Heron Foods Store Closure: No UK Closures Confirmed

Heron Foods is not closing down. The 340+ store chain continues operating across the UK, with new stores opening in 2024–2026 while rivals like Boots, Wetherspoons and Clinton Cards announce hundreds of closures. Owned by B&M since 2017, the discount frozen-food specialist occupies a niche that has proved more resilient than mid-market convenience.

Total UK stores: 338–340+ ·
Ownership: B&M (since August 2017) ·
Recent activity: New stores opening 2024–2026 ·
Closures announced: None confirmed

Is Heron Foods closing down in UK?

The short answer, based on available public records: no mass closure announcement exists for Heron Foods. Unlike Boots, which announced 300 store closures by the end of 2023 and continued cutting sites through 2024, or Wetherspoons which shut 41 pubs in 2023 alone, Heron Foods does not appear in the major high street closure roundups published by Time Out and other outlets tracking retail failures.

Time Out’s comprehensive 2024 closure list — covering Boots, Argos, M&S, Iceland, Clinton Cards, The Works and dozens more — makes no mention of Heron Foods among retailers “joining Debenhams, Woolworths, Topshop in the high street graveyard.” That’s a meaningful absence when you’re trying to separate genuine concern from the anxiety that sweeps through local Facebook groups whenever any shop puts up a “closing down” sign.

What the data actually shows

• Heron Foods’ own news section carries no closure announcements
• Their store locator shows locations listed as currently open with features like “Home Delivery” and “Parking”
• Copyright notices on their website extend to 2025, consistent with active trading

Comparing the pressure

While Heron Foods operates quietly, other budget and convenience retailers have struggled:

Is Heron Foods owned by B&M?

Yes, Heron Foods has been owned by B&M since August 2017, when the value retailer paid £152 million for the chain. This acquisition brought Heron’s 250+ stores under the same corporate umbrella as B&M’s own discount format, creating one of the larger players in the budget grocery space.

The ownership link explains some of the confusion floating around online. Shoppers see similar store formats and low-price positioning and assume the chains are the same company. They’re not identical — Heron Foods operates independently with its own store branding, product focus (heavy on frozen) and regional identity. But they share a parent.

What B&M stands for

B&M Retail plc — the “B” and “M” represent the founders’ initials — began as a single store in Birkenhead in 1978. The chain grew into a nationwide discount retailer before expanding into grocery. The Heron Foods acquisition was part of a strategy to gain instant scale in the convenience food sector without building from scratch.

Post-acquisition performance

Since the 2017 takeover, Heron Foods has continued operating under its own name. No major restructuring announcements, store format changes or closure waves tied specifically to the acquisition have surfaced in public records. The chain still emphasises its 45-year heritage and frozen-food expertise in marketing materials.

Which stores are shutting down in 2026?

For Heron Foods specifically: no confirmed closure list exists for 2026 or any prior year in the available public record. Heron’s news section contains announcements for openings — a new store in Newton Aycliffe “completing the calendar year for brand new and re-located store projects” in late 2024, for example — but no closure notices.

This doesn’t guarantee every Heron store will survive. Individual branches can close without corporate announcements. But the chain as an entity has not signalled the kind of retreat that has hit other UK retailers.

Confirmed Heron closures

• No Heron-specific closures appear in major UK closure compilations for 2024
• Heron’s news page shows no closure announcements post-acquisition
• The company’s website continues listing active stores across all regions

Broader UK high street closures

• Claire’s: 154 stores entering administration in 2026
• Poundland: select sites closing
• Multiple 80-year-old chains have closed entirely in recent years
• Over 2,000 stores closed UK-wide in the 2024 period alone (industry estimates)

The implication: while the broader retail landscape remains brutal, Heron Foods appears to be navigating it without joining the closure lists. Whether that stability holds through 2026 depends on factors including parent company strategy and local store performance.

Who owns Heron Foods?

Heron Foods is owned by B&M Retail plc, a publicly listed company headquartered in Liverpool. The acquisition completed in August 2017 for £152 million, giving B&M instant access to Heron’s network of discount convenience stores specialising in frozen food.

Before the acquisition, Heron Foods operated independently from its founding in 1979 (originally as Grindells Butchers Ltd, later Heron Frozen Foods Ltd). The chain grew to prominence in Northern England and Wales by emphasising low prices on branded frozen and ambient goods — Müller yoghurts, Birds Eye fish fingers, McCain oven chips — a niche that proved resilient even as other convenience formats struggled.

Company history

• 1979: Founded as Grindells Butchers Ltd in East Yorkshire
• 1980s: Rebranded as Heron Frozen Foods Ltd, shifted to frozen specialist model
• 2010s: Expanded to 250+ stores across Northern England, Midlands and Wales
• August 2017: Acquired by B&M for £152 million
• 2024–present: Continues opening new stores, including Newton Aycliffe (late 2024), relocations in Barrow and Coventry

Old name details

The old name — Grindells Butchers — reflects the company’s origins in traditional butchery before pivoting to frozen food retail. This heritage shows in Heron’s continued emphasis on quality and value rather than the ultra-cheap, limited-range model of some competitors.

“For 45 years we’ve helped our customers buy top quality groceries for less.”

— Heron Foods (company statement, heronfoods.com)

“Our new store in Newton Aycliffe opens this morning, completing the calendar year for brand new and re-located store projects we’ve seen throughout 2024.”

— Heron Foods (news announcement, heronfoods.com/news/)

Where are the biggest Heron Foods stores?

While Heron Foods typically operates in smaller convenience formats, the chain has occupied some notably large sites — including nine former Woolworth’s locations, taking over the defunct chain’s units in high-traffic areas.

Recent expansion activity points to a continued appetite for new sites. The Heron Foods website lists stores “open now” in 2025/2026, including:

• Barrow-in-Furness: Relocated to 15-17 Portland Walk, Cumbria LA14 1DB — described as open now
• Coventry: New store at 10 Westmede Centre, Coventry CV5 9AF — listed as open now
• Newton Aycliffe: New store opened late 2024, completing that year’s new and relocated projects

Largest store opening

The most significant recent expansion was the Newton Aycliffe store in late 2024. Heron Foods’ own news announcement described it as completing the calendar year’s programme of new and relocated stores — suggesting it was a flagship opening for the year’s pipeline rather than a routine replacement.

Store locator info

Heron’s store locator supports filtering by features including Alcohol, ATM, Home Delivery, National Lottery, Parking and PayPoint — indicating the chain tailors individual stores to local demand rather than applying a uniform format.

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Frequently asked questions

For those tracking UK retail trends, Heron Foods stands out as a relative bright spot amid widespread high street pressure. Whether that trajectory holds through the rest of 2026 depends on parent company strategy and broader economic conditions — but as of now, the discount frozen specialist is not joining Boots, Wetherspoons or Claire’s on the closure list.