Morrisons has announced it will reopen a number of its Market Street meat and fish counters after customer backlash over last year's closures. The supermarket chain closed 18 Market Kitchen sites, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters, 52 cafés, 13 florists, and four pharmacies in 2025, citing profitability concerns. However, following feedback, the retailer is reversing course.
Reopening Plans and Customer Response
A Morrisons spokesperson told Metro that the counters are "part of our DNA" and "at the heart of our offer and a real differentiator for Morrisons." They acknowledged learning from the closures and listening to customers, planning to reopen "a number" of counters in phases, with a small number reopening each month. The first locations already reopened include Great Park Newcastle, Herne Bay, Thornbury, Yeadon, and Bolton Dawes.
The reopened counters will feature flatbeds and grab-and-go options, incorporating efficiency improvements in yield and waste management. Customers had expressed strong dissatisfaction on social media, with one Reddit user noting the counters were the "one remaining USP Morrisons has." Another user stated they only shop at Morrisons for the fresh counters.
No Plans for Cafes or Pharmacies
Morrisons confirmed it has no plans to reopen the cafés, florists, pharmacies, or Market Kitchen sites that closed last year. The changes are part of a broader refresh of Market Street, including digital ordering screens at pizza counters.
Store Closures Continue
Despite the U-turn, Morrisons is proceeding with plans to close around 100 stores across the UK, attributing the closures to increased National Living Wage and employer National Insurance contributions. The first seven confirmed closures include branches in Hull, Guisborough, Loftus, Middlesbrough, Redcar, South Driffield, and York.
