Partners point to tough trading conditions and rise of the discounters
ABERDEENSHIRE institution Mitchells The Dairy Shop and Tearoom will close its doors on 26 October after 89 years of serving the Inverurie community.
Established in 1928 by Elijah and Agnes Mitchell, the store is now run by their grandson Patrick Mitchell, his daughter Judy and son-in-law Keith Whyte.
When approached by Scottish Grocer, Mitchells partner Keith Whyte said difficult trading conditions in Inverurie had forced the firm to close its doors.
“It’s very difficult in Inverurie,” said Whyte.
“We, like anybody, are getting hammered by the discounters, the multiples are getting hammered by them too. What you’re finding now is that everybody wants to put their product into the discounters so there’s no point of difference from a local point of view.
“It’s not something we’re taking lightly, it just highlights the sad, hard times that everyone is going through and the way that people’s shopping habits have changed.
“There are places for certain stores and there are places where certain stores can’t operate.”
