British Heart Foundation plans 150 store closures
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is planning to close 150 shops over the next two years as it looks to ensure that its retail network remains commercially viable.
The decision follows a review of the charity’s retail estate as it faces rising operating costs and changing customer habits.
BHF will close around 90 stores by the end of March 2027, and a further 60 by March 2028. There will also be a reduction in the central teams who support the retail operations.
Subscribe to TRBThe charity said it will help staff affected by the closures and will explore redeployment opportunities where possible. It will also work with volunteers to identify alternative volunteering opportunities in nearby shops or elsewhere in the organisation.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, BHF 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 andi[n affected stores and emphasise our deep appreciation and gratitude for all they have done for BHF and the communities they serve.
“Like most retailers, we are facing an exceptionally challenging trading environment. Cardiovascular disease remains one of the UK’s biggest killers and our priority is funding research to save lives.
“We must take the difficult step to close some of our shops to sustain retail’s important contribution to funding BHF’s ground breaking research.”
BHF said it will continue to operate a large national network of shops and online retail channels, including eBay and the BHF website.
Allison Swaine-Hughes, BHF chief commercial officer, said: “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 recognise how challenging this will be especially for colleagues whose roles are affected and we are committed to supporting everyone impacted.
“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.”
