According to WDEF-TV, data from Coresight Research shows that the retail apocalypse continues in 2025, with 8,100 retail stores closing across various industries, an increase of 12% compared to 2024.
The grocery chain contributed to the disaster, with Albertsons cutting 380 jobs at corporate offices in Arizona and California and saying it would close 20 stores by the end of 2025.
Kroger subsequently closed nine distribution centers and eliminated about 1,700 jobs. The company operates about 2,700 supermarkets in 35 states and Washington, D.C., and announced in June 2025 that it would close 60 stores within 18 months.
In addition, Grocery Outlet, a supermarket chain that has been growing, has joined the list of supermarket chains closing dozens of stores.
Kroger followed through on its closure plan, filing notices in March to close three California store locations and laying off 171 workers, according to worker adjustment and retraining notices filed with the California Employment Development Department.
“While the company is committed to exploring transfer and reassignment opportunities for affected employees, some layoffs and layoffs may still be necessary based on operational needs and contract terms,” ​​Kena Pereira, executive director of the California Workforce Development Board, said in a warning notice, according to the Sacramento Bee. “This closure will be permanent.”
According to Investing.com, national discount supermarket chain Grocery Outlet said during its fourth quarter 2025 earnings call that it would close 36 stores across the country due to excessive expansion.
“After rigorous analysis of our fleet, we found that there is no viable path to sustained profitability for the 36 stores in our network, regardless of the operational support we can provide,” Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. CEO Jason Potter said on an earnings call.
“We have made the difficult decision to close 36 locations, 24 of which are in the East, representing 30% of the region’s fleet,” Porter said. “We are not completely exiting any state and we believe we have a meaningful opportunity to grow in the East over the long term.”
The company has not announced the list of 36 stores that will close.
Porter said the Emeryville, Calif.-based chain’s remaining 51 stores in the East region were profitable, with a net profit margin of 3.3% in the fourth quarter.
“It’s now clear that we expanded too quickly and these closures are a direct correction,” Porter said.
