Morrisons to Close Over 100 UK Sites in Major Cost-Cutting Shake-Up
Morrisons, one of the UK’s biggest supermarket chains, has announced a major restructuring plan that will see more than 100 of its sites shut down across the country. The decision is part of a sweeping review aimed at cutting costs and focusing more sharply on its core supermarket business.
According to the company, this move comes after a detailed analysis revealed that certain parts of its operations — including cafés, florists, pharmacies, and in-store food counters — were simply not sustainable. Many of these outlets were operating below profitable levels, with footfall and usage falling short of expectations.
Chief Executive Rami Baitiéh said the closures are a “necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate Morrisons,” adding that this will help the company concentrate its investments on areas that customers truly value and that contribute directly to its growth.
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Among the closures, there will be 17 convenience stores under the Morrisons Daily brand, 51 in-store cafés, all 18 of its Market Kitchen hot food counters, 13 florists, 4 pharmacies, and around 70 fresh food counters, including 35 meat and 35 fish counters.
These closures will unfortunately affect hundreds of jobs across the UK. Morrisons has stated that some staff members may be redeployed to other roles within the company, but others could face redundancy. The exact number of employees impacted has not yet been confirmed.
The decision reflects the broader challenges facing the UK’s retail sector, which has been hit hard by rising wages, increased energy bills, higher business rates, and changing shopping habits. Many supermarkets are being forced to rethink traditional in-store services that were once considered essential but have become too costly to maintain in today’s market.
Customers will start to notice changes across several towns and cities, including places like Glasgow, Leeds, London, Bathgate, Solihull, and Portsmouth. In many of these locations, the cafés and counters being closed may later be replaced by third-party food or coffee providers — a move Morrisons says could offer “better value and specialist service” for shoppers.
The company has also emphasized that, while the number of closures may seem large, it still represents a small portion of its overall business. Morrisons continues to operate hundreds of supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.
In the coming months, shoppers are likely to see a shift in store layouts, with fewer service counters and more streamlined shopping areas. The freed-up space could be used to expand key grocery lines, enhance digital services, or create room for partner brands.
Ultimately, Morrisons is trying to future-proof itself in an increasingly competitive supermarket landscape. By focusing its efforts on value, online delivery, and its main grocery offering, the retailer hopes to stay strong — even as it trims down some of the services that have defined it for decades.
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