A major UK sportswear giant has warned that the war in the Middle East could drive up prices after closing 24 of its stores. JD Sports Fashion, which has 4,811 stores worldwide, has shut 24 shops in the UK over the past year as it pressed ahead with its focus on "fewer, bigger, better" stores. The company said that, while it had no "direct exposure" to the Middle East and only a handful of franchised shops in the region, over time the effects of the war may start to be felt. "Over time, the