Morrisons is shutting approximately 100 of its lossmaking convenience stores across the UK, delivering a double blow to two Kent villages where Post Office branches inside the stores will also close. The retailer cited rising costs, including higher national insurance contributions and wage increases, as well as ongoing losses, for the decision.
Kent Villages Hit Hard
The Morrisons Daily stores in New Ash Green and Longfield, both in Kent, are among those closing. The Post Office branches housed within them will shut as a result. Residents and business owners had campaigned to save the stores, describing them as vital community hubs.
Maureen Lucas, a resident of one of the villages for nearly 60 years, told the Local Democracy Service: "This is the hub of our community, the life of our village. It is disgraceful - I use it all the time. Where will people go if they cannot come here?"
Post Office Response
A Post Office spokesperson said: "Our retail partner has reviewed their Morrisons Daily store operations and unfortunately will close their stores at Longfield and New Ash Green. Consequently, the Post Office branches at these locations also need to close." The spokesperson added that they have advertised the vacancies on their runapostoffice.co.uk website and welcome applications from nearby retailers looking to host a Post Office inside their store.
It is understood the New Ash Green branch will close on October 3, while the Longfield branch will shut on August 16. A Morrisons spokesperson said the company is working with the Post Office to find a way of keeping a branch in the village, either by relocation to an empty unit or integration with an existing business, according to Kent Online.
Cost-Cutting Strategy
Morrisons, currently the sixth largest supermarket in the UK, has set a target to save £1 billion as part of a long-term strategy to reverse its declining grocery market share. In the last quarter, the retailer achieved £48 million in cost savings. Shutting about 100 convenience stores is part of this effort.
Despite the closures, Morrisons said it opened 30 new Morrisons Daily franchise stores in the same quarter and plans to open hundreds more in the years ahead. The retailer is focusing on a franchise model for future expansion rather than company-owned stores.
