SHOPPERS have been left devastated after an American sweet retailer permanently closed all its branches.
Gifted, which at its peak ran six shops across East Anglia, has shut all remaining branches with a “heavy heart” after 12 years.
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In a statement on its Facebook page, the retailer said its branch in the Castle Quarter of Norwich closed on January 13.
It came after an earlier notice saying all of its stores would cease trading this month, citing the pandemic as a major contributing factor.
It read: “With your love and support we grew the business into six stores across East Anglia but sadly since Covid things have not quite been the same.
“There are many reasons for taking this decision and it has not been an easy one.
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“I would like to put on record my sincere gratitude to the staff both past and present, the Castle Quarter and my family for all their support.
“After 12 years it’s now time to focus on family and pastures new. Thanks for everything.”
News the chain has closed all its stores has been met with devastation from locals who visited to pick up everything from memorabilia and snacks, to teddies and games from the USA, Japan and Australia.
One said: “Gutted, your store is always on my go-to list when in Norwich,” while another said: “My go to shop in the city!”
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A third said: “This is such sad news. I’d often get snacks and pop culture items from you.”
Meanwhile, a fourth said: “Nooooo this is so sad!! You’ve been my safe haven for years for treats, drinks and various gifts.”
But it appears to not all be bad news for shoppers as the website listed on Gifted’s Facebook page appears to still be live.
Sweet-toothed fans can pick up everything from mystery snack bundles, to “sour punch” lollipops and Prime energy drinks.
It comes after a number of other branches close across East Anglia.
The Scope charity shop in Anglia Square, Norwich, was forced to close on December 23, just days before Christmas.
A spokesperson for the retailer said it was forced to make the move due to rising costs and lower customer footfall.
Meanwhile, a Peacocks branch in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, is set to close down on January 25.
Shoppers took to social media to bemoan the closure, with one saying: “That’s such a shame. Another hole in the high street.”
A number of other retailers across the UK are set to close before the end of the month too, including Boots, Co-op, Clintons and HMV.
It comes after figures from the Centre of Retail Research said over 10,000 shops closed for the last time in 2023, with almost 120,000 jobs lost in the sector.
The latest Red Flag Alert report from insolvency specialist Begbies Traynor also found 47,477 firms were in critical financial distress in the final three months of last year.
This is up 25.9% on the previous three months and marks the second quarter in a row where critical financial distress has grown by around a quarter.
The high street has been hit hard as shoppers turn to online retail, while high inflation last year saw households’ budgets squeezed.
That, combined with high wage and energy costs, saw many forced to close store doors.
But a number of retailers have managed to buck the trend and expand their portfolios.
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Poundland and B&M have both announced major plans to grow their number of stores in recent months.
Meanwhile, Asda has said it is on track to have 1,000 stores across the UK and Northern Ireland by March 2024.
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