Marks & Spencer to close 100-year-old flagship department store after ‘never recovering from Covid'

The Sun

5 hours ago

MARKS & Spencer will close their flagship department store after almost a century in business.
The store has been performing "less well for a long period of time."
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Marks & Spencer have confirmed that it will be closing its flagship store in Wolverhampton after nearly 100 years.
The store on Dudley Street has been open since 1929.
The store reportedly "never fully recovered" from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to M&S chiefs.
Staff working at the shop were reportedly informed of the closure in a meeting.
A consultation with the affected workers is set to get underway in the near future.
Calum Telford, regional manager at M&S, has explained the reasons behind the closure: "Our UK-wide store rotation programme is all about reshaping for growth and making sure every M&S store delivers the best possible shopping experience for our customers.
"That's why we have made the tough decision to propose the closure of our Dudley Street store.
"Sadly, the store has been performing less well for a long period of time and has never fully recovered from the Covid pandemic.
"We remain committed to Wolverhampton and are working closely with the city council to find a suitable alternative food location."
This will happen alongside modernising works to the Merry Hill M&S branch.
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Telford added: "I appreciate this will be disappointing news for customers who have shopped with us at the store over the years and I would like to thank them for their support.
"Our priority is continuing conversations with colleagues about what this announcement means for them and if the proposals go ahead, we will offer them alternative roles at M&S wherever possible."
Three years ago, M&S announced it would be changing its business model.
It said it intended to reduce its number of traditional department stores offering clothing, food and home products from 247 to 180, while also opening 100 new, single-function food halls by April 2026.
Company Chairman Archie Norman said last month that the company was seeking to exit " struggling town centres."
This came as part of a £500 million plan to update its portfolio of retail stores.
The lease of the Dudley Street property had been due to expire in 2027, with Wolverhampton Council seeking talks with M&S.
In response to the store's closure, Councillor Chris Burden, Wolverhampton Council 's cabinet member for city development, jobs and skills, said: "We're obviously disappointed by the news but fully understand M&S's difficult decision was driven by wider, changing market conditions and customer behaviour.
'We're grateful to M&S officials for the opportunity to meet with them yesterday (Tuesday) and their commitment to work with us to support staff affected.
"We were also extremely heartened to hear about their continued commitment to our city.
The council have pledged to work with M&S to identify suitable locations that fit their new business model.
'In the meantime, we know how unsettling this will be for staff and the city council's Wolves at Work employment support team is poised to join forces with DWP and a range of city partners to support workers and their families," Burden said.
'We're also keen to see the privately-owned Dudley Street site brought back into use quickly – if the proposed closure goes ahead.
"It's a prime 90,000 sq ft location in the city centre and we have already reached out to the building's agent to seek a meeting with the new owner."
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