Morrisons axes counters in 35 stores in restructure efforts

Daily Record

2 days ago

Morrisons is closing down 35 meat counters across its stores - but has introduced a new way for customers to pick up fresh meat in-store, which it says is more modern
Morrisons has brought in a major change by shutting down 35 counters nationwide and introducing pre-packaged meat options, aiming to reduce the time butchers spend on preparing meats for customers.
The supermarket giant is already progressing with this change in 60 stores and intends to expand it to 100 by the end of 2025, according to The Grocer.
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A Morrisons representative remarked: "We are moving at pace with the modernisation of Market Street as part of our Morrisons Magic programme, and following successful trials, we've begun to roll out flatbeds in our butchery departments.
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"These showcase the same range, with the freshness and quality that Market Street is renowned for but with a more modern and contemporary look.
"They offer both the convenience of self-service for customers that prefer it and the traditional individual service from an in-store butcher."
The supermarket has confirmed the closure of 35 meat counters and 35 fish counters amid new restructuring plans, which also include the shutdown of 17 Morrisons Daily stores, 52 cafes, 18 market kitchens, and 13 florists, according to the Mirror.
Morrisons has pointed to the need to offset additional costs such as the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage, which both rose in April this year.
Rami Baitieh, Chief Executive of Morrisons, stated: "The changes... are a necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate Morrisons and enable us to focus our investment into the areas that customers really value and that can play a full part in our growth.
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"Morrisons Cafes 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 Cafe 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.
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"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 Cafes, 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."