Organic Super Store
 Barkers, a 135-year-old Kensington department store, is to close in January, making way for Britain’s first organic superstore.
Whole Foods Market, the American owner of Fresh & Wild, is to take over the 75,000 sq ft occupied by Barkers, the only remaining department store on Kensington High Street in the capital after the closures of Pontings and Derry & Toms.
House of Fraser, which owns Barkers, confirmed that 250 jobs would be put at risk by the closure, including 112 full-time posts. A 90-day consultancy on the job cuts is under way, with the retailer hopeful of moving many of the staff to other stores.
Whole Foods Market, which bought Fresh & Wild, the seven-store British organic chain in January 2004, has bought the lease to the lower ground, ground and first floors of Barkers for its flagship outlet.
Look out Fenwicks, you may be next!
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