Russian supermarket chain Mere is closing its first UK store following the invasion of Ukraine last week, according to reports.
The discounter - known as the “Russian version of Lidl” - has also reportedly paused plans to open more shops.
Mere is said to have told suppliers of its decision to shut and said its UK expansion plans have been halted due to the “political situation” in Russia and Ukraine.
The retailer, which trades as Svetofor in Russia, branded itself as being cheaper than any other store - and said its products cost 30% less than Aldi and Lidl.
It opened its first UK store in Preston in August 2021.
But staff in the Preston branch were this week informed that the shop will shut in two weeks, according to The Grocer.
The trade magazine claims Mere was struggling to bring its model across to the UK even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with suppliers reportedly put off by only being paid if products sell.
But the situation in Ukraine is said to have exacerbated this, making it difficult for them to trade.
Did you visit Mere and would you be sad to see it close? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
Mere had planned several more UK store openings by this spring and wanted to open 300 stores here eventually - including two in Wales, in Mold and Caldicot, and another in Castleford in the north of England.
The business had even teased more store openings in January this year, saying it would bring “a much better and improved offer for our customers than at the beginning”.
The Russian chain has 3,200 stores internationally, was founded in 2009 and opened its first European Mere store in 2018.
It now trades in Germany - where rival Aldi started - and Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine.
Mere stores double up as warehouses, with images from other sites across Europe showing items displayed on palettes.
Its general managing director Pavels Antonovs had previously said Mere prices will undercut even the cheapest supermarkets.
Mr Antonovs said: “We are the gap in the market. We don’t have any competitors.
“Our model is no service and no marketing.”
The Mirror had a sneak peak of what the first ever UK Mere store looks like last summer and it was extremely back-to-basic.
Suppliers deliver straight to the shops, cutting down costs on having to store items elsewhere - and the store had around eight members of staff.
Goods are stacked on pallets on the floor, with shoppers helping themselves to what they want.
The downside is this adds a bit longer to your shopping trip. In a normal supermarket, with everything unpacked on shelves it is easy to see what you're looking for.
In Mere, you have to get right up close to many pallets to see what they contain.
