Popular bargain supermarket with 300 locations to close store for good as shoppers say ‘it was a lovely little store’
A BARGAIN supermarket with 300 location around the country is to close a store for good after it was targeted by an arsonist.
The branch of Farmfoods on Moorland Road in Burslem, Staffordshire, has been closed ever since it was targeted on May 23.
Shoppers had been hoping the store would eventually reopen but Farmfoods has now confirmed the branch is permanently closed.
It is not known what will happen with the staff who worked at the supermarket.
Stoke-on-Trent residents can still shop at the Farmfoods stores on Leek Road in Hanley and on Edensor Road in Longton.
A Farmfoods spokesman said: “Unfortunately, I regret to inform you that our Burslem shop will remain permanently closed due to the scale of the damage caused and we decline to make any further comments.”
John Condliffe, 53, is awaiting sentence at Stoke-on-Trent Crown-Court having admitted a charge of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Condliffe is due to be sentenced on August 26.
The Sun Online has contacted Farmfoods for further comment.
Fans of the store were gutted to hear the news.
One wrote on Facebook: “Really sad. Spent years shopping at that one.
“It was a lovely little store and the area needed it. I hope that the staff have been able to keep their jobs for the other stores and are being supported.
Another said: “Oh yeah, I feared that.”
While a third added: “I’m fuming… I love Farmfoods… they need to set up a website and deliver.”
It comes after the discount supermarket closed its branch in Tranent, East Lothian, for good at the end of October last year.
Farmfoods remains a favourite among bargain hunters as it often has cheap offers on popular products like makeup and air fryers.
The frozen food specialist pulled down the shutters at its Baillieston branch at the end of February last year.
Its Cowgate store in Dundee shut in March, with another Glasgow shop closing the month before.
Plus its store in West Bromwich closed in May.
The Farmfoods store in Market Street, Huddersfield closed for the final time in September 2023.
A number of retailers have been struggling as high inflation sees consumers cut back on their leisure spending.
Meanwhile, shoppers are increasingly turning to online retail and away from physical branches.
That, combined with high energy and wage costs, has seen a number of businesses struggle to stay financially sound.
Meanwhile, others have been closing stores and consolidating their portfolios.
It’s not all bad news though as some retailers have been opening stores, including Poundland and B&M.