Morrisons planning to close 100 stores in next few months

Morrisons is planning to close 100 stores over the coming months, as it blamed government policy choices for rising costs. The supermarket chain said the affected convenience stores had been loss-making for some time and were acquired through its McColls acquisition in 2022. It said the difficulties had been exacerbated in more recent years by "significant cost increases resulting from government policy choices", including increases to the national living wage and National Insurance.

It also comes after it revealed last month that about 200 jobs were at risk at its Bradford headquarters. The supermarket chain said its proposal to take the "tough but necessary decision" to close more Morrisons Daily stores meant more staff would be at risk of redundancy and a consultation would start shortly. While Morrisons has not confirmed how many staff are at risk of redundancy, it is understood that hundreds of jobs will be affected. A Morrisons spokesperson said the business would try to find other opportunities for the staff affected by the closures. The chain has around 1,700 Morrisons Daily convenience stores and opened more than 120 franchise stores last year. It also did not immediately specify which of those stores it was proposing to close, but said they were ones "whose performance has been challenged for a number of years and which are loss making, despite remedial action". The affected stores are across the UK. "This situation has been exacerbated in more recent years by significant cost increases resulting from government policy choices, which have made returning these stores to profitability even more difficult," it added. It said it had a "robust expansion plan" for 2026, and saw the opportunity to open hundreds more franchise stores in the coming years. A government spokesperson said it was a commercial decision for Morrisons to close stores, adding: we understand that this is a concerning time for workers and their families. "A broad range of support is available for those affected. Acas can also provide employees and employers with free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules, and best practice." Many retailers have argued they have been hit with a wave of extra costs since April last year, including increased employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) and higher minimum wages.

Key points

• It also comes after it revealed last month that about 200 jobs were at risk at its Bradford headquarters.
• The supermarket chain said its proposal to take the "tough but necessary decision" to close more Morrisons Daily stores meant more staff would be at risk of redundancy and a consultation would star…
• While Morrisons has not confirmed how many staff are at risk of redundancy, it is understood that hundreds of jobs will be affected.
• A Morrisons spokesperson said the business would try to find other opportunities for the staff affected by the closures.
• The chain has around 1,700 Morrisons Daily convenience stores and opened more than 120 franchise stores last year.