SHOPPERS are devastated as a major supermarket chain closes another one of its branches today.
With over 900 UK stores, Iceland is set to pull down the shutters for good in Portswood, Southampton today.
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Furious locals took to social media to voice their anger at the supermarket’s closure.
“I don’t believe it,” cried one shopper.
Another wrote: “We use Iceland regularly so it’s a real shame.”
“Waitrose next,” a third said.
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And a fourth added: “Bloody ridiculous they are killing Portswood it used to be busy with shops.”
Many of the residents online blamed the council for Iceland’s closure.
Southampton City Council were branded “insane” by locals after they revealed plans to pedestrianise part of the Broadway.
The scheme has been a huge centre of debate since it came out in 2020 and was protested by residents.
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The council’s initiative hopes to make the area “greener and more vibrant”
Shoppers now claim the council’s plans are the reason for Iceland shutting its doors for good.
“The slow decline of Portswood since this damn fool ‘pedestrianisation’ scheme,” said one local.
Another added: “We knew it will kill off Portswood.
“Our wonderful car-hating counsellors don’t care.”
And a third wrote: “Bloody ridiculous they are killing Portswood it used to be busy with shops.”
It comes after Iceland shuttered 19 stores in 2023, including in Crewe and Birkenhead.
Their branches in Huddersfield and York also closed down for the final time.
However, it was not all bad news for the retailer.
In March last year, it opened the first of its “Iceland Local” stores – a convenience-style format – and said it had plans to open more, although did not say how many.
In March 2022, it announced plans to open four convenience stores.
Which other retailers are closing stores?
Iceland is not the only store to be closing some of their branches this year.
The popular supermarket chain Co-op pulled down the shutters on its branch in Peacehaven, East Sussex last month.
A spokesperson for Co-op said staff were being “fully supported” and signposted customers to the nearest Peacehaven branch in South Coast Road.
Health and beauty retailer Boots closed three of their branches before the end of last month.
Residents in Wigan, Greater Manchester and Littlehampton, West Sussex were gutted to hear the giant retailer was shutting their stores.
Locals in Margate, Kent were furious after their store shut leaving them with just one Boots location, according to local news reports.
In June last year, Boots announced it would massively consolidate its portfolio of stores from 2,200 to 1,900.
Meanwhile, popular retailers M&Co, Wilko and Paperchase all fell into administration in 2023.
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All three have relaunched either online or with new stores since however.
