SHOP SHUT
M&S to close major town centre supermarket for good in weeks
Scroll down to find out how M&S is overhauling its stores
M&S is shuttering one of its branches in a matter of weeks in a blow for the high street.
The posh nosh retailer is closing it Foodhall store in Wellington Street, Leeds, later this month.
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The branch will shut on March 22, with signs up outside the store advertising the closure, .
Shoppers' next nearest M&S branch is in Ludgate Hill, around a 10 minute walk away.
This hasn't stopped shoppers and locals from sharing their disappointment at the branch closure, though, including one who said they were "devvoed" (devastated).
The closure comes after a number of M&S branches across the UK shut their doors for good.
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The retailer closed its longstanding Crawley branch in November, with bosses blaming the closure on "changing shopping patterns".
It also shuttered its Murrygate Dundee branch last July, with staff moved to a new superstore at Gallagher Retail Park in the city.
A further store shut at the Belfry Shopping Centre in Redhill a month later.
The retailer also shut down locations in Manchester, Swindon and Birmingham between August and November last year.
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The Sun has contacted M&S for comment and will update this story when we have heard back.
M&S OVERHAULS STORE ESTATE
M&S first announced plans to close a host of stores in late 2016, saying it would cull 100 low-performing branches as part of a giant 10-year restructuring plan.
M&S BEST BUYS
Store closures began in April 2017 when it was announced the first six stores would shut.
In May 2018, the retailer then announced it was accelerating its plans with over 100 clothes stores due to close by 2022.
It later revised these plans and said it would close 120 clothing stores by April 2024.
In October 2022, amid rising inflation and a £100million hit from soaring energy costs, it confirmed it would carry out a further store overhaul to save around £309million in rent costs.
M&S has previously said it was focused on moving out of tired stores on high streets with low footfall.
It added it was more in favour of relocating to retail parks, which continue to prove popular with shoppers.
The chain has also announced plans to open 104 new "bigger and fresher" food stores.
Since 2023, it has opened 22 sites including in Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester.
It also plans to open over 100 bigger Foodhall sites by 2028.
OTHER STORE ESTATE UPDATES
M&S is not the only retailer shaking up its store estate.
It's quite common for chains to open and close branches based on customer demand and trends.
Central Co-op is in the process of offloading 19 "unsustainable" stores across middle England.
However, the same branches are being sold to two retailers - Samy Limited and B&M - and will reopen under their brand names.
Meanwhile, jewellery chain Beaverbrooks is in the process of closing seven "no longer commercially viable" branches.
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The stores are dotted across the UK, including five in England: Whitgift (Croydon), High Wycombe, Huddersfield, Birmingham Fort and Sutton Coldfield.
One in Dundee and another in East Kilbride, both in Scotland, will also shutter from next month.
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