Japanese store group Fast Retailing has turned its back on fruit and veg to concentrate on fashion.
The owner of the Uniqlo clothing chain has decided to liquidate its wholly-owned fresh food business, after concluding it is unable to turn a profit.
All Skip stores will close by the end of April, and Fast Retailing subsidiary FR Foods Co, which operates the shops, will be wound up in June.
The news comes just two years after FR Foods was launched. FR Foods president Osamu Yunoki said the business had 'no clear prospect of moving into the black'.
It posted losses of Y930 million (£4.7 million) on sales of Y650 million (£3.3 million) in the year to June 2003.
Fast Retailing said it will book a special loss of Y2.8 billion (£14.2 million), related to the liquidation of FR Foods.
However, the loss is not expected to affect its year to August 2004 profit forecast.
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