Morrisons has confirmed the location of the first seven stores set to close as part of its plan to shut 100 shops this year. The supermarket chain, which operates stores in Birmingham, announced the closures following a review of its convenience business.
Background on the Closures
In May, Morrisons revealed it would close 100 Morrisons Daily high street stores under the plan. The affected stores were acquired as part of Morrisons' purchase of numerous McColl's locations in 2022. In 2024, around 132 corner shops were converted into Morrisons Daily stores to prevent those locations from going under.
A Morrisons spokesperson stated: "We will work hard to mitigate the impact on customers, continuing to serve them through other nearby stores and online. The performance of all company-owned stores across our Convenience business is subject to continuous review. This process has identified several 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."
Insolvency Expert's View
Molly Monks F.I.P.A., insolvency specialist at Parker Walsh, commented: "The transformation of retail was already underway, but the cost of living crisis has dramatically accelerated the closure of stores that might otherwise have survived another few years. Discretionary spending has collapsed in many categories, and footfall on high streets outside major city centres remains stubbornly below pre-pandemic levels."
Full List of Morrisons Daily Stores Closing in 2026
- Woodthorpe, York
- Queen Street, Redcar
- Zetland Road, Loftus
- Esk Close, Guisborough
- Stokesley High Street
- Fairfax Avenue, Hull
- Middle Street, South Driffield
Market Context
The news comes after figures revealed that Lidl has overtaken Morrisons to become the fifth largest grocer in Great Britain. The German-owned discounter increased its sales by 8.8% year on year, achieving a record high market share of 8.6% over the 12 weeks to 17 May, according to market analysts Worldpanel by Numerator. This growth was driven by households seeking to reduce their weekly bills amid the cost of living crisis.
