The retailer confirmed its plans to switch its focus to food-only stores, shifting away from its current shop format which includes home and clothing ranges.
Marks and Spencer currently has 247 multipurpose branches in the UK, though this will be reduced to just 180 by 2028.
While 104 new food-only stores will be opened, a staggering 110 shops will close down for good as a result.
M&S CEO Stuart Machin revealed in a statement that the company will now focus on “making sure we [they] have the right stores, in the right place, with the right space”.
Stuart continued: “We’re aiming to rotate… to 180 higher quality, higher productivity full line stores that sell our full clothing, home and food offer whilst also opening over 100 bigger, better food sites.”
The recent success of new stores is said to have given the retailer the “confidence” to fastrack the stages of their long-term strategy.
But it’s bad news for M&S fans who enjoy shopping for homeware and clothing at their local branch, as some sites are expected to shut as early as next week.
Shoppers in Cheltenham will bid farewell to the current home shop at the Kingsditch Trading Estate in Tewkesbury Road next week. The neighbouring M&S Foodhall will also close down this summer and re-open in spring 2025 at the Centrum Retail Park nearby.
Two other branches will follow suit in the next two months, in Peterborough and Wales.
Some angered residents have sprung into action to prevent the closure of their local M&S store, like those in Walworth, South London.
The Walworth Society is holding a public online meeting today, March 20 to focus on the proposed M&S closure and action to stop it. Residents will be joined by MP Neil Coyle for the gathering.
However, according to the supermarket CEO, the closures will pay off long-term for both the company and its customers.
He explained: “Our investment in stores not only delivers a better experience for customers and colleagues, it boosts local communities with new job creation and will help us deliver a more sustainable estate in every sense.”
