Sainsbury’s to close unspecified Argos stores across the UK

There are three Argos stores in the Rochdale borough, at the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre (pictured), Central Retail Park and Middleton Shopping Centre

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s is shutting a number of unspecified Argos stores across the UK, as part of a reorganisation.

Around 60-70 shops will be closed, although the supermarket did not say where the closures would be.

It will also close up to 15 supermarkets and 40 convenience stores, whilst opening approximately 120 new stores, mostly the smaller Sainsbury’s Locals.

There are three Argos stores in the Rochdale borough, at the Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre, Rochdale, Central Retail Park, Rochdale, and Middleton Shopping Centre, and one Sainsbury’s Local convenience store in Littleborough, which also has an Argos collection point.

The nearest large Sainsbury’s is located at Heaton Park, which also has an instore Argos.

The closures are part of a plan to reduce costs by £500m over five years, Sainsbury’s said, whilst it also plans to open around 80 new Argos branches within existing supermarket stores.

In the Second Quarter Trading Statement by Sainsbury’s, a spokesperson said: “We expect the closures to deliver an ongoing net operating profit benefit of £20m per year.”

Sainsbury’s purchased Argos in 2016 for £1.4bn.