In a significant blow to the UK high street, supermarket chain Morrisons has revealed plans to close 52 of its in-store cafés, affecting locations across England, Scotland, and Wales.
The decision, part of a broader restructuring effort, puts hundreds of jobs at risk as the retailer seeks to streamline operations amid challenging market conditions.
Which Locations Are Affected?
The closures will impact Morrisons cafés in numerous locations including:
- Various sites across Scotland
- Multiple locations in Wales
- Numerous English towns and cities
While the complete list of affected stores hasn't been fully disclosed, the scale of the closures represents a substantial reduction in Morrisons' café footprint.
What This Means for Staff
Approximately 500 employees currently working in these cafés now face an uncertain future. Morrisons has stated that affected staff will be offered alternative positions within the company's supermarkets wherever possible.
A company spokesperson emphasised: "We're committed to finding new roles for as many colleagues as we can within our supermarkets."
Broader Industry Context
This move reflects wider challenges facing the supermarket café sector, with rising operational costs and changing consumer habits putting pressure on traditional in-store dining offerings.
The decision follows similar restructuring efforts by other major retailers as the industry adapts to post-pandemic shopping patterns and increased competition from coffee shop chains.
Morrisons has indicated that the closures will allow the company to focus resources on core supermarket operations while exploring new food service concepts that better meet evolving customer demands.
