A major UK charity shop has confirmed plans to close 150 of its stores. It is expected that the first 90 branches will shut for good by March 2027, with the remaining to shutter by the following March.
British Heart Foundation, which has 640 stores across the nation, has announced the closures due to rising costs and changing shopping habits. Bosses said the charity is facing an “exceptionally challenging trading environment” but have vowed to sustain their “groundbreaking research”. Employees of the impacted stores will be supported by the charity, with redeployment opportunities available where possible.
The decision to close the stores comes following a review of the charity’s shops. It said some of the stores are no longer financially sustainable due to increasing costs.
The British Heart Foundation will continue to operate online in order to raise money. They said their increased online operation, which includes an official store on eBay, reflects changing shopping behaviours.
The news of the closures comes as the UK charity retail sector continues to face increasing pressure. Cancer Research UK previously confirmed plans to close 190 stores by 2027, while Barnardo’s has also been forced to shut unprofitable branches this year.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive, said: “Our shops mean so much to our colleagues, brilliant volunteers and communities across the UK. They are places where people come together to donate, shop and volunteer, helping to make a real difference to lives affected by cardiovascular disease
“We know this will be a difficult time for our dedicated colleagues and volunteers in affected stores and emphasise our deep appreciation and gratitude for all they have done for BHF and the communities they serve.
“Like most retailers, we are facing an exceptionally challenging trading environment. Cardiovascular disease remains one of the UK’s biggest killers and our priority is funding research to save lives. We must take the difficult step to close some of our shops to sustain retail’s important contribution to funding BHF’s groundbreaking research.”
Allison Swaine-Hughes, chief commercial officer, added: “Our success to date has been shaped by the dedication and contribution of our teams across the UK and this has been an incredibly difficult decision following a thorough and careful review. We recognise how challenging this will be especially for colleagues whose roles are affected and we are committed to supporting everyone impacted.
“We must act now to ensure a sustainable future for BHF retail. Change is essential so we can continue to serve communities across the UK and raise the funds that power our lifesaving research. This is about protecting our mission for the long term, even when the decisions in the shorter term are hard.”