Morrisons Stores Closing Down: A Review of Morrisons Closures and Locations
Morrisons, one of the leading supermarket chains in the UK, has started to worry their staff about the future of their jobs.
With news that Morrisons is shutting their Bradford Packing plant putting 450 jobs at risk, more bad news has been announced the closure of some of their supermarkets. This has sent shockwaves amongst the staff at Morrisons who fear what the future holds for them.
Morrisons which has 497 supermarkets around the UK including Grimsby, Manchester, Boston, Scunthorpe, Preston, Skegness, and London has announced the closure of three stores. This decision comes follows a wave of store closures by other supermarkets across the country.
The supermarket since being taken over by CD&R in October 2021 for £7 billion, in a debt-fuelled deal led by former Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy has seen drastic changes. One of those changes includes shift patterns in Morrisons factories. Some factories have had their shifts merged into one, and now it seems changes are being made in the Morrisons stores.
How Many Morrisons Stores are Closing?
A total of three Morrisons stores are set to close. These stores are located in Faversham, Bolton Breightmet, and Blackpool Road in Preston. While the closure date for the Faversham store is set for September 17, the dates for the other two stores have not been finalized, but they are expected to close by autumn.
Why Are Morrisons Staff Worried
Staff at Morrisons are worried due to all the changes taking place. They fear with the shift patten changes at factories and with three stores closing that more changes could be coming their way. That could include more Morrisons stores closing around the country and thousands of job losses. At the moment, Morrisons are keeping their staff in the dark which is another major worry.
Reasons Behind Morrisons Closures
The decision to close these stores comes after a thorough review of their performance. Morrisons, after careful consideration, concluded that the performance of the Faversham and Bolton Breightmet stores was not sustainable, leading to the difficult decision to sell these locations. Additionally, the Morrisons store on Blackpool Road will be sold to Tesco.
Other Supermarkets Facing Closures
Morrisons is not the only supermarket chain experiencing closures. Co-op, another prominent supermarket brand, has already closed several stores this year, with more closures planned. The Co-op store in Castle House, Sheffield, recently closed, while nearby stores in Broad Lane and Glossop Road remain open. Similarly, the Co-op branch in Mildenhall Road, Bury St Edmunds, will permanently close on August 19.
Iceland, known for its frozen food offerings, is also set to close three supermarkets between August and September. This comes after the closure of several other Iceland shops since February. With approximately 800 branches across the UK, Iceland will be shutting down its Cowden High Street store in Fife on Saturday, August 12, followed by the closure of its Llanelli store on Saturday, September 21.
Impact on Morrisons and the Supermarket Industry
The closures of these Morrisons stores, along with those of other supermarket chains, highlight the challenges faced by the industry. The changing landscape of consumer preferences and the rise of online shopping have put pressure on traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Supermarkets are constantly reviewing their operations and making difficult decisions to ensure sustainable performance in a highly competitive market.
Morrisons’ Recent Changes
In addition to the store closures, Morrisons has implemented various changes to adapt to evolving consumer demands. The supermarket chain has begun stocking items from its budget Savers range in its 500 convenience stores. This move allows customers to access household staples like toilet rolls, washing up liquid, and skimmed milk in smaller stores. Furthermore, Morrisons has been lowering prices on essential items, such as milk, to provide more value to its customers.
The closure of three Morrisons stores and the ongoing closures in other supermarket chains reflect the challenges faced by the industry as it adapts to changing consumer preferences and increased competition.
