Morrisons to close cafés and counters in the West Midlands

Big four supermarket chain Morrisons is proposing to shut some of its cafés and stores in the West Midlands.

The chain has announced the possible closures as part of a wider raft of measures across the UK which has placed 365 jobs at risk.

In total, the Bradford-based retail chain is looking to shut 52 cafés and all 18 of its ‘Market Kitchens' which serve fresh food prepared in store.

It is also planning to close 17 convenience stores known as Morrisons Daily, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters and four pharmacies.

The affected locations in the West Midlands are cafés in Stirchley, Bromsgrove and Solihull, florists in Stirchley and Sheldon, its Daily convenience store in Great Barr and pharmacy in Small Heath.

Its large supermarket in Hagley Road, Birmingham, has a Market Kitchen.

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The company said the "significant majority" of colleagues affected by these changes would be deployed in other roles elsewhere in the group.

Chief executive Rami Baitiéh said: "The changes we are announcing are a necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate Morrisons and enable us to focus our investment into the areas customers really value and can play a full part in our growth.

"Morrisons Cafés are rightly famous for their great quality well-priced food, their place in the local community and their appealing mix of traditional favourites alongside exciting new dishes.

"In most locations, the Morrisons Café has a bright future but a minority have specific local challenges and, in those locations, regrettably closure and re-allocation of the space is the only sensible option.

"Market Street is a beacon of differentiation for Morrisons and we remain committed to it. But, as we modernise we are making some necessary changes to the areas of the model which are simply uneconomic.

"In some stores, where we are closing counters or cafés, we plan to work with third parties to provide a relevant specialist offer.

"Although these changes are relatively small in the context of the overall scale of the Morrisons business, we do not take lightly the disruption and uncertainty they will cause to some of our colleagues.

"We will of course take particular care to look after all of them well through the coming changes."

The news follows similar announcements by other large supermarket chains.

Tesco is to cut about 400 jobs across its stores and head office as part of plans to "simplify" the business.