The beleaguered supermarket giant Morrisons has announced a significant reduction in its physical footprint across the UK high street. The chain confirmed the closure of 145 locations, a figure that includes 17 Morrisons Daily convenience stores and 52 in-store cafés. While the majority of the Daily store closures have already been completed, the remaining cafés, along with several Market Kitchens, pharmacies, and florists, are scheduled for potential closure before the end of the year, reports The WP Times with reference to the dailystar.
Rami Baitieh, the Chief Executive of the supermarket, explained that the planned changes are a "necessary part" of the company's strategy to "renew and reinvigorate Morrisons." He stated that the move will allow the retailer to focus investment into areas that customers genuinely value and that can contribute fully to the company's future growth.
Morrisons’ in-store cafés are widely recognized for their "great quality well-priced food" and their role within local communities, offering a mix of traditional favorites and new dishes. Baitieh noted that while the majority of the cafés have a "bright future," a small number face "specific local challenges." In these instances, he regretted that "closure and re-allocation of the space is the only sensible option."
The CEO reaffirmed the company's commitment to its distinctive Market Street model, but emphasized that modernization requires making "some necessary changes to the areas of the model which are simply uneconomic." In some stores where counters or cafés are being closed, Morrisons plans to collaborate with third parties to introduce a relevant specialist offering. The company stressed that although these changes are "relatively small" in the context of the overall size of the Morrisons business, the management does not "take lightly the disruption and uncertainty" these decisions will cause for some colleagues, promising to "look after all of them well through the coming changes."
The detailed closure list covers a broad geographic area, including numerous cafés across England (e.g., London, Solihull, Watford), Scotland (e.g., Bellshill, Dumbarton), and Wales (e.g., Brecon, Caernarfon). Market Kitchen closures include sites in Aberdeen, London, Leeds, and Nottingham. Pharmacies are set to close in four locations, including Birmingham and Blackburn, while florists are impacted across 13 sites, such as Sunderland and St Albans.
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