WILL YOUR LOCAL STORE DISAPPEAR? Marks & Spencer is ‘set to close dozens of stores’ in high street shake-up

MARKS & SPENCER is to close dozens of stores around the UK as part of a massive cost-cutting drive.

A number of other stories could be relocated, while existing shops will see layouts changed to prioritise more profitable parts of the business.

ALAMY

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The boss of the high street giant is set to close a number of shops

It will mean that M&S’ clothing range will be substantially smaller as it tries to capitalise on the success of its food and drink products, according to Sky News.

Steve Rowe, who took charge of M&S earlier this year, is expected to announced the changes – including the closure of a significant chunk of shops – next week.

At present, M&S has over 900 branches in the UK. Around 300 stores house its full range of clothes, homeware, food and beauty products.

It also owns a further 220 Simply Food stores, while a further 350 food shops are owned by franchisees.

It’s not known exactly how many shops or which locations are for the chop.

However, it is through that overall the number of M&S branded outlets will increase with a further 200 Simply Food stores due to open by the end of 2019 under current plans.

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Marks & Spencer to close dozens of high street stores in business revamp

There is no clues as to whether the store will expand its current online shop or what clothing lines - if any - will be dropped.

It comes just three months after another high street household name, BHS, shut the door on over 200 branches around the UK.

British Home Stores, a name that was a fixture on most high streets in the UK, disapeared after nearly a century after first opening in Brixton, London.

Yesterday, it emerged that M&S is planning to dump some of its international stores

A spokesperson from M&S declined to comment.