River Island has officially announced the upcoming closure dates for 27 of its stores this month. The fashion retailer, which had previously disclosed plans to shut down 33 stores following a restructuring approval by the High Court, has already closed outlets in Brighton, Edinburgh Princes Street, Great Yarmouth, and Stockton-on-Tees by the end of 2025.

In addition to these closures, River Island has now revealed that 27 more stores will be shutting their doors in late January. The company will also be closing stores in Norwich, Norfolk, and Workington, Cumbria, although the specific closure dates for these locations are yet to be confirmed.

As part of its restructuring efforts, River Island is also reducing rents at 71 other shops. Prior to the court approval of its rescue plan in August of this year, the clothing chain operated 223 stores in the UK and Ireland.

The business faced financial challenges, reporting a pre-tax loss of £32.3 million last year, with a 15% decrease in turnover to £578.1 million. River Island’s legal representative, Matthew Weaver KC, stated in court that the company has struggled to overcome its financial difficulties due to declining foot traffic and sales in the face of intense retail competition and the shift towards online shopping.

CEO Ben Lewis acknowledged the shift in consumer behavior, noting the migration of shoppers from physical stores to online platforms. He emphasized the need to align the store portfolio with customer preferences and the necessity of a restructuring plan to ensure the company’s long-term success. Lewis expressed regret over potential job losses resulting from store closures, pledging to minimize the impact on employees.