Serious doubts have reportedly been raised about the future of Russian supermarket chain Mere following the invasion of Ukraine.
There were due to be two stores in Wales - in Flintshire and Monmouthshire - but plans to open those and more shops are believed to have been put on hold.
Staff at the first UK store, which opened in Preston in August 2021, have been told that the shop will close in two weeks time.
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The Mirror has also reported that Mere 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 opening of the stores in Mold and Caldicot had already been hit by delays, and they have not opened despite a recruitment advert still appearing on the Mere website.
In November last year, Mere UK business development manager Aleksandr Chkalov told The Grocer that it was “not an easy time to provide everything" shoppers needed and has blamed the lorry driver shortage and difficulty in recruiting staff as issues.
There had been talk of further stores in Cardiff and Neath, although no time frame has ever been given. In total, the discounter had said it wants to open 300 sites in the UK in the next eight to 10 years.
Founded in Siberia in 2009, the company - known at home as Svetofor - has 3,200 stores internationally and opened its first European Mere store in 2018.
Promising to be 20-30% cheaper than both Aldi and Lidl, its 'no-frills' minimalist approach sees each branch receive deliveries straight from the suppliers, with products stacked on pallets in-store rather than displayed on shelves.
Costs will also be kept down by the fact each store only has eight members of staff - a director, four cashiers and three who handle deliveries.
Goods are also stacked on pallets on the floor, with shoppers helping themselves to what they want.
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