Popular discount store announces another shop closure in blow to high street
Eleven branches of the Original Factory Shop will shut in the coming weeks after the discount chain announced further closures.
The group’s store in Middlewich, Cheshire, will close its doors for good on Saturday, June 28.
It’s the latest location earmarked for closure by the group, which had already announced the shuttering of 10 stores over the next month, including branches in Dorset, Aberdeenshire and Cumbria.
This is in addition to five further shops, which will be put up for sale.
Residents reacted to the blow to their local high street, saying they would miss the discount store.
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One wrote: ‘What a shame. So sorry for the staff.’
‘Another blow for Middlewich… sad news. Staff always friendly and the store was good to shop in…’, another commented.
A third said: ‘There is going to be nothing left in Middlewich everything is closing down.’
The Original Factory Shop was purchased by Hobbycraft owner Modella in February.
Modella also recently acquired WH Smith’s High Street stores, which will be rebranded to TG Jones.
The group announced its intention to place TOFS into a company voluntary arrangement or CVA – a scheme used to avoid insolvency and prevent the business from collapsing.
As part of the process ‘a number of loss-making stores will have to close,’ the company said.
The latest closures follow over a dozen shops already shuttered in the past year, the Sun reported.
Over 13,000 shops closed their doors permanently last year, amid squeezes on business, including the increase to employers’ National Insurance contributions.
Which TOFS stores are marked for closure?
A total of 11 stores are now due to close over the coming weeks
Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire – June 26
Arbroath, Angus – June 28
Chester Le Street, County Durham – June 28
Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire – June 28
Middlewich -June 28
Normanton, West Yorkshire – June 28
Pershore, Worcestershire – June 28
Perth – June 28
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire – June 28
Shaftesbury, Dorset – June 28
Staveley, Cumbria – July 12
The following five stores are set to be sold:
Nairn
Market Drayton
Troon
Blairgowrie
Castle Douglas
Other high street names including Iceland and Poundland have announced store closures, with hundreds of locations facing an uncertain future.
Most recently, fashion giant River Island announced it had called in consultants to discuss how to keep stores open through tough trading conditions.
The brand has had a high street presence for more than 75 years, having previously named Lewis and then Chelsea Girl before being renamed to its current iteration in 1988.
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