Iceland is the latest supermarket to face a blow as two branches have closed down this weekend. It marks yet another brand to face the wrath of the decline of the high street
A major supermarket chain with over 900 branches has closed more branches over the weekend in a fresh blow to brick and mortar stores.
There once was a time where our British highstreets and retail parks were booming with shops enticing customers left, right and centre. However, it looks like the golden age of ‘shop ’til you drop’ is over as anything from clothing, DIY to now supermarkets are facing the shutters.
Iceland is the latest brand to feel the wrath of the decline of the high street as they closed two branches for good yesterday (January 4) that marks a brutal start to the new year.
The locations to permanently shut are Borehamwood and Exeter. For the final time, Iceland shut up shop in the Shenley Road store in Borehamwood at 4pm.
Customers were alerted with a sign on the door that read: “Sorry we’re closing.
“Your Borehamwood Iceland store is permanently closing from 4pm on Saturday 4th January.” The same goes for the Alphington Road Retail Park Exeter branch who met its fate yesterday.
Speaking to The Sun, a spokesperson for Iceland said: “We can confirm our Borehamwood Iceland store is scheduled to close on 4th January.
“Our store colleagues were entered into a consultation process and have been offered opportunities at surrounding stores where possible.
“Iceland plans to open up a further 20 Iceland and Food Warehouse stores across the UK in the next financial year.”
There are now no stores in Borehamwood, with the closest branch now being in Barnet. For those in Exeter, two more Iceland stores still stand – Sidwell Street in the city centre and The Food Warehouse, located on Marsh Barton Road.
Those wanting a taste of Iceland products at the Exeter retail park will still be able to do so as some will be stocked in The Range just over the road.
According to DevonLive, Aldi is believed to be expanding in the now vacant site where Iceland once traded in the retail park. “The store has done really well but Aldi is expanding into the space,” an Iceland insider told DevonLive.
This means Iceland have now closed 25 stores since the beginning of 2024.