Retail giant Marks and Spencer is planning to close 67 of its stores across the UK. The high street giant has named the stores being closed this month, but plans to reduce its "full line" stores from 247 to 180.
The bigger stores affected seem to mainly sell fashion and homeware products. However, it's not all bad news as M&S is also hoping to open more than 100 new food halls over the next five years, from 316 to 420 food only sites.
Many of the shops expected to open will be in the same area or location as those that will be closing. According to Manchester Evening News, here are the stores that have been confirmed as closing, subject to ongoing consultations.
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- East Kilbride Shopping Centre - CLOSED February 25
- Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough - April 15
- Carlton Street, Castleford - end of April
- Meadowbank retail park, Edinburgh - spring
- Newport Road, Cardiff - spring
- Eagles Meadow, Wrexham - autumn
- Deansgate, Bolton - date to be confirmed
This news comes after the store confirmed a third pay rise for its 40,000 workers, with hourly pay increasing to £10.90. This higher pay will kick in from April 1, 2023, and comes just months after M&S increased the pay to £10.20 per hour in October.
This means M&S is now paying above the National Living Wage, which will rise to £10.42 an hour for those over the age of 23. Employees in London stores will also see their hourly wages increase from £11.25 to £12.05.
Other businesses have also confirmed closures this year, including Paperchase, which will be losing all of its remaining stores by next week after the stationery chain collapsed into administration. The retailer has put a message on its "store finder" website which says its last day of trading is Monday, April 3.
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