Marks & Spencer ‘to shut down dozens of high street stores’

Marks & Spencer are rumoured to be shutting dozens of high street shops.
The plans will also see many stores phase out clothing sales as part of a major overhaul.

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Chief executive Steve Rowe – who took over from Dutchman Marc Bolland in April – is expected to announce a major reorganisation of the company’s UK portfolio next week, according to Sky News.

The number of stores set for closure are said to be ‘in the low dozens’, and will take place over a number of years.

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Some stores are said to be phasing out clothing in favour of groceries (Picture: Getty)

Meanwhile, some of the retailer’s clothing stores will be replaced by its more successful food offerings. It’s not known if jobs are at risk following the rumours.
M&S did not provide a statement, adding that it would not comment on ‘rumours or speculation’.

Store closures would be the latest major shake-up by the new chief executive, after he axed 525 jobs at the retailer’s head office in a bid to cut costs in August.

The company said the staff cuts would result in significant savings, amounting to about 1% of its UK operating costs per year, though costs were still expected to rise by around 3.5% for 2016.

Mr Rowe later embarked on a major overhaul of staff pay in an effort to mitigate the impact of the National Living Wage.
M&S is forecast to report a difficult second quarter for its beleaguered clothing arm next week.

Analysts are forecasting a 3.9% drop in like-for-like sales from the general merchandising division, after clothing sales plummeted 8.9% in the first three months of the year – the worst sales performance for more than a decade.