26 February 2023 , 12:33
1055
0
Struggling supermarket chain Iceland today begins closing several stores as doors start to shut on branches across the UK.
The frozen foods specialists are to stop serving at various locations around the country.
The iconic supermarket, which was founded in 1970, has announced that shops in Mill Lane, Bromsgrove and Chineham Shopping Centre, Basingstoke are to close for good this weekend.
Four more will cease trading next month, it has been confirmed.
On March 14, White Rose Centre, Rhyl will lose its store before the branch in South Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, shuts on March 25.
Britain's biggest prison 'set to be built near Jamie Oliver's £6m mansion'
Iceland have this weekend started to shut some of its stores (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)On the same date, Iceland in St Catherine’s Place, Bedminster, Bristol will lock its doors.
Finally on March 27, the store in the Deiniol Centre, Bangor will open for the final time.
An Iceland spokesperson said: "We continually review our Iceland Foods and The Food Warehouse store portfolio to ensure we’re delivering the best experiences for our customers across the country."
There are around 500 Iceland branches in the UK and it is uncertain as to whether staff working and the selected outlets are at risk of redundancy.
The frozen food specialists have made some tough decisions (Bloomberg via Getty Images)For the six months up to September, the company recorded an operating loss of £4million.
Iceland boss Richard Walker previously warned it had been forced to halt new store openings as it dealt with a £20million increase in its energy bills.
Mr Walker explained he was 'fighting to keep the lights on' and called for an energy price cap for British businesses. While many businesses are struggling with soaring energy bill prices, Iceland has suffered more than other supermarkets because of its reliance on storing food in fridges and freezers.
Mr Walker told The Mail on Sunday: “We've got to make decisions because we have got this unmanageable volatility.
It uncertain as to whether staff working and the selected outlets are at risk of redundancy (Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)"In some instances, it might just be easier to mothball shops or temporarily close them because the energy costs are just completely unsustainable.”
Iceland are not the only high street store to be closing some of its doors.
Inside eerie shopping centre with overgrown weeds ahead of demolition
Marks and Spencer has accelerated plans to close some it its stores across the UK. Marks and Spencer is having a five-year shakeup, with 110 stores being closed altogether, and 104 new 'bigger and fresher' food stores opening.
A total of 67 out of the 104 stores being closed have had plans accelerated, with the following seven stores being closed this year.
Full list of Iceland shops shutting:
Mill Lane, Bromsgrove - February 24
Chineham Shopping Centre, Basingstoke - February 24
- White Rose Centre, Rhyl - March 14
- South Street, Newport, Isle of Wight - March 25
- St Catherine’s Place, Bedminster, Bristol - March 25
- Deiniol Centre, Bangor - March 27