
Iceland to close two major stores starting in DAYS
The frozen food specialist is shutting a location in Margate on the Kent coast on June 21.
1
Meanwhile, a further branch will close for good in Inverness, Scotland, on July 12.
The retailer said in a statement that staff at both sites have been offered roles at surrounding stores "where possible".
But news of the closures has still been met with heartbreak from locals and shoppers.
One, posting on Facebook about the Margate closure, said: "Margate is losing everything bit by bit."
Another added: "Can the town centre get any worse with empty buildings."
Commenting on the Inverness branch shutting, one shopper said: "Very sad to hear this news."
Another chipped in: "I'm so gutted."
The closure of the Inverness branch means there will no longer be any Iceland stores in the Scottish city.
The nearest Iceland store will be in Aberdeen while there is a Food Warehouse, run by Iceland, in Inverness's Telford Street.
It's not the first store closure made by Iceland in the past few months.
Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down
It pulled down the shutters permanently on its site in Welling at the start of the year.
A site in Borehamwood and another in Exeter permanently shut around the same time.
The latest closures means Iceland has shut more than 20 stores since the start of 2023.
It's worth bearing in mind retailers often shut branches in underperforming areas and open them where they think they'll get more footfall and sales.
For example, it's not all bad new for Iceland as in 2024 it announced plans to open more of its Food Warehouse format stores across the UK.
Food Warehouse stores, run by the Iceland Foods Group, are generally larger than Iceland shops and usually found in retail parks.
OTHER RETAIL CLOSURES
The retail sector has struggled in recent years due to the onset of online shopping and lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic.
Higher inflation since 2022 has also hit shoppers' budgets while businesses have struggled with higher wage, tax and energy costs.
The Centre for Retail Research has described the sector as going through a "permacrisis" since the 2008 financial crash.
Figures from the Centre also show 34 retail companies operating multiple stores stopped trading in 2024, leading to the closure of 7,537 shops.
This was the highest number of stores affected in a calendar year since the Centre started collecting this data in 2007.
On top of these more than 7,500 stores, over 11,000 independent shops closed in 2024.
This is in addition to almost 7,800 independent stores that closed in 2023.
RETAIL PAIN IN 2025
The British Retail Consortium predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion.
Research by the British Chambers of Commerce showed that more than half of companies planned to raise prices by early April.
A survey of more than 4,800 firms also found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024.
Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year.
It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year.
Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025."
Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector.
"By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020.
.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Metro
41 minutes ago
- Metro
Little-known way to get half-price food from Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons
With food bills set to rise by an average of £275 this year, everyone will be looking for ways to cut costs on groceries. And while you can try and do this by visiting the UK's cheapest supermarket for your weekly food shop, there's also a little known way to save 50% when ordering items from the likes of Sainsbury's, Asda or Morrisons for a top up. If you find yourself reaching for Deliveroo on days where you just can't be bothered to go out, then you'll want to keep reading. That's because the delivery app has launched a new deal that allows customers to bag themselves half-price food. The Fridge Filler Monday offer is live every Monday and allows shoppers to save 50% on selected fresh and chilled items from Sainsbury's, Co-op, Asda, Iceland, Morrisons and more. This includes everything from fruit and vegetables to meat, fish, poultry, dairy, eggs, bakery and products like ready meals. Discounts are available nationwide and the best part is that there's no minimum spend requirement to use it. But there is a bit of a catch. The T&Cs state that only 90% of customers are eligible for the offer, so while it's the vast majority, not everyone is able to use it. Savvy shopper Lauren Kaye (@_thekayfamily on TikTok) shared a look at an order she'd placed using the Fridge Filler offer at Iceland. The total came to £18 and included part-baked baguettes, bananas, soft pittas, a tiger bloomer, a pineapple, crisps, frozen pizzas, TGI Fridays potato skins, chicken breast fillets and Lurpak butter. For Lauren, the butter was the real standout of her shop, as she managed to nab the 'absolute bargain' for 'just a quid'. Deliveroo isn't the only platform with a similar offer, as Uber Eats also has a Fresh Mondays promotion, which allows customers to buy half-price fruit and vegetables (selected items) at the start of each week. Supermarkets that are featured in this deal including Sainsbury's, Co-op, Iceland, Asda and Morrisons. The discount is automatically applied at checkout, but delivery and service fees still apply. Just Eat doesn't have a consistent weekly promotion, however they do sometimes run Half Price Wednesday offers. So it's worth checking the app to see what's available. If you'd prefer to still head to the supermarket to stock up on groceries, instead of ordering on an app, then there are still some ways to save money this summer, as Aldi and Iceland are offering millions of families money off their weekly shop. Iceland and The Food Warehouse are offering a great way to get money off your weekly shop, from June 30, until August 30, 2025. The supermarkets will be accepting free school meal vouchers to get you money off your groceries. The money you get off your shop is dependent on the monetary value of your free school meal vouchers, which varies depending on your council, but is typically £15 a week. What's more, is if you spend the minimum of £15 of School Meal Gift Cards, then you can get an extra £5 off your shop. More Trending This is as long as you have a registered Iceland and The Food Warehouse Bonus Card. You'll need to scan it in store when completing your shop, and then wait up to seven working days for the £5 bonus to be credited onto your card. Meanwhile, Aldi has launched its Summer Support Scheme which will see vouchers given away every day over the six-week break in July and August. This one is more of a competition format and, to enter, you'll need to send your name and email address to SummerSupportScheme@ to be eligible. View More » Of all the families that do this, one will be chosen at random each day to receive a £50 voucher to spend in store. There are a total of 62 vouchers up for grabs. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: The 'best' restaurant in the US is officially coming to London MORE: McDonald's 'best burger by far' is finally returning — but there's a big catch MORE: Weak password let hackers bring down 148-year-old logistics firm Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.


