Morrisons shoppers will be concerned about the news.
Morrisons could close 100 stores (Image: Getty)
Morrisons is reportedly poised to close 100 stores across the UK in a move that could see hundreds of jobs lost. The supermarket giant reportedly consulted staff about its proposals to close its own Morrisons Daily shops on Thursday (May 21).
“Where possible”, the company will seek to find roles for those affected in other parts of the business. Morrisons is said to be planning to close branches in the next few months. The outlets impacted by the closures are all said to be loss-making and “the most challenged” of its estate.
Despite the closures, the company’s growth plans still include opening more Morrisons Daily convenience stores, with Chief Exec Rami Baitiéh said to be looking to open hundreds more in the coming years, according to industry outlet The Grocer, which first reported the closure plans.
It reported that all the shops affected by the closure proposal are former McColl’s stores. Morrisons bought McColl’s in 2022, beating rival bidder Asda to secure the purchase.
A majority of the new Morrisons Daily outlets will be franchises under Morrisons’ growth strategy, it is understood.
Morrisons has been grappling with challenging headwinds for business and raised debt interest costs. The retailer said its situation had been made worse in recent years by “significant” cost increases from Government policy choices, which it said “have made returning these stores to profitability even more difficult”.
The retailer announced in April plans to cull more than 200 head office jobs as part of wider efforts to cut costs.
About 8% of roles at its Hilmore House headquarters were reported at the time to have been at risk. A spokesperson said at the time the changes aimed to improve how the company operated across its different retail formats.
Matt Heslop also left his role as group wholesale and convenience director. Convenience stores were shifted to Morrisons’ retail division, led by Group Retail Director, Martin Dawson.
Since then the retailer has made a slew of announcments, including the expansion of its online offering. The business is rolling out a brand new fleet of delivery vans under plans to grow Morrisons Online.
It also announced the introduction of male sanitary bins across its stores, which number just under 500.
Earlier this week, the business confirmed it will give staff a pay rise from July 20 as part of a deal backed by the union, USDAW.