Particle.news
Download on the App Store

River Island Sets Jan. 31 Closures for Hereford and Didcot as UK Store Pullback Widens

The retailer says shifting customer habits toward online buying prompted a leaner, lower-rent store footprint.

Overview

  • River Island says 27 UK stores will close this month under a restructuring of its retail estate.
  • The Hereford Old Market and Didcot Orchard Centre branches are scheduled to shut on January 31.
  • The Oxford Westgate store has already closed, with other locations trading through closing-down sales.
  • Company leaders cite a prolonged shift to online shopping alongside sharply higher operating costs as the drivers.
  • The business continues to operate roughly 230 UK stores with about 5,500 employees while negotiating lower rents for sites that remain open.