Supermarket giant with 2,800 stores to close two branches for good this week

A GIANT supermarket chain with 2,800 stores is closing two of its branches for good this week.

Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket business, is pulling down the shutters on its Wakefield branch on September 15.

Meanwhile, it is closing its branch in Kilner Way Retail Park, Sheffield, on the same date.

Both stores are closing due to low customer demand while staff will be redeployed to stores in their respective areas.

Both stores were converted from Tesco's discount brand Jack's, with the Wakefield branch switched across in 2022.

The retail giant launched the discount brand in 2018 a bid to take on rival retailers Lidl and Aldi.

Which other stores are closing?

Retailers have closed hundreds of stores between them so far in 2023.

Consumers are increasingly turning to online shopping and away from physical stores.

Meanwhile, high inflation since 2022 has meant households have less money in their pockets to spend.

That, combined with high energy and wage costs, has seen a number of retailers closing branches.

Argos, Iceland and Tesco have all shut stores, including a number over the summer.

Some notable brands have crashed into administration too, including Paperchase, Cath Kidston, M&Co and Wilko.

M&Co has since relaunched online while the administration process is still ongoing for Wilko.

But it's not all bad news as retailers have been opening stores too.