A Morrisons Daily store in Stokesley, North Yorkshire, will close for good this Saturday, July 18, as the supermarket chain pushes ahead with plans to shut around 100 convenience stores across the UK by 2026.
First of Seven Confirmed Closures
The branch on Stokesley High Street is among the first seven Morrisons Daily stores confirmed for closure following the retailer's takeover of McColl's. Around 99 more convenience stores are expected to shut as part of the programme.
Morrisons said the affected stores have struggled financially for several years and that the closures form "part of a wider strategy to improve the overall performance of the retailer's convenience store network."
Tribute to Staff
Ahead of the closure, local councillor Chris Johnson paid tribute to the staff in a Facebook post, thanking them for their years of service to the town. He wrote: "Big thanks to all the staff over the years at Morrisons on Stokesley High Street. Wishing you all best in the future and hope you can all find another job soon. Let's hope the property will be occupied soon in vibrant Stokesley."
The councillor also appeared in a video with staff member Nathan Atkinson, who reflected on the store's long history. Atkinson explained that the site had traded as a McColl's for decades before becoming a Morrisons Daily following the supermarket's acquisition of the convenience chain. He said: "It's been lovely to serve everybody. I'll remember so many of the regulars in years to come and hopefully I'll see them again in whatever I do next. Serving the community and being part of people's lives has been wonderful."
Impact on Staff and Customers
Morrisons previously confirmed it is consulting with staff affected by the closures and will look to redeploy employees where possible. The retailer said: "We will also work hard to mitigate the impact on customers, continuing to serve them through other nearby stores and online."
The company added: "The combination of the proposed closure of loss-making stores and the continued addition of attractive new franchise openings will enable us to concentrate on those stores which work best for customers, improving the quality of our Convenience estate and making it stronger overall."
