
It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024.
End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker.
It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date.
This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023.
It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns.
The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker.
Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations.
Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes.
Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
“By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer’s household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.”
One person said: “Sad to hear this, one of my fave gins.
“All the best for the future.”
Another person said: “Aww you guys, what a beautiful brand you created.
“Super proud of you all and delighted I got to sink far too many Garden Shed Gins.”
A third chimed in: “Gutted – one of the best gins out there. Good luck with your new adventures.”
