Supermarket giant Morrisons will close 103 stores across the UK this year – including cafes, florists, pharmacies and convenience stores – in its latest attempt to streamline operations and focus investment on core growth areas.
The closures are part of a broader restructuring strategy to “accelerate growth” and “optimize operations” after cost pressures increased since last year’s autumn budget, with chief executive Rami Baitiéh calling “significant cost headwinds”.
The company has confirmed that 50 Morrisons cafes will close nationwide, as well as 17 daily convenience stores, 13 florists, four pharmacies and all 18 Market Kitchens, and has launched its in-store restaurant concept to offer freshly prepared meals.
In addition, 35 meat counters and 35 fish counters will also be closed as part of the renovation. The exact closing dates for the Market Kitchens will be announced later this year.
Baitiéh said: “These closures are a necessary part of our plans to renew and revitalize Morrisons and allow us to focus investment on areas of real value to customers.”
In most locations our cafes have a bright future, but some locations are facing local challenges – where closure and reallocation of space is the only sensible option.”
He added that the company would seek partnerships with “third-party specialists” in some locations to maintain local services.
Morrisons reported pre-tax profits of £2.1 billion for the year to October 2024, recovering from losses of £919 million a year earlier and £1.3 billion in 2023.
However, the supermarket chain continues to face higher energy and labor costs as well as new regulatory and tax burdens due to the government’s recent fiscal measures.
“Consumers are feeling the pressure,” Baitiéh said. “We continue to help our customers make the most of their tight household budgets while managing the increasing impact of new legislation and cost inflation.”
The list of affected websites
Closures will affect stores in London, Leeds, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bradford, Aberdeen and dozens of regional cities across the UK.
Below is a full list of closing cafes, florists, market kitchens and pharmacies so readers can check if their local branch has been affected.
Close cafes (50 locations)
Bradford Thornbury • Paisley Falside Road • London Queensbury • Portsmouth • Great Park • Banchory North Deeside Road • Failsworth Poplar Street • Blackburn Railway Road • Leeds Swinnow Road • London Wood Green • Kirkham Poulton Street • Lutterworth Bitteswell Road • Stirchley • Leeds Horsforth • London Erith • Crowborough • Bellshill John Street • Dumbarton Glasgow Road • East Kilbride Lindsayfield • East Kilbride Stewartfield • Glasgow Newlands • Largs Irvine Road • Troon Academy Street • Wishaw Kirk Road • Newcastle UT Cowgate • Northampton Kettering Road • Bromsgrove Buntsford Industrial Park • Solihull Warwick Road • Brecon Free Street • Caernarfon North Road • Hadleigh • London Harrow Hatch End • High Wycombe Temple End • Leighton Buzzard Lake Street • London Stratford • Sidcup Westwood Lane • Welwyn Garden City Black Fan Road • Warminster Weymouth Street • Oxted Station Yard • Reigate Bell Street • Borehamwood • Weybridge Monument Hill • Bathgate • Erskine Bridgewater Shopping Center • Gorleston Blackwell Road • Connah’s Quay • Mansfield Woodhouse • Elland • Gloucester Metz Way • Watford Ascot Road • Littlehampton Wick • Helensburgh
Florists closing (13 locations)
Aberdeen King Street • Bradford Enterprise 5 • Canning Town London • Evesham Four Pool Estate • Newcastle-under-Lyme Goose Street • Rubery Bristol Road South • Sheffield Meadowhead • Sheldon Birmingham • St Albans Hatfield Road • St Helens Boundary Road • Stirchley Birmingham • Sunderland Doxford Park • Swinton Hall Road
Close market kitchens (18 locations)
Aberdeen King Street • Basingstoke Thorneycroft • Brentford Waterside • Camden Town London • Canning Town London • Cheltenham Up Hatherley • Eccles Irwell Place Greater Manchester • Edgbaston Birmingham • Gravesend Coldharbour Road • Kirkby Merseyside • Leeds Kirkstall • Lincoln Triton Road • Little Clacton Centenary Way • Milton Keynes Westcroft • Nottingham Netherfield • Stoke Festival Park • Tynemouth Preston Grange North Shields • Verwood Dorset
Pharmacy closures (4 locations)
Birmingham Small Heath • Blackburn Railway Road • Bradford Victoria • London Wood Green
Morrisons said the closures would help redirect investment into growth areas such as price competitiveness, loyalty programs and store modernization. But analysts warn the decision underlines the ongoing strain on British retailers as they grapple with rising costs, changing consumer habits and high street challenges in the wake of the pandemic.
