British Heart Foundation to Close 150 Shops by 2028

The British Heart Foundation will close 150 of its charity shops by March 2028 after reporting a £3.3 million net loss from its retail network for the year ending March 2026. The charity, the largest retailer in its sector, noted that retail costs rose 5% to £240 million, which outpaced a 1.5% increase in turnover to £236 million. Fourteen shops have already closed, with further closures planned for Christchurch, Parkstone, and Abingdon.

Chief Executive Charmaine Griffiths attributed the closures to rising operating costs and changing customer habits, stating that the previous financial return was not sustainable. Griffiths noted that these difficult decisions are necessary to protect sustainable income for lifesaving research.

Despite the retail deficit, the organization achieved record fundraising income of £62 million and received £106 million from legacies. The charity awarded £103 million in new research grants, expanding its total portfolio to £485 million. While overall expenditure of £441 million exceeded income of £416 million, the organization recorded a £17.4 million net gain on investments.