Morrisons Store Closures 2026: Which Stores Are Closing, When and Why

Morrisons, the Bradford-based supermarket chain owned by private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier and Rice (CD&R), has confirmed that up to 100 of its Morrisons Daily convenience stores will close in 2026. The closures are part of a restructuring programme described by CEO Rami Baitieh as a "programme of renewal" intended to focus investment on profitable locations and modernised store formats.

Which Stores Are Closing?

The stores affected are entirely within the Morrisons Daily convenience format - smaller high street and neighbourhood stores. The main Morrisons supermarket network is not affected by this round of closures.

Confirmed or proposed closure regions include Yorkshire and the Humber (including Teesside, York, and Hull), the North East, Essex, the Midlands, Scotland (including Glasgow suburbs, Peebles, Stewarton, and Bathgate), and Greater London (including Selsdon, Wokingham, Shenfield, and Woking).

Morrisons has confirmed that closures will happen no earlier than 17 July 2026 for stores still in consultation. Individual store closure dates are being communicated to affected staff directly.

Why Is Morrisons Closing These Stores?

The affected stores are predominantly former McColl's newsagent and convenience locations. Morrisons acquired McColl's out of administration in 2022, converting approximately 132 sites to the Morrisons Daily format. Morrisons has stated in communications to local councils that many of these stores have been operating at a loss for several years despite investment and remedial action, and that "rising operating costs have made it even more difficult to return these stores to profitability."

Morrisons has specifically cited employer National Insurance contribution increases and the National Living Wage uplift - both effective from April 2026 - as factors increasing operating costs. The employer NIC rate increased from 13.8% to 15% in April 2026, and the National Living Wage rose to £12.21 per hour for workers aged 21 and over.

The CD&R Debt Background

Morrisons was taken private by Clayton, Dubilier and Rice in a £7 billion leveraged buyout completed in October 2021. Leveraged buyouts fund a significant portion of the acquisition price through debt placed on the target company's balance sheet. Morrisons has carried this debt since 2021, servicing regular interest payments from operating cash flow. The combination of debt service costs, rising operating expenses, and a challenging grocery margin environment has created financial pressure on the business. The convenience store closures represent one element of the response to this pressure.

What Happens to Affected Staff?

Morrisons has said it is in consultation with affected employees and will seek to redeploy as many workers as possible to other Morrisons locations. Where redeployment is not possible, redundancy applies. Employees are entitled to statutory redundancy pay if they have at least two years continuous service, calculated on the basis of age, weekly pay (capped at £643 per week), and years of service. Morrisons' redundancy terms may exceed the statutory minimum - affected employees should check their employment contract and seek advice from ACAS (acas.org.uk) or their trade union if applicable.

Are These the Only Closures?

Morrisons' January 2026 restructuring announcement also included the closure of 52 in-store cafes, 18 Market Kitchen outlets, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters, and four pharmacies. These in-store service closures are separate from the convenience store programme and affect main supermarket sites. The total number of locations affected across all formats was approximately 145.

Which Morrisons stores are closing in 2026?

Up to 100 Morrisons Daily convenience stores are closing across the UK in 2026. Confirmed regions include Yorkshire, Teesside, Essex, the Midlands, Scotland, and Greater London. The closures affect the Daily convenience format only - main Morrisons supermarkets are not included in this programme.

Why is Morrisons closing stores?

The affected stores are predominantly former McColl's locations acquired in 2022 that have continued to trade at a loss. Morrisons cites rising operating costs including employer National Insurance increases and the National Living Wage uplift in April 2026 as contributing factors.

Will Morrisons close my local supermarket?

This round of closures affects only the smaller Morrisons Daily convenience format, not the main supermarket network. If your local store is a full-size Morrisons supermarket, it is not included in the current closure programme.

What redundancy rights do affected Morrisons staff have?

Employees with at least two years' continuous service are entitled to statutory redundancy pay calculated on age, weekly pay (capped at £643/week from April 2026), and length of service. Contact ACAS on 0300 123 1100 or visit acas.org.uk for free advice.