The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Government-backed scheme to transition oil and gas workers opens
A scheme backed by the Scottish and UK Governments will offer advice and training to oil and gas workers looking to move into green energy. The pilot will help about 200 current or former workers in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with support and funding for training courses, in a move energy minister Michael Shanks said would 'help deliver a fair and prosperous transition'. Both Governments have pinpointed the north east as being crucial to the planned transition away from fossil fuels, with £900,000 made available by the UK Government and an additional £40,000 from the Scottish Government for the first raft of applicants. But the Scottish Conservatives criticised the plans as 'frankly embarrassing', claiming the funding was not enough. 'Aberdeen has been the energy capital of Britain for decades and while oil and gas will be with us for decades to come, we are determined to make sure that workers are supported to access the thousands of jobs in industries such as offshore wind and carbon capture,' the energy minister said. 'This funding will help deliver a fair and prosperous transition in the North Sea, unlocking the full potential of renewable energy and reaping the economic benefits from the skills and experiences of Aberdeen's workforce.' Scottish Tory net zero spokesman Douglas Lumsden said: 'It's frankly embarrassing that Labour and the SNP are boasting about this scheme. 'This support for 200 workers amounts to a drop in the ocean when compared to the projected 400 jobs a fortnight being lost thanks to their decimation of the oil and gas sector. 'Both parties shamefully opposed Rosebank and Cambo (oil fields) and have said they're against North Sea drilling altogether. 'This sector drives £14 billion into our economy and supports 83,000 jobs, but John Swinney and Keir Starmer have sold it down the river.' But Scottish Secretary Ian Murray described the announcement as 'good news' for the area and the industry, claiming it will 'ensure there is a key role for our offshore workers in delivering our net zero future'. And Scottish Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: 'The north east of Scotland has long been a titan in the oil and gas industry and the expertise within our workforce must be at the heart of driving a just transition to new fuels and sustainable energy. 'This new oil and gas transition training fund will support offshore workers to take on roles in the sustainable energy sector and has been designed and developed by the Scottish Government, supported by funding from UK Government's regional skills pilot for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and will be delivered by Skills Development Scotland. 'Through initiatives such as the just transition fund and the energy transition fund, the Scottish Government has already invested £120 million in the north east's transition to net zero to help create green jobs, support innovation, and secure the highly skilled workforce of the future.' The programme will be run by Skills Development Scotland.


Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Georgia Toffolo flogs paid brand deal to fans after her husband James Watt's BrewDog company annouces they will shut 10 UK pubs
Georgia Toffolo was flogging brand deals to her social media followers in the wake of the news her husband's BrewDog company is closing 10 bars later this week. The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, is married to BrewDog co-founder and former CEO James Watt, 43. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Georgia shared a sponsored ad promoting probiotic supplement Symprove. The former I'm A Celebrity winner encouraged people to sign up for the company's 12-week subscription and said she 'adores' the brand. 'It's been my ride or die for the last four or five years, I don't go a day without it,' she told her followers. 'Last month they launched their new pineapple flavour which I've got to say is a really big hit in our household.' It is understood BrewDog's closure plans, which are part of a fresh strategy for the brewing firm's hospitality arm, will put close to 100 jobs at risk. The Scottish craft brewing giant said it has made efforts to preserve the site, but it 'has simply not been possible to make these bars commercially viable'. It will shut all the bars on July 26 and launch a consultation process lasting at least 14 days. In May 2024, Georgia's husband James stepped down from the CEO role after 17 years, taking on a new position as 'captain and co-founder'. He retains his 21% shareholding in the company, according to The Independent. BrewDog said it will shut sites including its Aberdeen flagship pub on Gallowgate, the group's first bar site, following a review process. Chief executive James Taylor told staff the closures are part of a refresh of its estate, partly in response to 'rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures' on the sector. He added that the brand will however still look to grow its bar business, with plans for more larger bars in 'destination' locations and to open smaller community bars. A BrewDog spokesman said: 'We can confirm that following a review of our bars business we have made the difficult decision to close 10 bars – which reflects a more focused strategy and a rationalisation of our bar footprint. 'This decision is not simply a response to the challenging UK hospitality market, but a proactive decision to redefine the bar division's focus for long-term and profitable growth – accounting for ongoing industry challenges, including rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures. 'We are working hard to minimise the impact on our people, and we expect to redeploy many affected team members across the BrewDog network. 'For those leaving the business, we're providing as much support as possible during this transition.' The company will shut the following bars: – Aberdeen Gallowgate – Brighton – Camden, London – Dundee – Leeds North Street – Oxford – Sheffield – Shepherds Bush, London – Shoreditch, London – York Georgia and James said 'I do' on a fishing boat earlier this year. The pair got engaged in October after the millionaire proposed with an exquisite eight carat triple-diamond studded band estimated to be worth £200,000 during a romantic getaway in Greece for Georgia's 30th birthday.