UK's M&S proposes store closures

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Jun 25, 2015

Marks & Spencer, the British retailer that recently had to revise its online sales after failing to calculate in returns, is proposing to close nine stores in the UK.

The company is in a period of consultation and nothing has been decided yet, it said. The proposal is to close three full-line branches - in Wood Green, Stevenage and The Fort Birmingham -  along with five Outlet stores - Hounslow, Pontypridd, Aldershot, Walsall and North Shields Royal Quays. One Simply Food store in Shirley, near Solihull, would also close down.

Hugo Adams, Director of Property at M&S, said: "We are managing our store estate to ensure it is fit for the future of M&S and will continue to ensure we're in the best locations to serve our customers. As we said at our prelim results, we have a clear property strategy which includes opening 250 Food stores and further improving the quality of our general merchandise space."

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M&S stated that if the closures go ahead, all staff in the affected stores will be offered positions in nearby stores if the closures go ahead. It said this isn't a decision it has made lightly, but that the announcements are in line with M&S' property strategy. The company had previously announced plans to open 250 Food only stores over three years to March 2017 and grow no more net GM space.