Major Grocery Stores Closing in 2025
A wave of closures is reshaping the U.S. grocery retail landscape in 2025 as chains like Kroger announce plans to shutter under-performing stores, while others reassess their strategies. The trend of grocery stores closing has sparked concern for consumers, workers and communities alike.
Kroger revealed in June 2025 that it intends to close approximately 60 locations across the U.S. over the next 18 months. According to an analysis by Grocery Dive, at least 39 stores have already been identified for closure, with 18 shut as of August.
Meanwhile, despite closure headlines, Trader Joe’s continues to expand: the chain is opening around 30 new locations across 18 states in 2025. The contrasting moves underscore how the “grocery stores closing” banner does not uniformly apply across all operators — but still signals a significant shift in the industry.
Why Are Grocery Stores Closing?
Multiple structural pressures are driving the wave of grocery stores closing:
- Performance and footprint optimisation: Kroger cited under-performing stores as the reason for closures, noting that savings will be reinvested into higher-growth locations and customer experience enhancements.
- Competitive and regulatory headwinds: Industry analysts say that regulatory intervention — such as the blocking of Kroger’s proposed merger with Albertsons — triggered an accelerated refresh of store portfolios.
- Rising costs and changing shopper habits: Inflation, labour pressure and shifts to online and discount players are squeezing margins, meaning marginal sites face closure.
The upshot is that many grocery chains are choosing to trim their store counts rather than expand uniformly, leading to the narrative of “grocery stores closing” communities.
Full List Highlights of Chains Affected
Here’s a snapshot of major chains under pressure or expansion in 2025:
- Kroger: Announced up to 60 store closures across multiple states over next 18 months. At least 39 locations flagged as of August.
- Trader Joe’s: Instead of closures, this chain is adding around 30 stores in 18 states in 2025 — indicating that the closure trend is not universal.
- Regional chains: Some mid-sized operators are shutting select locations or consolidating. While detailed lists are less public, the trend of grocery stores closing extends beyond the largest national players.
Consumers seeking a “list of grocery stores closing” should note that many chains have not released complete location lists — and closures often occur gradually.
Impact on Shoppers, Workers and Communities
For shoppers, the trend of grocery stores closing means older, less-efficient stores may disappear, potentially leaving gaps in “grocery store near me” options in some neighbourhoods. This may affect access, pricing and convenience, especially in lower-density or suburban markets.
Workers at affected stores face potential loss of employment or redeployment. Kroger has stated that employees in closing locations will be offered roles at other stores. The uncertainty around closures makes planning and safety nets more important.
Communities also feel the impact. Grocery stores often act as local hubs; closures can reduce grocery access, especially in underserved areas, and may contribute to what is known as “food deserts.” When grocery stores close, competitors may not always fill the void.
In response, some chains doubling down on expansion (like Trader Joe’s) and discount players are investing heavily — meaning the grocery stores closing trend may lead to stronger competitors rather than fewer options overall.
What It Means Going Forward
If you’re wondering “Why is Kroger closing?” or “What stores are going out of business in 2025?”, the answer lies in optimisation, competition and cost pressures. For consumers, this means staying alert:
- Track your local store performance and closure announcements;
- Consider alternative chains or online options if your regular store is at risk;
- Understand that while “grocery stores closing” is real, the overall sector is evolving rather than collapsing.
For the industry, the reshuffling of store networks suggests a transition phase — a re-allocation of resources toward stronger formats, better sites and more efficient operations. The headline of “grocery stores closing” is worth following, but it represents change rather than simple decline.
FAQs
A range of factors are involved: cost pressures, under-performing locations, shifting consumer habits, regulatory delays and chains optimizing their footprints.
Kroger has announced up to 60 store closures nationally through 2026, and at least 39 stores are flagged for 2025. Meanwhile, Trader Joe’s is expanding — meaning closures are not uniform across all chains.
Not necessarily. While closures are significant, many locations are being reaffirmed, upgraded or replaced by stronger formats. Some communities may be impacted more than others, especially if they lose a key local store without replacement.
