SHUTTING DOWN
‘Absolutely gutted’ shoppers cry as major discount chain with 500 branches to shut store in hours
Punters have since taken to social media to vent their frustration at the store closing
SHOPPERS have been left "gutted" after a major discount chain with 500 branches prepares to shut its store in hours.
Savers is pulling down the shutters at its branch in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, today in another blow to the town.
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Locals wishing to visit Savers following the closure will need to trek to the chain's other stores in Tenby or Carmarthen.
A post on the branch's Facebook page previously confirmed the closure date.
It states: "It is with great sadness that Haverfordwest Savers will be closing its doors for the last time on Saturday, June 15.
"Management and team would like to take this opportunity to thank all our amazing customers, past and present for your custom and support and wish you all well in the future.
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"Thank you all."
Punters have since taken to social media to vent their frustration at the store closing.
One wrote on Facebook: "Absolutely gutted for you guys, thanks for everything, it has always been a pleasure popping in, wishing you all on to bigger and better things!"
A second wrote: "Oh no! Sad to hear this. Used to be a frequent customer when I lived nearby.
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While some said that the closure was "terrible" news.
Another commented: "Sorry to see you guys go from Haverfordwest.
"Always great service from all the staff and a great selection of products and great value.
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"Will miss you. Hope all the staff are looked after."
Savers was purchased by A.S. Watson Group, the world's largest international health and beauty retailer, in 2000.
Established in 1841, A.S. Watson Group owns over 16,100 stores under 12 retail brands in 28 markets, and has about 130,000 employees worldwide.
Other UK brands owned by A.S. Watson Group include Superdrug and The Perfume Shop.
Meanwhile, some retailers, such as Iceland, Boots, and Matalan, have been reducing the number of their high street branches.
RETAIL WOES
Rising rents, energy bills, and the cost of living have also caused many retailers to fail.
Several big retailers have fallen into administration in the past year, including Wilko, Paperchase, and most recently, The Body Shop and Ted Baker.
The Body Shop collapsed into administration on February 13, putting its almost 198 branches at risk of closure.
Since then, it has closed down 82 locations.
However, it's not all bad news for the high street, as several other retailers and hospitality venues have plans to expand.
Beer giant Heineken announced plans to invest £39million to help reopen 62 previously shuttered British pubs.
Aldi has announced that it will open 35 new UK stores.
The openings form part of Aldi's long-term target of 1,500 stores in the UK.
The supermarket is set to invest £550million in expanding its UK footprint this year alone.
Aldi said each new store opening will create around 40 new jobs on average.
In recent months, Asda has been opening hundreds of convenience stores as it seeks to rival major players Tesco and Sainsbury's.
B&M plans to open "not less than" 45 brand new stores across the UK in each of the next two consecutive years.
One of the UK's favourite bakery chains, Greggs, has exclusively revealed to The Sun plans to open more outlet branches by the end of 2025.
Home Bargains, which was running just under 600 branches as of last June, has said it wants to "eventually have between 800 and 1,000 retail outlets open".
The major discounter has stopped short of saying when it wants to reach the 1,000 store target, however.
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Primark is also opening new branches and investing and renovating more than a dozen of its existing shops.
Screwfix is set to open 40 new stores nationwide as its owner, Kingfisher, seeks to expand the DIY brand's national presence.
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