Morrisons has confirmed it will close approximately 100 loss-making convenience stores across the UK in the coming months, with seven Morrisons Daily locations already identified for closure, including four in the North East. The supermarket chain, which operates around 1,700 Morrisons Daily outlets, cited rising costs from Government measures such as increases to the National Living Wage and employer National Insurance payments as the primary reasons for the closures.
Confirmed Closures in the North East and Yorkshire
The seven sites confirmed for closure are: Fairfax Avenue in Hull; Esk Close in Guisborough; Zetland Road in Loftus; Stokesley High Street in Middlesbrough; Queen Street in Redcar; Middle Street in South Driffield; and Woodthorpe in York. These locations were previously part of the McColls chain, which Morrisons acquired in 2022. The retailer stated that the decision to shut these stores was "tough" and would place additional staff at risk of job losses, though it will attempt to secure alternative positions for affected employees.
Financial Context and Market Position
The closures come as Morrisons reported a slowdown in sales growth for the 13 weeks to April 26, 2026. Total sales rose 1.7% to £4 billion, compared with a 2.6% increase in the previous quarter. Like-for-like sales growth also eased to 2.2% from 2.8%. Despite this, chief executive Rami Baitieh expressed satisfaction, noting an "encouraging start" to the third quarter and optimism that sales could be boosted by events such as the World Cup and Father's Day. Morrisons currently ranks as the sixth largest supermarket in the UK, having seen its market share decline in recent years.
Cost-Cutting and Future Plans
The store closures are part of a broader turnaround strategy aimed at achieving £1 billion in savings. In the last quarter alone, Morrisons secured £48 million in cost reductions. However, the retailer also opened 30 new Morrisons Daily franchise stores during the same period and plans to open hundreds more in the coming years. Mr Baitieh stated: "In a highly competitive market, we're focusing hard on delivering the best value for customers to give them more reasons to shop at Morrisons." The Government has described the closures as a commercial matter but acknowledged it is a "concerning time" for employees and their families.
