River Island and Primark are among the major retailers that have disclosed plans for store closures in January 2026.
In the previous year, 54 retail companies faced insolvency, leading to the closure of 3,080 stores and affecting 30,153 employees, as reported by the Centre for Retail Research.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released data indicating a 0.1% decline in retail sales volumes for November.
River Island is set to shut down at least 27 stores this month as part of a restructuring endeavor. The fashion brand had previously announced the closure of 33 stores, including locations in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees, which ceased operations toward the end of 2025. The closure dates for the Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria stores from the list of 33 closures are yet to be confirmed.
Poundland is planning to close 12 stores in January following a High Court-approved restructuring process. The discount retailer had already shut down 57 stores by the end of September after being acquired by investment firm Gordon Brothers for a nominal fee.
Primark closed its Dartford store on January 3 due to significant building repair needs. Philippa Nibbs, Primark’s director of sales for UK South and South East, explained that the decision was influenced by the extensive repair work required, making the current location unviable due to the presence of nearby Primark stores. More than half of the affected employees will transition to roles in neighboring stores, with support provided for those leaving the company.
Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, all part of Lloyds Banking Group, are set to close a total of 34 branches this month, including 17 Lloyds branches, eight Halifax sites, and nine Bank of Scotland locations. The closures are attributed to the increasing preference for online banking services, as stated by Lloyds.
The ongoing trend of store closures and restructurings in the retail sector reflects the evolving landscape of consumer behavior and economic challenges.