British supermarket chain Morrisons announced on May 24, 2026, that it plans to close approximately 100 loss-making convenience stores across the UK, all of which were formerly McColl's shops acquired in a rescue buyout in 2022.
The closures are expected to affect hundreds of workers, though the company has not released a full list of locations.
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Morrisons confirmed that none of its six stores in Sheffield will be closed.
A Morrisons spokesperson said the decision follows a continuous review of store performance.
"This process has identified a number of stores, which were part of the McColl's acquisition, whose performance has been challenged for a number of years and which are loss making, despite remedial action," the spokesperson said.
The company attributed the financial difficulties to rising costs from government policies.
"This situation has been exacerbated in more recent years by significant cost increases resulting from Government policy choices, which have made returning these stores to profitability even more difficult," the spokesperson added.
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British retailers have faced higher minimum wages and a national insurance hike last year, though Morrisons did not specify which policies it referred to.
Timeline and Future Plans
Morrisons plans to close the stores over the next few months.
"Having completed the review, we are now proposing to take the tough but necessary decision to close a number of these stores over the next few months," the spokesperson said.
Despite the closures, Morrisons continues to seek growth opportunities. The company intends to open hundreds of new franchise convenience stores in the coming years.
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Morrisons currently employs 95,000 people across 500 supermarkets and about 1,700 convenience shops.
