// Iceland to shutter six of its UK stores in the coming days and weeks
// The frozen food retailer has been notably tackling energy costs
Iceland will permanently close at least six of its UK stores in the coming days and weeks.
The frozen food retailer has been notably tackling energy costs as it closes its first stores on February 25, with more to take place next month.
Iceland currently has over 500 UK stores and 153 Food Warehouse stores. It has not specified reasons for the six store closures.
It is also not yet known if staff working at these stores will be at risk of redundancy.
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The news comes as Iceland looks to reduce costs amid the cost-of-living crisis, which has led to a rise in energy bills and food inflation.
The first two stores to close will be branches in Mill Lane, Bromsgrove, and Chineham Shopping Centre in Basingstoke, with both shuttering on February 25.
This will be followed month by a number of stores in southern England and Wales.
These stores include Mill Lane, Bromsgrove and Chippenham Shopping Centre, Basingstoke on February 25, White Rose Centre, Rhyl on March 14, South Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, and St Catherine’s Place, Bedminster, Bristol on March 25, and Deiniol Centre, Bangor on March 27.
Iceland said it is continually review its store portfolio to ensure “we’re delivering the best experiences for our customers across the country”.
“We’ve got to make decisions because we have got this unmanageable volatility. In some instances, it might just be easier to mothball shops or temporarily close them because the energy costs are just completely unsustainable,” Iceland boss Richard Walker said.
