SHOPPERS have been left devastated after M&S confirmed it will shut two further stores following a wave of closures.
The posh retailer is pulling down the shutters on its branch in Neath, Wales, in May in a blow for locals.
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Meanwhile, the chain is gearing up to close its branch at The Broadway Hallings in Bradford, although a closure date has not yet been set.
A spokesperson for M&S confirmed the two closures, adding: “We have announced that we are investing £480million 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.”
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Either way, news of the closures has been met with confusion and devastation from locals, with one branding it “shattering news“.
Another said: “But why? The Food Hall is always busy, the cafe is really busy and popular and the clothes areas, both men and women’s also always seem to be busy. It doesn’t make sense!”
Meanwhile, another dejected shopper said: “The only reason I went to Bradford apart from the bank. So Leeds it is.”
A fourth fuming local said: “This city finished years ago absolutely no hope whatsoever. City is a cesspit.”
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It comes after M&S, which runs 405 stores across the country, closed a string of branches across the country in a blow for shoppers.
In 2022, the retailer announced plans to shut 67 “lower productivity” stores.
Some have already closed their doors for good between August and November last year, including in Manchester, Swindon and Birmingham.
In addition to this, 40 M&S clothing stores closed between November 2016 and July 2023.
Branches in Andover, Basildon, Edinburgh, Middlesborough and Stockport all pulled down their shutters for the final time.
Plus, 13 clothing stores closed between April 2019 and May the same year, including in Ashford, Buxton and Deal.
But it’s not all bad news for the retailer – in January 2023, the retailer announced it would open 20 more stores over the financial year.
In the last 12 months, it has opened 22 sites including in Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester, a spokesperson said.
Why are retailers closing branches?
Recent figures from the Centre for Retail Research reveal over 10,000 shops closed their doors for the final time last year.
Meanwhile, the foundation found nearly 120,000 workers lost their jobs across the same 12-month period.
It comes amidst a turbulent time for the high street as businesses battle high energy and wage costs, and costly business rates.
Shoppers are increasingly turning to online retail as well which has seen retailers forced to shutter branches.
A number of notable brands have gone bust, including Wilko, Paperchase.
Yesterday, The Body Shop confirmed it would close almost half of its portfolio of 198 stores after calling in administrators last week.
But it’s not been all bad news as a number of retailers have been expanding their physical presence across the UK.
Asda is massively expanding its portfolio of smaller Express stores, with plans to open 110 by the end of February.
Earlier this month, Primark confirmed plans to open new branches and invest and renovate more than a dozen of its existing shops.
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Meanwhile, Wilko has made a comeback on the high street, opening stores in Plymouth, Luton and Exeter before the end of last year.
And in January, discounter chain B&M said it had plans to open 17 new sites in 2024, with some set to open imminently.
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