Marks & Spencer to close more than half of its stores in France
Most of the stores affected by this upcoming closure are located in Paris.
© Alison Hird / RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
In decline for two decades, the British chain Marks & Spencer announces the closure of 11 of its 20 stores in France.
Its leaders highlight supply problems linked to Brexit.
Advertising
Read more
By the end of the year, Marks and Spencer will close more than half of its outlets, mostly located in Paris.
The nine brand stores owned by Lagardère Travel Retail, its partner in France, will however remain open and operate normally.
These are shops located in airports, train stations and metro stations.
Brexit was the final blow for the British channel.
The United Kingdom's exit from the European Union complicated and lengthened export procedures, and therefore caused supply difficulties, in particular for fresh and chilled products, to the point of making them disappear from the shelves.
Already in difficulty for nearly 20 years, the British brand which employs more than 80,000 people had cut 7,000 jobs last year.
This restructuring plan had allowed a rebound in its sales, but it was quickly swept away by the drop in footfall to its stores due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
France
Trade and distribution
UK
Brexit