Iceland to close all Swift convenience stores across the UK - full list of closures

Iceland is to close all its Swift convenience stores across the UK after launching the cornershop style format last year.
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The frozen food retailer launched Swift convenience stores last year, but will now shut all remaining stores. Swift stores sell a full range of store cupboard essentials as well as chilled and fresh food.

Shoppers can also buy ready-to-eat foods as well as alcohol and tobacco. Swift also stocks frozen food but with less of a focus on that than Iceland’s standard stores.

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The first store was a pilot in Newcastle, opening in 2021, followed by more stores popping up throughout 2022. The five remaining Swift stores will now be closed, with one converting into a regular Iceland store.

There is expected to be no redundancies, with all staff set to be offered a transfer to another nearby store, according to reports. Iceland’s executive chairman Richard Walker told The Grocer: “It didn’t work. Clearly through the pandemic, convenience stores had done so well and it was a sector that we thought was quite interesting.

“However, in retrospect launching a new format with separate branding wasn’t the right way of doing it."

A spokesperson for Iceland said: "We are continually reviewing and developing our retail portfolio to ensure we are delivering on value and convenience in the communities we serve.

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"We won’t be progressing our Swift fascia, but our Iceland, Food Warehouse and Iceland Local brands continue to go from strength to strength with new store openings across the UK."

Iceland: Full list of Swift stores to close: 

  • Four Land Ends, Newcastle Upon Tyne
  • Finsbury Park, London
  • Wembley, Middlesex
  • Hounslow, Middlesex
  • Archway, London
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