ARGOS is shutting more stores next month as part of plans to close 100 branches over the next year.
The popular homeware retailer has already shut 37 stores this year, including all 34 of its branches in the Republic of Ireland in June.
GettyArgos is planning to shut 100 stores in the 2023/24 financial year[/caption]
Argos, which is owned by Sainsbury’s, said it plans to close 100 stores across the UK in 2023/24 – but many of the locations have not yet been confirmed.
The retailer is moving away from the high street and expanding its presence in supermarkets, with concessions inside Sainsbury’s branches.
Argos has now confirmed to The Sun its standalone stores in Grimsby and Scunthorpe will close in August – but it could not confirm the exact dates.
Argos stores will be opened inside nearby Sainsbury’s stores in both Lincolnshire towns.
The Argos store in St Stephen’s shopping centre in Hull will also close next month, and it’s understood a new Argos concession will open in the nearby Sainsbury’s.
Locations in Newport and Cardiff Bay in Wales will also shut up shop later in the year.
Argos had already shut 45 branches in the last 12 months up to March this year.
At the same time it opened 25 branches inside Sainsbury’s stores.
In the current financial year which runs to March 2024, 30 Argos stores are planned to open inside Sainsbury’s supermarkets.
But with 100 standalone stores closing, that will leave 70 locations without direct replacements.
In its most recent results, Argos said more sales went through its branches inside Sainsbury’s supermarkets than standalone Argos stores for the first time last year.
In March, Argos said it expects to have around 180 standalone stores by March 2024 – up slightly from its previous estimate of 160.
The retailer plans to have between 430 and 460 Argos stores and between 450 and 500 Argos collection points inside Sainsbury’s supermarkets by March 2024.
An Argos spokesperson said: “To make shopping more convenient for customers and to enable us to invest where it matters most, we are relocating many of our standalone Argos stores to Sainsbury’s – this includes our Grimsby Alexandra Dock and Scunthorpe Argos stores.
“Brand new Argos stores will open inside Sainsbury’s Grimsby and Sainsbury’s Scunthorpe next month, enabling customers to purchase thousands of technology, home and toy products from Argos while picking up their groceries.”
The Sainsbury’s is also closing warehouses in Basildon, Essex, and Heywood, Greater Manchester.
Meanwhile the supermarket closed all remaining standalone Habitat stores on the high street, with the homeware brand now living on in Sainsbury’s stores and online.
Argos is not the only retailer pulling back on its high street locations.
Retailers have been feeling the pinch since the pandemic while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to soaring inflation.
High energy costs and a shift towards shopping online are also taking a toll and many high street stores have struggled to keep going.
Iceland has closed more than a dozen shops this year, while Boots announced it is closing 300 branches, taking the number of stores from 2,200 to 1,900.
Le Pain Quotidien shut nine of its ten bakeries after falling into administration earlier this month.
Which Argos stores are closing?
Here are the stores that are set to close later this year:
Cardiff Bay Retail Park, Cardiff – JulyAlexandra Retail Park, Grimsby – AugustSt Stephen’s shopping centre, Hull – AugustMaesglas, Newport – date TBCLakeside Retail Park, Scunthorpe – August
Here are the stores that have already closed this year:
Coventry City Arcade – January 7Nottingham City Centre – January 14Coatbridge Lanarkshire – March 11Birkenhead Pyramids Shopping Centre – March 22All stores in the Republic of Ireland – June 24
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