Central Co-op is set to close 19 of its food stores across the UK in the next six months it has been revealed.

The independent retailer, which is separate from The Co-operative Group, currently has more than 460 trading premises across 21 countries, including in the UK.

It's main business activities include food retail, petrol filling stations, funeral services and property investment.

Central Co-op has invested £40million in its food stores and funeral homes so far this year, The Sun reports.

As a result, the retailer will have opened five new stores, and refurbished 35 shops and 16 funeral homes by the end of 2024.

Full list of Central Co-op Food stores set to close

However, Central Co-op said inflation had seen a drop off in food sales and with death rates declining, meaning turning a profit had become "more challenging".

The retailer has now made the decision to close 19 of its food stores in the UK which have been "financially unsustainable for some time", according to The Sun.

UK high street shops that no longer exist

The 19 Central Co-op Food stores set to close in the next six months are:

  • Barnby Dun, High Street - South Yorkshire
  • Broughton, High St – Northamptonshire
  • Croft, Pochin Street – Leicestershire
  • Desborough, Hill Top, Braybrooke Road – Northamptonshire
  • Dudley, Overfield Road - West Midlands
  • Eastwood, Nottingham Road – Nottinghamshire
  • Enderby, Mill Lane – Leicestershire
  • Kingstanding, Hawthorn Road - West Midlands
  • Leicester, Evington Rd – Leicestershire
  • Leicester, Narborough Rd – Leicestershire
  • Narborough, Station Road – Leicestershire
  • Peterborough, Mayors Walk – Cambridgeshire
  • Sprowston, Chartwell Road – Norfolk
  • Stafford, Baswich Lane – Staffordshire
  • Wigston, Blaby Road – Leicestershire
  • Yardley, Stoney Lane - West Midlands
  • Cromer, Middlebrook Way – Norfolk
  • Erdington, High Street - West Midlands
  • Shepshed, Hallcroft – Leicestershire

These stores are set to be part of a wider round of closures across the business which will also see six funeral homes shut their doors for good.

Five ways to save money on your weekly food shop

Chief executive at Central Co-op, Debbie Robinson, said: “We’re committed to putting the welfare of our colleagues first when making these tough choices.

"Any decision to sell or close our stores follows an extensive period of careful appraisal, and enables the Society to redirect resources into future growth and further improvements across the business for our Members, customers and colleagues."

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Central Co-op stores to re-open under new ownership

But it's not all bad news for the Central Co-op Food stores mentioned above, as they will all be re-opened under new ownership.

B&M has bought three of the 19 stores, while Samy Ltd purchased the other 16.

Central Co-op, speaking to The Sun, said it was "confident" staff working at the 19 stores would be able to take on new roles under the new ownership.