The British Heart Foundation will close roughly 150 stores and reduce positions because higher expenses and online shopping trends have made about a quarter of its high-street sites unprofitable. After reviewing its retail operations, which employ nearly 3,700 people, the charity noted that net profit from its 640 UK outlets fell from £18.8 million in 2024 to £3.6 million in the year ending 31 March 2025. Chief executive Charmaine Griffiths said the trading climate is exceptionally difficult for most retailers and expressed appreciation for affected staff and volunteers. The organisation, which increased Griffiths’s salary by £35,000 to £268,239, also plans cuts in central retail-support roles. BHF has 795 head-office employees and 4,545 staff overall, or 3,692 full-time equivalents. Its wage and pension costs reached £136 million last year, with 180 employees earning £60,000 or more. The charity intends to close 90 stores by March next year and the rest by March 2027. Chief commercial officer Allison Swaine-Hughes said immediate action is needed to secure long-term retail sustainability and protect the charity’s mission. Although overall finances remain sound, the share of income devoted to charitable activities declined. Total income was £181 million in 2025, while net income after direct costs dropped nearly £9 million to £129.6 million. The proportion available for charitable work fell to 72 percent from 77 percent, still above the 70 percent benchmark. Griffiths noted that cardiovascular disease is a leading UK killer and that closing some stores is required to maintain funding for research.
