Latest news with #RamiBaitieh
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Morrisons axes counters in 35 stores in restructure efforts
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. 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. "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. "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. "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."
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Morrisons makes major change in stores after shutting 35 butcher counters
It comes after Morrisons confirmed it was closing 35 meat counters and 35 fish counters as part of a wider restructure, which also included the closure of 17 Morrisons Daily stores Morrisons has made a major change to its butchers after shutting 35 counters across the UK. The supermarket is now offering pre-packaged meat to reduce the time butchers spend cutting meat on request. The change is already being implemented in 60 supermarket stores and Morrisons hopes to expand it to 100 stores by the end of 2025, according to The Grocer. A Morrisons spokesperson said: '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. '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.' It comes after Morrisons confirmed it was closing 35 meat counters and 35 fish counters as part of a wider restructure, which also included the closure of 17 Morrisons Daily stores, 52 cafes, 18 market kitchens and 13 florists. At the time, the supermarket said these services were not financially viable. Morrisons was also looking to offset other costs, such as employers National Insurance contributions and minimum wage, which both went up in April this year. Rami Baitieh, Chief Executive of Morrisons, said at the time: '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. '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. '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.'
Scottish Sun
25-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Morrisons is making a major change to its meat products after shutting 72 butcher counters in new shake-up
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MORRISONS is set to roll out a major change to its meat products amid a new shake-up. The popular supermarket has shuttered a whopping 72 butcher counters in stores across the UK. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Morrisons is set to roll out a major change to its meat products amid a new shake-up Credit: Alamy 3 So far, 60 stores have already launched the re-vamped set-up Credit: Alamy It comes as part of a new initiative, Morrisons Magic, as reported by The Grocer. The industry giant aims to roll out the new prepacked model to 100 branches nationwide this year. So far, 60 stores have already launched the re-vamped set-up. Morrisons confirmed their in-store butchers would cut the meat in the morning into different sizes and packages. Shoppers can they choose which product they like. The company argued this change will mean staff behind the counter waste less time focusing on elaborate displays. Although butchers will still be around to help if needed. A spokesperson said: "It's a format we have seen lots of farm shops adopt. Butchers are still around to help customer and the point of sale is very clear - if a customer wants something cut to size, there are butchers in store to help." They added how the shake-up would "give a more modern and contemporary feel". The news comes after the supermarket launched a major overhaul of its in-store services earlier this year. Vodka to the Rescue: Morrisons' Unconventional Emergency Tactics In March, Morrisons announced that it would close 18 Market Kitchens, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters and four pharmacies. The shake-up was rolled out over the following months and put 365 workers at risk of redundancy. It also closed 17 smaller Morrisons Daily branches. Rami Baitieh, chief executive of Morrisons, said that the plans would 'reinvigorate' the supermarket and allow it to invest in other parts of the business. He added: "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.' The supermarket last month revealed that it will shift towards selling more premium products as part of an overhaul of the brand. The new project, called 'Morrisons Magic' aims to improve customers' experiences. The chain's launch of 'Market Street' is also part of plans to modernise the brand. Morrisons will focus on farm shop-style products, such as value-added items including foil trays for sauced, marinate, breaded and ready-to-cook fish. The supermarket hopes that Market Street will be more accessible and will attract more amateur home cooks. Morrisons also announced a huge change to its loyalty scheme last month. Shoppers can now earn More Points when they're not shopping at the supermarket thanks to its brand new perk. Morrisons More Card holders can collect points with more than 300 popular brands including eBay, Just Eat, Expedia, Asos and Very. The Morrisons More Card already enables shoppers to bank points on selected products by scanning their More Card or app. Once 5,000 More Points are collected shoppers will be given a Morrisons Fiver, a £5 voucher that they can redeem on their next shop in store or online. Previously shoppers could only get the points when shopping in Morrisons. The change means that customers can now get rewards on all their shopping, including takeaways, gadgets, holidays and clothes. Plus, Morrisons will add digital screens to its pizza counters for shoppers. The new service will give customers the ability to create their own pizza, which they can then cook at home. The pizzas will be made by staff while they do the rest of their shopping. Customers will still need to pay for their pizza at a manned till. The screens are currently available at three stores, including Warrington, Gamston and Guiseley and will be rolled out to 20 additional shops soon. Pictures seen by The Sun suggested that shoppers could choose between four pizza bases including 10 inch thin and crispy, 10 inch deep pan, 10 inch gluten free and 14 inch thin and crispy. There were also two cheese options on offer, including mozzarella and a vegan alternative. Hungry shoppers could also choose to add tomato, BBQ or garlic sauce to their pizza and finish it off with four toppings. Additional toppings could also be added for 50p each. How to save at Morrisons Buying a delivery pass can slash the cost of shopping online if you're a Morrisons regular. You also get priorities for Christmas delivery slots. How much it costs depends on which you get anytime or mid-week, and if it's for the year, six-months or monthly. You'll need to work out the cost compared to how much you spend on delivery without one to see if it's worthwhile. Morrisons does a range of wonky veg that can work out cheaper than the main range. Check websites like Quidco and TopCashback BEFORE you place your order. Cashback websites PAY you to shop. All you have to do is click through their links and the money is added to your online account. Search for discount codes on websites like and to see if you can get money off at the till. Follow your favourite shops on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and sign up to its deals newsletter to get the latest on any offers. We post the best deals in our Sun Money FB group too. Try switching all of your branded or premium goods for lower level ones and see if you notice the difference. Morrisons regularly adds new products to its 'own-brand "savers" range. This is its value range where prices start from as little as 20p. It includes all sorts of products including peas, spaghetti, marmalade, jaffa cakes and washing up liquid. Swap your usual items for savers alternatives and see if you can tell the difference. Shoppers can earn points with the More Than loyalty scheme when they spend online or in store. How many points you earn will depend on the offers available at the time, plus you get five points for every litre of fuel at Morrisons petrol stations. Reach 5,000 points and you get £5 off your shopping, plus there are other offers and coupons and the checkout and via the app. Shoppers also get cheaper prices that are just for members.
