Overview
- Morrisons has confirmed seven Morrisons Daily branches in Yorkshire and Teesside are proposed for closure as part of a wider plan to shut about 100 company-owned convenience stores.
- The seven sites named so far are Woodthorpe (York), Queen Street (Redcar), Zetland Road (Loftus), Esk Close (Guisborough), Stokesley High Street, Fairfax Avenue (Hull) and Middle Street (South Driffield).
- The retailer says the shops were largely former McColl’s outlets taken on in 2022 and have been loss-making despite investment and remedial action.
- Morrisons attributes the decision to rising operating costs and recent government-related cost increases, and it says it is consulting affected staff and will try to redeploy them or offer alternative roles.
- Retail analysts link the closures to falling high-street footfall and weaker discretionary spending, and Morrisons plans to continue growing its franchised Daily estate while serving customers from nearby stores and online.