Marks and Spencer has proposed the closure of a number of UK outlets in the coming months, after a prior announcement of 67 larger shops closures.
The latest detailed plans include a consultation process on the number of supermarkets closing, while others are set to relocate - as the company looks to concentrate more on grocery offerings and food halls than general retail.
M&S announced 67 closures initially in October, with the brand adding that it wanted to focus more attention on M&S Simply Food, reports The Mirror.
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Plans also include opening 104 more Simply Food shops - taking the total number of its food-only sites from 316 to 420. The company is planning for changes to be complete in five years, although this could be reduced to three, as it aims to save around £309million in rent costs.
In last year's update, the supermarket warned that it faces a £100million hit from soaring energy costs, on top of 'unprecedented inflation'. However, it said it will invest £200million in lowering prices of its food and fashion ranges.
The news comes after M&S confirmed a second pay rise for some 40,000 workers, increasing hourly pay to £10.20.
The latest shops under consultation to close or relocate are:
- East Kilbride Shopping Centre - February 25
- Carlton Street, Castleford - end of April
- Meadowbank retail park, Edinburgh - spring
- Newport Road, Cardiff - spring
- Eagles Meadow, Wrexham - autumn
- Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough - April
- Deansgate, Bolton - date to be confirmed
An M&S spokesperson said: "We recently announced that we are investing £480m in bigger, better stores across the UK. Our store rotation and investment programme is about making sure we have the right stores, in the right place, with the right space.
"Whilst our store rotation programme involves closing some stores, it also means relocating and opening new stores in locations across the country. In this coming year alone, we are opening 20 new stores across the UK, including brand new M&S stores in Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Thurrock and Purley, and new M&S Foodhalls in locations such as Stockport, Wrexham, Barnsley and Largs.”
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