U.K. retailer Marks and Spencer Group plc on Jan. 31 said it will shut down 6 stores by end of April and is considering shuttering 8 others as part of its program to overhaul its store estate in the country under the company's transformation plan.
Employees working in the six stores at Birkenhead, Bournemouth, Durham, Fforestfach, Putney and Redditch will be redeployed at nearby stores.
Eight other stores proposed for closure are at Andover, Basildon, Bridlington, Denton (Outlet), Falmouth, Fareham, Keighley and Stockport. The 468 employees affected by these proposals have entered a consultation period, and if these stores are closed, the company will at first offer them redeployment at other stores before considering redundancy.
Further, the company has also scaled back its plans for the Simply Food opening program. M&S now plans to open only 36 owned and franchise stores in the next six months at locations including Broadstone, Streatham Hill and St. Albans. The Simply Food stores will offer M&S food and drink and the service Collect in Store for Clothing & Home, while generating 1,200 management and customer assistant jobs.
Additionally, the retailer will relocate two of its stores — Newry in Northern Ireland and Dover, Kent. These clothing and food stores will also be converted to a Foodhall.
