A MAJOR fashion chain’s plans to return to the high street this year are delayed.
M&Co fell into administration last year but was expected to make a surprise comeback this Autumn.
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Fellow retailer Yours Clothing bought the M&Co brand and intellectual property after the chain went into administration in December 2022.
All 170 M&Co shops closed at the end of April marking the end of the brand’s name on the high street.
The retailer launched a new M&Co website in June this year and The Sun exclusively revealed its plans to open up physical stores this Autumn in a surprise move.
Yours Clothing told The Sun in June, it had plans to open 50 new M&Co shops over the next two years – but there is still no sign of the name on the high street.
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Earlier this year company boss, Andrew Killingsworth said: “We are committed to bringing M&Co back to the high streets across the country.”
In August this year, Yours Clothing also announced it had acquired plus-size clothing brand Evans.
While customers can still shop online for Evans clothing, unlike M&Co, the company has not announced any plans to bring back physical stores.
The Sun has approached Yours Clothing for comment.
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The face of the high street is constantly changing at the moment as the cost of living takes its toll on retailers as well as consumers.
Despite best efforts, businesses just cannot get people through the door, as many struggle to have any spare cash after paying the bills.
The increase in online shopping is also a contributor, with many preferring to shop from home, rather than use fuel and pay for parking.
Possibly, one of the biggest shocks this year was the demise of beloved retailer Wilko.
The discount chain fell into administration in August after failing to find a buyer for the whole business.
Retailers such as Poundland stepped in to take on some of the ex-Wilko premises.
The bargain retailer bought up 71 stores and has now reopened them all under the Poundland name.
The Range bought up the Wilko name and website and surprised everyone when it re-opened physical stores.
Shoppers thought it was the end of being able to walk into a Wilko but in the last month stores have opened in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton in another surprise return.
Meanwhile, clothing retailer New Look closed down six shops in January and February, and three more in October.
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However, despite this, the retailer recently opened stores in Grimsby and Leicester.
Bonmarche is also opening at least seven new stores after filing for administration in 2019.
