Marks and Spencer has announced the closure of 11 cafes across the country as part of a significant overhaul affecting over 300 food shops. The impacted locations, including Anlaby, Hull, and Martlesham Heath in Ipswich, will see these changes.
A spokesperson stated that the company is focusing on modernizing its food business to offer a wider product range to more customers. This includes the opening of new coffee shops with a selection of food and fairtrade coffee, such as the one at the new Bristol Cabot Circus store.
As part of the transformation strategy, 11 small food stores will repurpose cafe spaces to accommodate a greater range of M&S Food products. This decision affects a small portion of the total M&S cafes and coffee locations.
Following the permanent closure of the Wolverhampton branch on Dudley Street, M&S continues its transformation plan by introducing new food halls. Before Christmas, six new food stores are set to open, creating 200 job opportunities.
Recently, M&S unveiled a market-style Foodhall on Southampton Street in Covent Garden and relaunched renovated Foodhalls in Temple Fortune and Wimbledon. In November, South London will welcome two additional Foodhalls in Clapham Common and Fulham Broadway, as reported by the Express.