A question mark hangs over the future of the county's Argos stores after it was announced there are plans to close more than 400 outlets nationwide.

The retailer, which has been owned by Sainsbury's since 2016, has seen a gradual shift from its stand-alone stores to being relocated inside the supermarket's premises in recent years.

But in its latest financial results, Sainsbury's confirmed it was to further reduce the number of stores by closing "around 420 Argos stand-alone stores, reducing the Argos stand-alone store estate to around 100 by March 2024".

It currently has dedicated stores across Kent, including Maidstone, Canterbury, Ashford, Thanet, Medway, Folkestone, Dover and Tunbridge Wells.

In the same period, it plans to open 150 Argos stores within Sainsbury's stores and aims to have at least a collection point in all its branches.

In addition to the closure plan, Sainsbury's has confirmed jobs will be at risk in its supermarkets after announcing it will be closing its meat, fish and deli counters as a result of "reduced customer demand".

Simon Roberts, chief executive of J Sainsbury plc, said: "Covid-19 has accelerated a number of shifts in our industry. Investments over recent years in digital and technology have laid the foundations for us to flex and adapt quickly as customers needed to shop differently. Around 19% of our sales were digital this time last year and nearly 40% of our sales are digital today.

"While we are working hard to help feed the nation through the pandemic, we have also spent time thinking about how we deliver for our customers and our shareholders over the longer term.

"Argos sales have been strong over the past six months and we have gained almost two million new customers as people have re-connected with Argos. Over the next three years we will make Argos a simpler, more efficient and more profitable business while still offering customers great convenience and value and improving availability.

"We are talking to colleagues today about where the changes we are announcing in Argos standalone stores and food counters impact their roles. We will work really hard to find alternative roles for as many of these colleagues as possible and expect to be able to offer alternative roles for the majority of impacted colleagues."

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