Argos is set to close its store permanently and will reopen a branch inside Sainsbury's, The Gazette can report.

The chain's store at The Basingstoke Centre in Old Basing Mall will not reopen with Argos closing around 420 stores around the UK. 

The Argos store inside Sainsbury’s will feature a browse area and customers will be able to use the tablets when permitted.

A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “In November, we shared plans to open 350 more Argos stores in Sainsbury’s and Argos collection points in supermarkets and convenience stores by March 2024. 

“As a result of this, we will no longer need as many Argos standalone stores and so we have said that we will close around 420 branches, bringing the UK Argos standalone store estate to around 100 by March 2024. 

“Any store that has not opened since March will remain closed, this includes the Basingstoke Argos store. In Spring this year a brand new Argos store will open inside Sainsbury’s Basingstoke.

“By bringing together the much-loved brands of Sainsbury’s and Argos under the one roof, our customers will be able to enjoy greater convenience as the new Argos will enable them to purchase thousands of technology, home and toy products whilst picking up their groceries.

“The Argos store will feature an Argos Pay@Browse area – when permitted, customers will be able to use the tablets to purchase what they want quickly and conveniently, as well as browse for products with Argos colleagues on hand to help.”

In November last year, Simon Roberts, chief executive of J Sainsbury plc had said: “Argos sales have been strong over the past six months and we have gained almost two million new customers as people have re-connected with Argos.

“Over the next three years we will make Argos a simpler, more efficient and more profitable business while still offering customers great convenience and value and improving availability. [...] We are talking to colleagues today about where the changes we are announcing in Argos standalone stores [...] impact their roles. We will work really hard to find alternative roles for as many of these colleagues as possible and expect to be able to offer alternative roles for the majority of impacted colleagues.  

“Given the unprecedented circumstances of this year and the challenges facing our colleagues, including the changes we are announcing today, I have informed the Board that if a bonus is payable, I will waive any bonus entitlement for this financial year.”