The British Heart Foundation (BHF) recorded a net loss from its retail arm of £3.3m during the last financial year, ahead of a cost cutting plan that will see 150 of its charity shops close over the next two years.

The figures have been revealed in its annual report and accounts for 2025/2026, which detail that “in retail, the ongoing impact of cost inflation and sector-wide trading difficulties resulted in a net loss position” that has contributed to the shop closure plan.

It added that “this level of financial return is not sustainable” and its plans to close stores are “designed to ensure our retail network remains strong and sustainable”.

The charity’s annual report said: “Like many retailers, we are seeing rising costs and changing shopping and donation habits reshape the retail landscape.

“To ensure our retail income remains strong and sustainable for the long term, we need to adapt how we operate.”

The charity anticipates that the planned shop closures will “likely result in limited recovery in retail profitability over the next two years”.

As of March this year its retail portfolio of 651 shops included 470 clothing stores and 181 focused on homeware.

BHF’s annual report also details that over the last financial year it awarded £103m for new research that has grown its research spending to nearly £500m, its highest level since the Covid pandemic.

Over the year its spending was £440.8m however its income was just £415.5m.

This is the third year in a row where its expenditure has outstripped its income. Last year it earned £410.6m while it spent £427.1m

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