Iceland shuts two major stores this weekend – check if your local is affected

A major supermarket chain is closing two of its stores in a fresh reminder of the decline of the British high street.

Yesterday, Iceland, which has around 900 branches closed its Borehamwood store as well as another site in Essex, bringing the total number of stores closed by the brand in the last year to 25.

A sign posted at the Borehamwood site said: “”Sorry we’re closing.

“Your Borehamwood Iceland store is permanently closing from 4pm on Saturday 4th January.”

An Iceland spokesperson told The Sun: “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.”

The chain also closed their store in Alphington Road Retail Park, Exeter. 

Up and down the country, shops are closing and remaining empty in a visual reminder of the decline of the high street and the evolution of shopping trends.

With the rise of online shopping, many brands are finding the large costs associated with rent of retail units and associated staff and maintenance costs are not the most efficient way of enhancing the bottom line.

Retailers often close under-performing stores as they pursue more lucrative opportunities in area where footfall and sales are likely to be higher as living trends change across the country.

Iceland is not the only high street brand to close stores with once high street staples such as WHSmiths and the Body Shop also experiencing an alteration to their business operation in recent years.

The Body Shop is set to close four shops in January, after narrowly being saved from administration just months ago.

Meanwhile WHSmiths has closed ten stores since March 2023 with further closures planned for 2025.