South Wales Guardian
19-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Morrisons ‘bounces back' from cyber attack despite pressure on shoppers
However, it came as the UK's fifth-largest supermarket chain warned that rising inflation is driving 'subdued' sentiment among shoppers. On Thursday, the Bradford-based grocery business revealed that group sales grew by 4.2% to £3.9 billion for the 13 weeks to April 27, compared with the same quarter a year earlier. Rami Baitieh, chief executive of Morrisons, said he was 'pleased to report that Morrisons has bounced back strongly' from disruption linked to a cyber attack on its technology supplier Blue Yonder in November. The retailer had previously said the incident caused slower sales growth in the quarter to January and highlighted that its recent turnaround progress was 'set back' by the issue. The company was unable to see its product availability and stock levels for four days, leading to reduced availability in stores over the key trading period. However, Morrisons saw sales growth accelerate from 4.2% in the previous quarter to 4.3%, with a like-for-like growth figure of 3.9%. Meanwhile, underlying earnings grew by 7.2% to £344 million for the first half of its financial year. Bosses said the business had seen sales supported by investment into pricing and promotions amid intense competition across the sector and pressure on customer budgets. Mr Baitieh added: 'Against the backdrop of a challenging macro environment with inflation driving subdued consumer sentiment, value remains at the forefront of customers' minds. 'Throughout the first half we've worked hard on helping customers through these challenges with a rigorous focus on price, promotions and meaningful rewards for loyalty.' It comes as the company pushes on with its major turnaround plan, which has seen it overhaul a raft of store operations. In March, Morrisons announced that 365 staff were at risk of redundancy because of plans to close some of its cafes, convenience stores, florists and fresh food counters. As a result, it said it would shut 52 cafes, all 18 market kitchens, 17 Morrisons Daily convenience stores, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters and four pharmacies. In its latest update, Morrisons said it has launched new trials including a new-look Market Street section within its stores. Morrisons added that it made a further £58 million in cost savings over the latest quarter, amid plans to save £1 billion by the end of the 2026 financial year.
Glasgow Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Morrisons ‘bounces back' from cyber attack despite pressure on shoppers
However, it came as the UK's fifth-largest supermarket chain warned that rising inflation is driving 'subdued' sentiment among shoppers. On Thursday, the Bradford-based grocery business revealed that group sales grew by 4.2% to £3.9 billion for the 13 weeks to April 27, compared with the same quarter a year earlier. Rami Baitieh, chief executive of Morrisons, said he was 'pleased to report that Morrisons has bounced back strongly' from disruption linked to a cyber attack on its technology supplier Blue Yonder in November. The retailer had previously said the incident caused slower sales growth in the quarter to January and highlighted that its recent turnaround progress was 'set back' by the issue. The company was unable to see its product availability and stock levels for four days, leading to reduced availability in stores over the key trading period. However, Morrisons saw sales growth accelerate from 4.2% in the previous quarter to 4.3%, with a like-for-like growth figure of 3.9%. Meanwhile, underlying earnings grew by 7.2% to £344 million for the first half of its financial year. Bosses said the business had seen sales supported by investment into pricing and promotions amid intense competition across the sector and pressure on customer budgets. Mr Baitieh added: 'Against the backdrop of a challenging macro environment with inflation driving subdued consumer sentiment, value remains at the forefront of customers' minds. 'Throughout the first half we've worked hard on helping customers through these challenges with a rigorous focus on price, promotions and meaningful rewards for loyalty.' It comes as the company pushes on with its major turnaround plan, which has seen it overhaul a raft of store operations. In March, Morrisons announced that 365 staff were at risk of redundancy because of plans to close some of its cafes, convenience stores, florists and fresh food counters. As a result, it said it would shut 52 cafes, all 18 market kitchens, 17 Morrisons Daily convenience stores, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters and four pharmacies. In its latest update, Morrisons said it has launched new trials including a new-look Market Street section within its stores. Morrisons added that it made a further £58 million in cost savings over the latest quarter, amid plans to save £1 billion by the end of the 2026 financial year.
