Cancer Research UK (CRUK) will close two of its three retail distribution centres and reduce its driver headcount from next month as the charity continues to shut down some of its shops, it has revealed.
CRUK announced last October that it would close almost 200 of its shops over the following 18 months amid rising costs, inflationary pressures and shifting consumer habits.
The charity is also no longer selling donated items on online reselling platforms but is opening more large, out-of-town “superstores”, which it estimates “contribute more than seven times the profit of some of our shops”.
In its latest accounts, the charity said it will be closing operations at its Fleet and Warrington distribution centres from next month, while its Grantham site would remain open.
The charity said total restructuring costs are expected to be £1.3m, including £200,000 on staff-related expenditure, and £1.1m on other costs including the distribution centre closures.
However, it said the restructuring is expected to unlock £12.9m in net trading contributions over the next five years.
A spokesperson for the charity said there are currently 387 high-street shops and 50 superstores in its network, with the expectation for this to be around 330 and 53, respectively, by April next year.
Income drop and expenditure rise
In the year to March 2026, the charity recorded a total annual income of £696m, £35m down on the previous year’s total of £735m.
This included £483m income from fundraising, a £47m drop on 2024-25 and £140m from trading, which was a £5m increase on the previous year.
It also received £65m from royalties and grant income, a £6m increase on the previous year, and £8m from investments and other income, a £3m drop on the previous year.
The charity specified that legacies remained its largest source of income, accounting for 36% and generating £250m, although this was £38m less than last year when it received “some exceptional legacy gifts”.
The charity added that its income from donations and events was £9m less than last year, when it also received “an exceptional philanthropic gift.”
Chief financial officer, Matthew Lynn, commented in the accounts that despite “ongoing external challenges, our income generation remains strong, although slightly less than last year.”
The charity’s total annual expenditure for 2025-26 was £755m, a £40m increase on the previous year’s total of £715m and leaving the charity with a £59m deficit.
This included £441m spent on cancer research; £141m spent on trading; £140m on generating funds, and £33m on cancer information and influencing activity, which were all increases on the previous year.
Money spent on wages and salaries including termination payments of £1.9m (2025: £0.7m) and overall staff costs increased by around £13m.
A special feature on charity retail will be included in the October 2026 issue of Charity Finance
