A major supermarket chain has blamed the Government after it was forced to close 100 stores. Morrisons has announced it will be closing dozens of stores over the next couple of months.
The supermarket said the store closures, which were originally taken on as part of a £190million rescue deal for McColl’s in 2022, were subject to ongoing review but had been loss-making for some time despite efforts to improve trading. The high street giant said their circumstances had been exacerbated by “significant cost increases resulting from Government policy choices”, including the national living wage increases and the hike in employer National Insurance contributions. A HM Treasury spokesperson said: “We have the right economic plan – reforming business rates, with a £4.3bn support package to limit bills rises, capping Corporation Tax at 25%, cutting red tape and taking action on the cost of living to boost the sector.”
The chain stressed that the move affected company-owned stores, but not its franchised stores – a part of the business that’s continuing to expand. Employees affected by the closures may get alternative roles, a spokesperson from the supermarket giant said.
The 100 or so store closures have been revealed as part of a “wider strategy to improve the overall performance of the retailer’s convenience store network”, the retailer said.
Morrisons hasn’t provided a list of the stores set to close, as they’re still in discussions with employees, but has confirmed the various locations in Yorkshire are among them.
This includes the following across North Yorkshire and East Riding of Yorkshire:
Middle Street, South Driffield
