Marks and Spencer announces further store closures

Marks and Spencer is set to close 100 stores by 2022 as part of its five-year transformation plan to make the retailer “special again”.

It today revealed the locations of 14 more stores that will be closed, adding to 21 that have already been shut. Sacha Berendji, Retail, Operations and Property Director at M&S, says: “We are making good progress with our plans to reshape our store estate to be more relevant to our customers and support our online growth plans. Closing stores isn’t easy but it is vital for the future of M&S. Where we have closed stores, we are seeing an encouraging number of customers moving to nearby stores and enjoying shopping with us in a better environment, which is why we’re continuing to transform our estate with pace.”

Under its five-year transformation plan, M&S is looking to create fewer, better Clothing & Home stores. It says that these will be “larger, digitally enabled, better located and more inspirational for customers to shop. They will also be supported by a seamless online experience across all digital channels including mobile and social, and by a conveniently located network of Food stores that offer customers a next-day collect in store service for Clothing & Home purchases.”

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