Marks & Spencer have today announced plans to close over 100 stores in the next four years.
Making the announcement today, a spokesman said more and more sales were moving online which has contributed to the decision.
M&S has already closed 21 stores in a restructuring programme to reduce space devoted to clothing and home it first outlined in 2016.
It said it had identified a further 14 stores for closure. Bayswater, Fleetwood Outlet and Newton Abbot Outlet will close before the end of July, Clacton and Holloway Road will both close by early 2019 and Darlington, East Kilbride, Falkirk, Kettering, Newmarket, New Mersey Speke, Northampton, Stockton and Walsall all entering a period of consultation with over 600 staff set to be affected if the stores are to close.
So far there is no announcement on the future of the Swindon Town Centre store, the M&S Simply Food locations or the Swindon Outlet.
M&S also said 15 fewer owned Simply Food stores would open this year as its food opening programme is scaled back.
Sacha Berendji, retail and property director at M&S, said: ‘We are making good progress with our plans to reshape our store estate to be more relevant to our customers and support our online growth plans.
‘Closing stores isn’t easy but it is vital for the future of M&S. Where we have closed stores, we are seeing an encouraging number of customers moving to nearby stores and enjoying shopping with us in a better environment, which is why we’re continuing to transform our estate with pace.’
