Major British charity to close 150 stores across the UK due to rising costs

The British Heart Foundation has announced plans to shut 150 of its shops across the UK over the next two years.

The charity, which operates 652 stores, said a review found some shops are ‘no longer financially sustainable’ due to rising costs and changing customer habits.

It plans to close 90 of its shops by the end of March 2027 and the remaining 60 by March 2028.

It says the move is to ‘ensure our retail network remains strong and sustainable’.

The shops marked for closure have not yet been announced.

British Heart Foundation will publish affected stores once staff have been notified.

What has the British Heart Foundation said?

Dr Charmaine Griffiths, the charity’s Chief Executive, said: ‘Our shops mean so much to our colleagues, brilliant volunteers and communities across the UK.

‘They are places where people come together to donate, shop and volunteer, helping to make a real difference to lives affected by cardiovascular disease.

‘We know this will be a difficult time for our dedicated colleagues and volunteers in affected stores and emphasise our deep appreciation and gratitude for all they have done for BHF and the communities they serve.’

Allison Swaine-Hughes, the group’s Chief Commercial Officer, added: ‘Our success to date has been shaped by the dedication and contribution of our teams across the UK and this has been an incredibly difficult decision following a thorough and careful review.

‘We must act now to ensure a sustainable future for BHF retail. Change is essential so we can continue to serve communities across the UK and raise the funds that power our lifesaving research. This is about protecting our mission for the long term, even when the decisions in the shorter term are hard.’

The news comes during a tough year for shop closures. So far this month, fashion outlet Leading Labels and Morrisons have both announced shop closures.

Last month, UK accessories chain Radley announced multiple store closures after being bought out of administration by the owner of Poundland.

It’s not just shops that have been affected, either. Franco Manca and The Real Greek both announced closures across the UK last month, as did Beefeater and Brewers Faye restaurants.