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British Heart Foundation to Close 150 Shops Over Two Years
The charity said rising operating costs and changing shopping habits have left some of its 640 stores financially unsustainable.
The British Heart Foundation announced plans to close 150 of its 640 stores UK-wide over two financial years, shuttering around 90 locations by March 2027 and the remainder by March 2028.
Bosses say the decision follows 'rising operating costs and changing customer habits,' rendering some shops 'no longer financially sustainable,' though the BHF stressed its financial position 'remains healthy.'
BHF Chief Executive Charmaine Griffiths said the closures sustain research into Cardiovascular disease, which 'remains one of the UK's biggest killers,' while emphasizing gratitude to affected colleagues and volunteers.
Barnardo, which operates more than 500 stores UK-wide, also shuttered several branches recently as online resale platforms and weaker consumer spending pressured high street charity retail.
The BHF stated it will 'continue to evolve retail operations to reflect changing customer shopping behaviours' while proposing a reduction in central teams and functions supporting its retail operations.