Rathwood tops consumer complaints as retail trust comes under pressure
Home and garden retailer named in 737 contacts to the CCPC in the first half of 2026, ahead of Ryanair, Sky, Currys and Harvey Norman
Print10 September 2026
Rathwood was the most complained-about company in Ireland during the first six months of 2026, according to new figures from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
The Carlow-based home and garden retailer was named in 737 contacts to the CCPC helpline between January and June, more than three times the number recorded for Ryanair, which was second on the list with 238 contacts.
Sky, Currys and Harvey Norman completed the top five, with 228, 223 and 196 contacts respectively.
The figures come as Rathwood works to rebuild its business following a difficult period that included delivery delays, problems processing refunds and an examinership process.
For the wider garden and home retail sector, the figures highlight the importance of reliable fulfilment and customer service as more businesses expand their online operations.
The latest CCPC figures show that Rathwood’s experience sits within a broader increase in consumer concerns around online purchasing.
A total of 22,724 consumers contacted the CCPC helpline during the first half of 2026, with faulty goods, second-hand cars and home improvements among the main areas of concern.
The CCPC also referred almost 6,000 consumers to the Small Claims Court during the six-month period.
The figures underline the importance of having effective systems in place for dealing with delivery problems, refunds, returns and complaints, particularly for retailers selling higher-value products online.
Rathwood’s difficult year
Rathwood’s appearance at the top of the latest CCPC list follows a sharp increase in consumer contacts over the past two years.
The company attracted 565 contacts to the CCPC in 2025, compared with just 24 in 2024, making it the second-most complained-about company in Ireland last year.
Customers had reported lengthy delays in receiving products, including garden furniture and firewood, as well as difficulties obtaining refunds.
The company previously attributed delivery problems to the loss of a key garden-furniture supplier and said it had been working to rebuild its supply chain.
In April, the CCPC said Rathwood had signed legally binding commitments to refund consumers affected by cancelled orders following an investigation into breaches of consumer protection legislation.
The company subsequently entered examinership.
At the time, the CCPC advised affected customers to take action and seek a chargeback from their bank or card provider where appropriate.
An examiner later warned thousands of customers that they were likely to receive only a small proportion of money owed on unfulfilled orders and unpaid refunds.
Rathwood has since exited examinership after securing a €750,000 investment and continues to trade.
The company has therefore moved into a new phase, with rebuilding customer confidence likely to be an important part of its future.
The scale of the CCPC figures makes that challenge clear. Rathwood’s 737 contacts in the first half of 2026 were not only the highest number recorded for any individual company, but came from a business considerably smaller than many of the other organisations appearing in the top five.
A wider lesson for garden retail
The CCPC figures offer a timely reminder that customer service is increasingly part of the retail proposition rather than an issue that can be dealt with separately after a sale.
For garden retailers, that means ensuring advertised stock is available, delivery commitments are realistic and customers can easily access information when something goes wrong.
It also means having clear procedures for cancellations and refunds.
The CCPC said 91% of consumers who contacted its helpline took action following the advice they received, with almost 40% of cases resolved, suggesting that informed consumers are increasingly prepared to pursue problems when they encounter them.
Rathwood’s experience therefore provides a wider lesson for the sector – the customer experience has to extend from the shop floor to the website, warehouse, delivery network and after-sales service.
Read more: Rathwood exits examinership
© 2026, Growtrade.ie by Patryk Goron
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