Iconic high street stores to disappear from town centres in just weeks due to poor sales figures
Marks and Spencer has announced the closure of seven stores this year
Andrew Matthews
The high street giant has announced the closure of more than half a dozen stores
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Marks and Spencer has confirmed that seven of its sites will shut for good this year due to poor sale figures caused by the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.
Last year, the high street chain announced that 67 shops would close as part of a major shake-up.
M&S say the closures of the "lower productivity, full line stores" will take place over the next three years.
The chain has now declared the closure of seven sites this year with 60 more earmarked.
A total of 67 M&S stores are set to close over the next three years
James Manning
While full department stores are to close, M&S is looking to open 104 more Foodhalls over the next three years.
Many of the new stores are expected to reopen in the same area or location as those earmarked for closure.
The move is part of a wider overhaul to deliver around £400 million in cost savings.
Branches in Edinburgh, East Kilbride, Cardiff will be closing within weeks, with the earliest closure taking place this month.
M&S is looking at closing its stores in Bolton, Middlesbrough and Castleford, following proposals.
An M&S spokesperson said: “We recently announced that we are investing £480m in bigger, better stores across the UK.
"Our store rotation and investment programme is about making sure we have the right stores, in the right place, with the right space.
“Whilst our store rotation programme involves closing some stores, it also means relocating and opening new stores in locations across the country."
Stores are set disappear from town centres in just weeks due to poor sales figures
Charlotte Ball
Surging energy costs and a shift to shopping online following the pandemic has impacted the high street.
The closures, including proposals are as follows:
East Kilbride Shopping Centre - February 25
Carlton Street, Castleford - end of April
Meadowbank retail park, Edinburgh - spring
Newport Road, Cardiff - spring
Eagles Meadow, Wrexham - autumn
Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough - April
Deansgate, Bolton - date to be confirmed