The British Heart Foundation (BHF), the UK's largest charity retailer, has announced plans to close around 150 of its shops over the next two financial years after its retail operations fell to a £3.3m loss. The charity said the level of financial return is not sustainable.
Retail loss and challenging conditions
In its annual report and accounts for 2025-26, BHF reported that retail fell to a £3.3m loss, compared with a £3.6m profit in 2025. The charity said it faced challenging trading conditions in the UK, like most nonfood retailers, with rising operating costs and changing customer habits.
The charity generated a total income of £175.3m in the last financial year. Its main sources of income were legacies, followed by fundraising activities and then sales in its shops and online.
Investment in research
BHF said it invested £103m in world-leading research during the year, as well as £10m in the BHF Data Science Centre and contributed £5m to a global research programme on women's heart health.
The charity said it had made "lifesaving progress in a challenging year" and that its annual report showed progress across four priorities: advancing research, transforming care and support, inspiring income, and accelerating impact by strengthening people, systems and technology.
Planned closures and portfolio
On March 31, 2026, BHF's portfolio consisted of 651 shops, including 470 clothing shops and 181 home stores. During the year, it opened 11 new outlets, relocated three, and closed 25 as part of its "ongoing optimisation strategy".
In June 2026, the charity announced proposals to close around 150 shops over the next two financial years. It said the changes are designed to ensure its retail network remains strong and sustainable, and that implementation will likely result in limited recovery in retail profitability over the next two years.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, BHF chief executive, said: "Our shops mean so much to our colleagues, brilliant volunteers and communities across the UK. They are places where people come together to donate, shop and volunteer, helping to make a real difference to lives affected by cardiovascular disease.
"We know this will be a difficult time for our dedicated colleagues and volunteers in affected stores and emphasise our deep appreciation and gratitude for all they have done for BHF and the communities they serve.
"Like most retailers, we are facing an exceptionally challenging trading environment. Cardiovascular disease remains one of the UK's biggest killers and our priority is funding research to save lives. We must take the difficult step to close some of our shops to sustain retail's important contribution to funding BHF's groundbreaking research."
