Major supermarket with over 900 stores across UK to close high street branch – but it’s not all bad news
A POPULAR supermarket chain with more than 900 stores across the UK is set to shut one of its stores for good.
Iceland has confirmed it’s pulling the shutters down on its store in Bicester High Street with the unit appearing on letting agents for new tenants.
It is unclear when the shop will close however, it’s not all bad news as the frozen foods chain is set to open a warehouse at a nearby retail park.
Plans for the company’s Food Warehouse have already been submitted and it’s expected to bring more jobs to the area, according to the Oxford Mail.
A spokesperson said: “We can confirm that our Bicester Iceland store will be closing, but we will be opening a new Food Warehouse store in Bicester at Launton Road Retail Park in autumn 2024.
“This will bring more jobs to the area and existing colleagues will be offered the opportunity to migrate to other roles within our network.“
The Food Warehouse chain was launched in 2014 and is largely based at retail parks across the country.
These stores can be around three times bigger than usual Iceland outlets.
There is already a Food Warehouse at Oxford’s Retail Park.
It was a key milestone for the company when it opened in 2021 as its 150th store across the UK.
It comes after shoppers raced to the frozen foods chain to nab a new must-have ice lolly flavour.
Their latest ice-cold refreshment based on an iconic kid’s sweet had Iceland fans impressed.
The discount retailer is now loading up the frozen section with Fruit-Tella lollies.
Fans hailed the taste-bud-tingling fusion on social media.
One penned: “NEED.”
Another added: “Bet they’re nice.”
“Yeah nice and refreshing I bet,” someone replied.
“They look good,” wrote a fourth, “We need to try,” agreed another.
The sweet treats cost £2.50 at Iceland stores or can be bought online.
However, remember there may be a delivery fee on top.
The lollies are only available in Iceland, according to Trolley.co.uk.
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.
The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year, and more are coming.
The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.
It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.
The centre’s director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is “less bad” than good.
Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.
“The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend,” Prof Bamfield said.
“Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”
Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023’s biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.
The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing.
However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses.
The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year.