High street chain with 1,000 locations to abruptly shut one store within days – but shoppers will love the replacement

A HIGH street convenience chain with over 1,100 shops will abruptly shut one store at the end of the month.

McColl’s will close its Thornton store in Kirkcaldy on Tuesday, September 31.

However, the closure is temporary as the store undergoes a refit and rebrand.

It comes after the shop’s Facebook page posted a statement which said: “It has been confirmed that Thornton store shall be closing on Tuesday, September 31 at 9pm for a refit.

“It will then reopen as a Morrisons Daily on November 10.”

The corner shop chain was saved from closure after Morrisons swooped in to save 16,000 jobs back in May 2022.

McColl’s struggled badly during the pandemic due to supply chain issues, inflation and a heavy debt burden.

Reports suggested that McColl’s had notched up £170million of debt.

But Morrisons saw off a rival bid from the EG Group after it tabled an eleventh-hour improved bid.

Under the original deal, it reported that staff would keep their jobs and all 1,100 shops would be saved.

However, Morrisons announced in November that it would shut 132 unprofitable McColl’s stores for good putting 1,300 jobs at risk.

Since its takeover, Morrisons has committed to rebranding hundreds of McColl’s shops to help expand its own corner shop presence under the Morrisons Daily brand.

David Potts, boss of Morrisons said in the company’s latest trading statement: “Convenience continues to be a strong area of focus and growth for the business.

“We now have almost 650 Morrisons Daily stores – around 400 of which are former McColl’s – and converted stores continue to see a significant sales uplift as we work through the McColl’s estate.

The supermarket chain has said that by the end of 2023 it expects to have almost 1,000 Morrisons Daily stores trading.

These convenience stores stock a range of Morrisons own-brand and branded products, spanning fresh fruit and veg, meat, bread and dairy.

Shoppers can also bag a selection of pizzas, ready meals, cupboard essentials and food to go.

The supermarket chain has also brought its Savers range to the shelves of its Morrisons Daily stores, despite convenience stores typically not stocking lower-cost products.

The convenience stores now serve around four million weekly customers and employ around 16,500 staff.

You can find your nearest McColl’s or Morrisons Daily branded shop by visiting the store locator tool on the brand’s website.