28 October 2023 , 11:42
1208
0
Boots has confirmed that a number of its stores will be closing in the next few weeks, dealing a big blow to shoppers.
The retail giant plans to shut 300 outlets, reducing the total number of shops from 2,200 to 1,900. Eight stores will close before Christmas and more will follow in the new year. The company said it was merging "a number of stores in close proximity to each other", and that affected employees had been offered "alternative roles".
A spokesperson for Boots previously said: "Evolving the store estate in this way allows Boots to concentrate its team members where they are needed and focus investment more acutely in individual stores with the ambition of consistently delivering an excellent and reliable service in a fresh and up-to-date environment."
There are concerns that the high street may be in "terminal decline" as over 420,000 jobs in the retail industry have been lost since 2010. More than 1,000 banks have closed high street branches in the last year and other retailers, including Iceland, Next, Wilko and New Look have all shut stores.
The GMB union has revealed that traditional retail jobs have seen a 28 per cent drop over the past decade. Andy Prendergast, GMB national officer, stated: "High street retail is at the heart of our communities, but customers and workers are denied a fair deal. These shocking figures are a wake-up call that Wilko was not the first, and it will not be the last."
Shop prices 'are yet to peak and will remain high' as inflation hits new heights
"Better support for communities and workers who face redundancy is urgently needed." The union is urging the government to overhaul the business rates system, bolster redundancy rights and set minimum ownership requirements for key national retailers.
Here's the list of Boots stores shutting down in the coming weeks:
- Kings Square, York - October 28
- The Avenue, Warminster - October 28
- Gorleston, Great Yarmouth - November
- High Row, Darlington - November 3
- Mudge Way, Plymouth - November 18
- Mount Pleasant, Exeter - November 18
- Front Street, Prudhoe - no date
- Lurgan - no date
Boots stores that have already closed this year:
- Uppingham Road, Leicester
- Glastonbury
- Salford Shopping Centre, Greater Manchester
- Church Street, Malvern
- The Port Arcades Shopping Centre, Ellesmere
- King William Street, London
- Heathside Road, Woking
- UEA campus
- Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff
- Holywell, Flintshire (Wales)
- Front Street, Prudhoe
- Jardine Crescent, Coventry
- Guilford Road, Woking
- Windhill Road, Wakefield
- Upper Warrengate, Wakefield
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]