B&Q will close eight “mini-shops” located inside Asda supermarkets for good within weeks.
Stores will start to close from March 11 across the country.
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B&Q’s eight locations set to shut are:
- Sheffield Drakehouse
- Dagenham
- Roehampton
- Edmonton
- Thurmaston
- Great Bridge
- Lancaster
- Hartlepool
The DIY retailer will look to launch smaller stores along the high street instead.
Asda said it was considering different options about what to do with the free space.
B&Q’s 57 staff affected by the shake-up will be offered alternative roles in nearby stores.
The store teamed up with Asda in 2020 to launch these “mini-shops” inside supermarkets.
Shops contain a large number of B&Q’s usual products, and customers can go to pick up orders from some branches.
B&Q said the move was due to changes in shopper behaviour caused by the pandemic, which has seen people tie multiple shops into one single trip.
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B&Q strategy director Chris Bargate said: “Following an extensive review of our test formats, we have decided to focus on developing our blueprint for smaller high street stores – our B&Q Local stores, with a view to expanding into more high streets.”
Asda said: “Following a ‘test and learn’ trial between B&Q and Asda, both businesses will continue to build on the learnings but will not be continuing with the concessions in Asda stores.
“The proposition was well received by customers, and Asda will use the lessons learned to help inform its wider concessions strategy.”
It comes as a number of other high street giants have announced widespread store closures.
Retailers are feeling the pinch due to high inflation, which was sitting at 10.5% in December.
High inflation causes a squeeze on people’s incomes – meaning many are forced to shop less.
House of Fraser is set to close a number of stores as it battles to keep a presence on the high street.
Just this week, it was announced clothing store M&Co will shut all 170 of its stores this year.
Another popular high street store H&M also revealed it would be closing several branches.
H&M confirmed to The Sun that two branches in Hartlepool and Isle of Wight are set to close.
New Look has also brought the shutters down on three of its stores in recent weeks.
