Marks and Spencer (M&S) has confirmed the locations of 10 stores that will be closing down in the next few weeks.
M&S earlier said it wanted to restructure its business and put more focus on its food-only stores. In October 2022, it announced it would shut 67 “lower productivity” locations over the following five years.
In February, the retailer confirmed it would close its store at the Broadway Shopping Centre in Bradford. Branded as an “absolutely brilliant” store by shoppers on Google Reviews, the store is set to pull down the shutters on May 18.
Vickie Smith, M&S regional manager, commented: “We would like to thank all customers who have shopped with us at our Bradford Broadway store.
“The store will close on May 18 and we are continuing discussions with colleagues about what this decision means for them. Wherever possible, we will offer them alternative roles with M&S.
“Shopping habits are changing and so we’re rotating our store estate to make sure we have the right stores in the right place and with the right space.”
Most recently, M&S shut down the Queensgate Shopping Centre store in Peterborough on April 20.
Customers were left reeling upon discovering that their local M&S stores will be shutting in the forthcoming weeks. One customer fumed: “Stores are going left right and centre!” Another expressed their feelings, saying they felt “so disappointed”.
Another dejected shopper asked: “What’s closing next?” Another grieved: “RIP high street shopping.”
The decision to close M&S stores is part of the company’s extensive restructuring plan first unveiled in 2016, which envisioned the closure of hundreds of outlets.
In November 2016, M&S announced a 10-year restructuring scheme, identifying 110 underperforming stores for closure or modification. By May 2019, M&S had revised its strategy to close 120 clothing stores by April 2024.
Additionally, it placed 25 food stores under scrutiny for potential closure or relocation. The retailer has declared that it is speeding up its store reshuffle to save approximately £309million in rent expenses.
However, closures were not the only initiatives disclosed by the retailer – plans to introduce 104 new “bigger and fresher” food outlets have also been announced.
Cities such as Leeds and Liverpool have already welcomed brand-new M&S establishments. Six new shops along with three renewed stores were amongst the nine launches in November.
Further expansion plans involve the opening of over 100 larger Foodhall sites by 2028. M&S aims to manage 180 full-line (consisting of clothing, homeware and food) and 400 food halls within the following five years.
