Metsä Wood UK has announced a scaling down of its UK operations with an estimated impact on around 140 positions.
The Boston-based company made a statement on February 10. On the same day, it also announced its trading relationship with B&Q was ending following the outcome of a recent competitive tender process.
Metsä Wood UK said it was streamlining its operations due to “significant changes in the competitive landscape and evolving customer requirements”.
These developments mean that Metsä Wood UK will begin collective consultation with employees. Based on initial plans, this change would affect roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines across the organisation with an estimated impact on around 140 positions.
However, Metsä Wood says it remains committed in the UK to delivering high-quality Nordic Wood products and services to its customers and to maintaining strong, sustainable partnerships aligned with its long-term strategy.
Metsä Wood UK will conclude its longstanding trading relationship with B&Q during the second quarter of 2026. Both organisations will work collaboratively to ensure an orderly and professional conclusion to the relationship, with a focus on minimising disruption to customers, employees, and other stakeholders.
“This change allows us to focus our resources on priorities that best support our customers and our future direction,” said James Davenport, Managing Director at Metsä Wood UK, referring to the B&Q trading relationship ending.
B&Q made a statement to TTJ.
“As B&Q evolves to be an omnichannel business, we regularly review our range and suppliers to ensure our offer to our customers makes it easier to improve their homes,” B&Q said.
“As part of a recent review and tender of our timber supply base, we have made the difficult decision to move away from Metsä Wood UK who have been a trusted partner for many years.
“We will continue to offer a portfolio of timber products to our customers through a wider range of suppliers. The transition to our new supplier base will take place during the second quarter of 2026 and we’ll work collaboratively with Metsä Wood UK to conclude the contract.”
Metsä Wood UK operates from two key manufacturing and distribution sites in Boston and King’s Lynn.
Boston produces and distributes a wide range of timber and panel products, including softwood, MDF mouldings, door linings and casings, sheet materials, and fire-rated solutions.
The King’s Lynn site specialises in the manufacture and distribution of engineered wood products, including the production of Finnjoist I-beams for the construction industry and the pressure treatment of timber products for the merchant and DIY markets.
The Metsä Wood website says 250 employees work at Boston and 27 at King’s Lynn.
Metsä Wood UK’s most recently available public set of accounts are for the financial year ended December 21, 2024. They show a profit before tax of £8.7m (2023: £3.7m) and sales of £173.3m (2023: £191m).
Its profits were boosted in 2024 by other income, including £6.7m profit on the disposal of the Widnes site and associated plant and machinery – sold on December 4, 2024.
During 2023, the company also benefited from other income, including £3.4m on the disposal of the Grangemouth site and associated plant/machinery – sold on November 29, 2023.
Metsä Wood Group’s financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2025, posted on February 4, 2026, showed a pre-tax loss of -€335m (2024: €131m). The pulp/sawn timber industry division shows EBITDA of €159.4m (2024: €252.8m), with an operating loss of -€143.1m (2024: €5.8m).
