‘Sad state of affairs’ as M&S to close another store within weeks – but it’s not all bad news for shoppers
MARKS and Spencer is set to close another store within weeks – but there is a bright side for shoppers who are a fan of the popular chain.
The closure is part of dozens expected over the next five years, with more set to take place in the coming months.
But this one is surprisingly also part of the posh retailer’s plan to open dozens of new full-range stores and food halls this financial year.
The M&S store in Barnsley’s town centre, on Queens Street, is set to shut its doors in days.
Shoppers will be able to visit the store for the final time on Thursday, November 27.
However, the very next day, a new M&S food hall is due to open in the local retail park.
The popular chain announced that the new food branch at Peel Retail park would offer 60 per cent more space than in the current store.
So shoppers will be able to pop down the road from November 28 and find even more M&S goodies to choose from.
An M&S spokesperson confirmed that the new Barnsley food hall is one of nine new stores opening in November.
It’s set to be M&S’ biggest ever month for new store openings, supporting over 2,200 local jobs in the UK.
After kicking off with a major new 65,000 square foot store in Birmingham’s Bullring, M&S will open at least one store every seven days throughout the month.
The three new Foodhalls opening this month are located in:
- Uckfield – November 8
- Earlsfield – November 16
- Barnsley – November 28
And the three new full-line stores opening this month will be in:
- Birmingham – November 7
- Lakeside – November 15
- Trafford Centre – November 30
The three refurbished stores reopening this month are located in:
- Camberley – November 20
- Handforth – November 23
- Newcastle Foodhall – November 29
The openings are part of M&S’ aim to become the UK’s leading omnichannel retailer, with its store rotation programme at the centre of this ambition.
The retailer is aiming to rotate from a base of 247 stores to 180 higher quality, higher productivity full-line stores that sell its Clothing, Home and Food ranges, while also opening over 100 bigger, better food sites, by 2028.
Sacha Berendji, operations director at M&S said: “Stores are key to our business, and we see them as part of our competitive advantage. Increasing numbers of customers are heading back into stores to experience the best of M&S all under one roof, supported by outstanding service from our colleagues, and we expect this to continue as we head into Christmas.
“To deliver our biggest ever store opening month which supports thousands of jobs is an outstanding effort from the team and shows just how serious we are about accelerating our rotation plans so we are in the right locations for our customers.”