Proper news from Britain - News from Britain you won’t find anywhere else. Not the tosh the big media force-feed you every day!
Supermarket giant Morrisons will close 103 stores, cafes, florists and pharmacies this year in the latest blow to the high street.
Morrisons had already announced 50 cafes across the country would close this year as part of a 'restructuring' programme.
The retail giant will also close 17 daily convenience stores, 13 florists, four pharmacies and all 18 Market Kitchens.
In addition, 35 meat counters and 35 fish counters are also expected to close as part of the restructure.
Most of the 17 daily convenience store closures have already taken place, with shops shutting for the last time in April.
Morrisons' Market Kitchen was an in-store dining experience aiming to bring restaurant-style meals to a supermarket setting.
They featured various food counters, each specialising in different cuisines and meal options.
The exact dates of the 18 Market Kitchen closures have yet to be announced.
The closures are part of a plan to 'accelerate growth', 'optimise operations' and 'help mitigate recent significant cost increases'.
Rami Baitiéh, Morrisons chief executive says the closures were a 'necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate Morrisons and enable us to focus our investment into the areas that customers really value and that can play a full part in our growth'.
'Morrisons Cafés are rightly famous for their great quality well-priced food, their place in the local community and their appealing mix of traditional favourites alongside exciting new dishes,' he says.
'In most locations the Morrisons Café has a bright future, but a minority have specific local challenges and in those locations, regrettably, closure and re-allocation of the space is the only sensible option.'
Mr Baitiéh added that in some locations the company planned to work with third parties to provide a relevant specialist offer.
Last year the company reported losses of £919million following 2023 losses of £1.3billion.
However it recorded a pre-tax profit of £2.1billion in the year ending October 27, 2024.
Commenting on the supermarket chain's financial results last month Mr Baitiéh said: 'Consumers are feeling the squeeze and we are continuing to work hard to help our customers make the most of stretched household budgets, staying true to Morrisons values of providing good affordable fresh food for all.
'As we do this, we are also managing the incremental impact of the Autumn budget and other Government legislation, which has created significant cost headwinds, some of which were unexpected at the start of the financial year.'
SAVE MONEY, MAKE MONEY
Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence. Terms and conditions apply on all offers.