Sproutl, the on-line marketplace for independent garden and outdoor living brands is to close immediatley.

Set up with £6.5m of equity funding in 2021 the business had partnerships with independent garden centres who fulfilled orders.

A statement from the company today said: "It is with heavy heart that we have made the tough decision to cease operations for Sproutl in its current form as a marketplace business.
 
"While we wholeheartedly believe in our team who we will be supporting through this time, and in each of the amazing garden centres and gardening brands who supported us on our journey, the current broader economic circumstances have forced us to make some tough decisions about the future of the company and the most responsible use of the investment we have had to date.
 
"Businesses everywhere, including ours, are facing rising costs of delivery, packaging and reduced consumer spending. The ongoing period of economic uncertainty for consumers across the UK, in addition to broader global economic challenges, meant that the headwinds we are facing were just too strong to continue."

Garden centres listed as partners on the marketplace include: Fakenham Garden Centre, Hayes Garden World, Longacres, Middleton Nurseries, Polhill, Rosebourne and Tates of Sussex.

GTN Xtra understands other garden centres were in the process of signing up to the marketplace but that process has now ceased.