B&M is closing two flagship stores as part of a wider restructuring plan
A major high street retailer is preparing to shut down two of its stores this month as part of a significant overhaul to business operations.
B&M is preparing to shake up two of its stores later this month, with a full relocation in south-west Wales and a temporary refurbishment closure in the north-east of England.
The discount chain's Carmarthen branch will shut its doors on Saturday, August 15, ahead of a move to significantly larger premises.
Its Sunderland outlet at Hylton Riverside Retail Park will also close the following day for renovation work. Both locations are scheduled to reopen on Saturday, August 22.
The changes follow recently completed upgrades at B&M branches in Pentwyn, Stockport and Leicester. The Carmarthen store is currently situated on Hall Street in the town centre but will transfer to a former B&Q unit on Glanyrafon Road at Parc Pensam.
Notably, the new site is understood to rank among the largest retail spaces in the town, offering a substantial upgrade in size from the existing premises.
B&M described the expansion as part of efforts to deliver a "bigger and better B&M experience" for shoppers.
The retailer, which was established in 1978 and now employs more than 35,000 staff, stocks a wide range of products spanning homeware, groceries, toys and seasonal items.
In Sunderland, the Hylton Riverside branch will temporarily shut on Sunday, August 16, with doors reopening six days later on August 22.
B&M apologised to customers for any disruption, stating on its website: "In order to complete the final phase, it will be necessary for a closure period".
The budget chain operates more than 700 stores nationwide and says it serves upwards of four million customers each week.
Earlier this year, B&M launched new branches in Diss in Norfolk, Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire, and Plymstock near Plymouth in Devon.
The company has also revealed plans for a 13,660 sq ft mega-store inside a former Debenhams unit at Thistles Shopping Centre in Stirling, which is expected to open before the end of the year.
However, insolvency specialist Molly Monks F.I.P.A. of Parker Walsh warned that the broader retail landscape remains under severe pressure.
She said: "The transformation of retail was already underway, but the cost of living crisis has dramatically accelerated the closure of stores that might otherwise have survived another few years.
Britain's high streets have struggled to recover from the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research found that 34 retail companies with multiple stores ceased trading in 2024, affecting 7,537 stores and 55,914 employees.
