A SUPERMARKET giant with 960 branches is set to shutter three stores.
Lidl will welcome shoppers to the sites for the final time today.
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The bargain retailer has confirmed it’s closing its Thornab, Girlington, and Leyland shops.
Lidl said it had tried finding a larger site in Girlington over the last two years but had been refused plans by Bradford Council.
It confirmed all staff from the store will be offered roles at other Lidl branches.
Elsewhere the retailer said it is shutting the site at Churchill Way Retail Park, Leyland, as it is “no longer fit for purpose”.
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And shoppers in Stockton-on-Tees have been urged to visit Lidl supermarkets in Tower Street and Billingham Road once the Thornaby shop shuts.
Locals in the various areas have reacted to the news of the closures on social media.
One said: “Absolutely ludicrous decision to refuse the plan.”
A second commented: “Wow, it’s always sad to see a store that’s been a part of the community for so long close its doors.”
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Meanwhile, a third added: “I am also sad…. the bakery gets me through my work day.”
“That is disappointing and shocking,” another wrote.
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A fifth posted: “This is a shame. I do all my shopping there as it’s handy and on the way home from work. All the staff are amazing.”
Another shopper commented: “You taking the p**s.”
It comes after Lidl has pulled down the shutters on several of its supermarkets in the past year.
The chain is closing its shop in Paignton, Devon, next month after 25 years.
The store in the Victoria Centre shut for good on February 4 after long speculation about its future.
A spokesperson said locals can be assured they can head to its larger White Rock Way store, just 10 minutes’ walk away.
Lidl has also shut its Kentish Town Road branch on February 11 – after a decade on the high street.
Although, it’s not all bad news and Lidl has plans to acquire an alternative site nearby so that they can reopen.
Most recently, it was confirmed that Lidl is looking to close its warehouse in Walsall within the next year.
The supermarket chain says the building, which is 50 years old, is “no longer fit for purpose”.
Lidl is also undergoing a wider restructure to ensure its “logistics function is set up as effectively as possible”.
It has operated from the depot since 2008 and is set to shutter it in a year.
It’s not all bad news though because the chain has big plans to open more sites in the next year.
Last year, Lidl bosses revealed that the chain is looking to open hundreds of new locations.
While it’s yet to confirm the exact locations, it’s aiming to open high street, standalone, mixed-use and shopping centre stores.
Lidl is also looking at retail parks, and metropolitan areas in London and M25.
The full list, of which there are 1,168 locations, includes sites across all areas of Great Britain – including 66 in Scotland, 83 in Yorkshire, 83 in central England, 91 in south London and 42 in south-mid Wales.
The retailer has a store target of 1,100 stores by the end of 2025.
What else is happening on the high street?
Retailers have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic with shoppers cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to online shopping after the pandemic are also taking a toll and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year and more are on the way.
Several major brands have collapsed in 2023, including Wilko and Paperchase.
The Lidl news comes just weeks after The Body Shop tumbled into administration.
It then announced last week that it would be closing almost half of its 198 stores.
Seven branches shut with immediate effect including sites in Surrey Quays and Oxford Street, London.
In early February, Hobbycraft’s owner, Bridgepoint, was reported to be exploring “strategic options” for the business.
These options could include putting the retailer up for auction.
In January, struggling fashion brand Superdry said it was looking at various “cost-saving options” after reports it is considering a major restructuring which could include store closures and job cuts.
It was working with advisers at PwC on a plan which could lead to a CVA or another form of restructuring.
Such a move could result in store closures and potentially force rent reductions with landlords.
How to save on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Further store closures
Boots is set to shut another 10 shops in the coming weeks.
The move by health and beauty retailer Boots forms part of plans to close 300 sites.
Matalan closed down one of its branches in Leeds on February 24.
High street designer brand Kurt Geiger has pulled down the shutters on its shop in Brighton.
Department store Fenwick also shut its flagship London store in Bond Street on February 3.
High street fashion chain Peacocks closed one of its branches in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, last month.
Peacocks is also pulling down the shutters on its store in Camborne, Cornwall, on April 3, with “a really heavy heart”.
Entertainment retailer HMV also shuttered its branch in Boston, Lincolnshire, on January 27.
And, the hospitality sector has also been hit, seeing pubs like Wetherspoons and restaurants like Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito shut their doors.
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Plus, a total of 56 bank branches are set to close their doors in March alone.
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