Morrisons has announced the return of fish and meat counters to 13 locations across the UK, including two in Merseyside, after closing 70 such counters last year. The supermarket chain reversed its decision following customer backlash, stating it had "listened to customers."
Reopening Details
Five meat and fish counters have already reopened at Great Park Newcastle, Herne Bay, Thornbury, Yeadon, and Bolton Dawes. Eight more are set to reopen in the coming months, including at Speke Retail Park—the largest Morrisons in Merseyside—and a branch in St Helens. Other future locations include London Queensbury, Chapel en le Frith, London Enfield, Bath London Road, Todmorden, and Porth.
Context and Impact
Last year, Morrisons closed 70 counters as part of cost-cutting measures that also shut 52 cafés, 13 florists, four pharmacies, and all 18 Market Kitchen outlets. The decision to reopen counters comes after the company acknowledged the importance of Market Street counters to its brand identity. A spokesperson said: "Our Market Street counters are part of our DNA. They are at the heart of our offer and a real differentiator for Morrisons. We closed a small number of meat and fish counters last year—and have learned a lot from that. We have listened to customers and are now planning to re-open a number of these over the coming months."
The reopened counters will incorporate flatbeds and grab-and-go options, as well as lessons learned on yield and waste to improve efficiency while maintaining traditional counter service.
Full List of Reopening Locations
- Great Park Newcastle
- Herne Bay
- Thornbury
- Yeadon
- Bolton Dawes
- Speke
- St Helens
- London Queensbury
- Chapel en le Frith
- London Enfield
- Bath London Road
- Todmorden
- Porth
Other Morrisons News
Separately, Morrisons plans to close 100 stores, primarily underperforming Morrisons Daily convenience outlets acquired through the McColls takeover. The company cited rising costs from government policies, including increases in the National Living Wage and employer National Insurance contributions. Hundreds of jobs are at risk, with consultations ongoing. The government stated the closures were a commercial decision, though it acknowledged the impact on employees. Morrisons pledged to seek alternative roles for affected staff.
