WHSmith has confirmed it will close 10 high street stores, with closures set to begin this week. As part of a larger strategic pivot, the retailer is moving away from its traditional high street presence to focus more heavily on its international travel retail business. According to Express, the chain has revealed exact closure dates for the affected branches and hinted that up to 10 more stores may shut in the coming months.
The Shift to Travel Retail
The closures come in the wake of WHSmith’s £76 million acquisition by Modella Capital, which also owns Hobbycraft. The company now aims to focus exclusively on the travel sector, where 85% of its trading profit is already generated. According to Group CEO Carl Cowling, this marks a “pivotal moment” for WHSmith, as it positions itself to become a global leader in airport and travel retail. In his words:
“As our Travel business has grown, our UK High Street business has become a much smaller part of the WHSmith Group… now is the right time for a new owner to take the High Street business forward.”
Despite the shift, the high street arm is still described as profitable and cash generative, but no longer aligns with the group’s strategic direction. As WHSmith explores further “strategic options” for this segment, more closures could be on the horizon.
Full List of WHSmith Store Closures
Here are the 10 confirmed WHSmith store closures, along with their final trading dates:
- Halstead, Essex – April 12
- Woolwich, London – April 12
- Halesowen, West Midlands – April 19
- Diss, Norfolk – April 19
- Newport, Wales – April 26
- Haverhill, Suffolk – April 26
- Oldham, Greater Manchester – May 3
- Stockton, County Durham – May 17
- West Mall, Frenchgate Centre, Doncaster – May 31
- Bedford, Bedfordshire – July 5
Shoppers visiting the affected branches can expect major closing down sales, with discounts of up to 75% in some locations.
