A SUPERMARKET giant has bemoaned the "difficult decision" to announce store closures after 15 years.
Tesco have confirmed the closure of both their stores in Chippenham and Armthorpe.
The popular chain confirmed the Chippenham closure to The Sun but have not yet revealed the exact date the shutters will come down.
It had been a staple of the Emery Gate shopping centre since 2008 when it signed a 15-year lease for the largest premises in the building.
But the supermarket giant made the “difficult decision” to close the Wiltshire store permanently and relocate to a smaller unit on the High Street.
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A Tesco spokesperson said: “We have taken the difficult decision to close our Chippenham Superstore.
“We have however secured a new smaller premises in Chippenham town centre which we will open as Tesco Chippenham High Street Express, and we look forward to continuing to serve our customers at our local stores.”
Tesco Group is also shutting the doors at its store on Mill Street in Armthorpe, Doncaster, for the final time.
Local shoppers will have until Sunday, January 27, 2024, to visit the Doncaster store.
A poster in the windows of the store read: “This store will permanently close on January 27 at 5pm.”
The nearest store following the closure will be the following the closure will be the Wheatley Hills, Doncaster Tesco Express branch.
But it's not all bad news for customers with a new store set to be opened by next month.
The Tesco will become a One Stop, which is owned by Tesco Group.
A One Stop spokesperson said: “We’re excited to be opening our Mill Street, Armthorpe store on Thursday 22nd February 2024.
"Our new store will provide customers with a wide range of great quality products and services right on their doorstep.
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"We look forward to being part of the local community and are proud to make a difference in the areas we serve.”
Tesco staff at the store will transfer to the One Stop store.
Several major shops and chains are closing dozens of branches in 2024.
Some stores will be replaced or relocated while others will disappear from the high street forever.
Argos, Next, Jack Wills and Poundland will all shut selected branches forever in the new year.
It comes as 6,000 retail outlets have brought down the shutters since 2018, according to the British Retail Consortium.
The trade association's chief executive Helen Dickinson OBE blamed the closures on "crippling" business rates and the impact of coronavirus lockdowns.
Several major brands have also collapsed, such as Wilko and Paperchase.
Energy costs have risen and more shoppers than ever are choosing to order online rather than head into stores.
This has left some retailers grappling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.
Homebase closed a store last year leaving it with just 93 stores remaining since it was taken over by Hilco Capital in 2018.
Poundstretcher closed multiple stores last year but also opened new stores in closed Wilko stores.
Even charity shops are struggling Oxfam confirmed it would close eight of its UK stores last year.
