M&S plans to close Six Stores to improve Business

In the recent executive sittings, Marks and Spencer plan to close six stores as part of Chief Executive Steve Rowe's plans to improve the business. 

The company said 380 staff would be affected but they would be guaranteed redeployment at a near-by store.

As a part of a previously announced plan, M&S will also open 36 new stores over the next six months, creating more than 1,400 jobs.

Mr Rowe explained the six closures by saying that M&S was adapting to its customers' changing shopping habits.

The stores earmarked for closure are in Portsmouth, Slough, Warrington, and Wokingham, along with Simply Food stores in Monks Cross near York and Worksop.

M&S currently has 959 UK stores.

Like many other retailers, the High Street chain is grappling with changing shopping habits as increasing numbers of purchases are made online.

It is already trying to simplify its business by cutting hundreds of jobs at its head office in London.