Marks & Spencer to close 11 French stores
Marks & Spencer is to close 11 stores in France due to fresh and chilled food supply chain issues following the UK’s exit from the European Union.
The retailer has been reviewing the future of its French business with franchise partner SFH Invest in recent weeks, but has now decided to close the shops. The stores are mainly situated in Parisian high streets.
Paul Friston, M&S managing director of international, said: “M&S has along history of serving customers in France and this is not a decision we or our partner SFH have taken lightly. However, as things stand today, the supply chain complexities in place following the UK’s exit from the European Union now make it near impossible for us to serve fresh and chilled products to customers to the high standards they expect, resulting in an ongoing impact to the performance of our business.”
It is understood that M&S stores in airports and railway stations run by partner Lagardere Travel Retail remain unaffected by the decision.
