Morrisons is preparing to shut a well-liked convenience store as the supermarket chain presses ahead with plans to close around 100 sites nationwide.
The latest outlet earmarked for closure is a Morrisons Daily branch in Crown Wood, Bracknell, which has been praised from customers for its customer service and welcoming staff.
The shop also contains a Post Office, which will be impacted by the closure.
View 2 ImagesMorrisons shoppers may see their local convenience store go(Image: PaulMaguire via Getty Images)
The move is part of a broader programme unveiled by Morrisons following an assessment of its convenience store portfolio.
The grocer said a number of Morrisons Daily outlets acquired through its takeover of McColl’s had continued to make losses despite attempts to boost performance. It revealed last month that the “most challenged” sites would be shut down.
Shoppers had previously praised the “fantastic” branch, particularly its “excellent customer service” and “friendly staff”.
The Post Office confirmed it is inviting applications from local retailers interested in hosting a replacement outlet in the vicinity.
A Post Office spokesperson told The Sun: “We have been informed by Morrisons that following a review they are to take the difficult decision to close the Morrisons Daily store where Crown Wood Post Office is located.”, reports the Express.
“We fully recognise the inconvenience this will cause our customers who rely on our banking and parcel services in particular.”
A spokesperson for Morrisons said: “The performance of all company-owned stores across our convenience business is subject to continuous review.
“Having completed the review, we are now proposing to take the tough but necessary decision to close a number of these stores over the next few months.
“This process has identified a number of stores, which were part of the McColl’s acquisition, whose performance has been challenged for a number of years and which are loss-making, despite remedial action.”
The supermarket has confirmed that the proposal means “store colleagues will now be at risk of redundancy”, while pledging support for those affected.
This includes efforts to secure “other opportunities for impacted colleagues elsewhere in the business wherever we can”.
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All of the shutting stores were formerly part of the McColl’s chain, which were converted into Morrisons Daily outlets after the supermarket giant snapped them up in 2022.
Morrisons currently stands as the fifth-largest supermarket chain in the UK and, as of 2021, operated 497 supermarkets across England, Wales and Scotland, plus one in Gibraltar.