Major supermarket with 900 stores to shut site in weeks after string of closures

A major UK chain has confirmed the closure of another site after a string of closures already this year. The frozen retailer Iceland has announced that itsbranch will shut for good in June this year.

According to reports from , the site - which is situated on College Square - will be pulling down the shutters on June 21. On the closure, a spokesperson for the supermarket said: "We can confirm our Margate Iceland store will close.

"Our store colleagues have entered into a consultation process and have been offered opportunities at surrounding stores where possible."

The closure follows a handful of others already this year. Iceland closed its Derby stores on February 22 and its Welling branch on February 1. The supermarket chain did not confirm the reason behind these site closures. Other locations that have closed this year include branches in Borehamwood and Exeter.

However, it is important to note that retailers close stores for a variety of reasons, and it doesn't just mean they are in trouble. Some close because the tenancy has come to an end on the site, or because the branch is not as profitable as others.

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Overall, Iceland has around 900 stores across the UK and is working to expand its footprint even more, with plans previously announced to open more Food Warehouse and Iceland sites.

The Food Warehouse, a brand owned by the Iceland Foods Group, first launched in 2014 and has since grown in popularity. These stores are typically larger than traditional Iceland branches and are often located in retail parks, catering to a wider range of shoppers.

This month, the retailer announced that it would "double" its petrol forecourt presence through a new deal with forecourt operator EG On the Move. The frozen food specialist is planning to hike its number of forecourt sites from 11 to 21 over the coming months, with a dedicated Iceland frozen food range to be implemented in 10 EG On the Move sites.

The partnership initially launched two stores on April 17, in Barnstaple and Rotherham. These sites both featured prominent Iceland branding on both the outside and on their in-store displays. The exact ranges offered to customers at these sites will vary by location. However, a selection of the supermarket’s most popular items and exclusive brands – such as Harry Ramsden, TGI Fridays, , and Cathedral City – will be available to shoppers.

Iceland Foods international and partnerships director Justin Addison said: “We’re proud to be working with EG On the Move to bring Iceland’s much-loved frozen products to even more customers in convenient locations.

“These 10 new stores are just the start, as we continue to grow our forecourt proposition and reach more people in the places that suit them best.”

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