Home Bargains, Aldi and Iceland stores will remain closed on Boxing Day this year to allow staff to spend time with their family and friends, it has been announced.
The firms are among the first to confirm their plans for the Christmas period. Iceland boss Richard Walker announced on Twitter that the frozen food chain will be closed on December 26, when shoppers usually flock to take advantage of discount deals.
"We’ll be closing all our Iceland and Food Warehouse stores on Boxing Day to give our colleagues a well-earned rest with their friends and families," he said. The managing director recently called on the Conservative Party to increase Universal Credit to £20 a week.
Read More: Iceland boss tells of 'struggling' customers leaving items at the till as they can't afford them
"We really do have to look after the most vulnerable," he said. Speaking at the Tory Party Conference, Mr Walker said he was puzzled by tax cuts for the wealthy coupled with a lack of support for low income households, reports The Mirror. He described new Prime Minister Liz Truss' priorities as "odd" and said the Government do not fully understand the scale of struggles some families are facing.
Home Bargains will also close all its stores on Boxing Day as well as New Year's Day to thank staff for their hard work, reports the Retail Gazette. The checkouts will close at 5pm on Christmas Eve and remain closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day to ensure staff can enjoy the festive period with loved ones.
A spokesperson said: "We know how hard all our colleagues have worked throughout the year. Being a family-run business, we recognise the importance of spending quality time with our loved ones. Therefore, we feel it is only right to support our valued store teams by giving them extended time off around Christmas and New Year."
Meanwhile, Aldi has also said it will close all its stores on Christmas Day and Boxing Day to give staff a well-deserved break. A spokesperson said: "Our amazing colleagues play a vital role in keeping our shelves stocked year-round which is why, once again, we’ll also be keeping our stores closed on Boxing Day as a thank you for all of their hard work."
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