Marks & Spencer is to close 11 of its 20 franchise stores in France after post-Brexit trade rules “significantly” impacted supply of fresh and chilled food.
M&S said ”the lengthy and complex export processes” in place since the UK’s exit from the EU were “continuing to impact product availability for customers and the performance of our business in France”.
As a result, the retailer said the 11 stores, which are mostly in Paris and operated by franchise partner SFH, will close by the end of the year.
M&S’ other nine franchise stores, run by Lagardere Travel Retail, will remain open. M&S said it is in talks with Lagardere over “a sustainable future business model” for the stores, which are located in travel hubs such as airports and train stations”.
M&S international director Paul Friston said: “M&S has a long history of serving customers in France and this is not a decision we or our partner SFH have taken lightly.
“However, as things stand today, the supply chain complexities in place following the UK’s exit from the EU now make it near impossible for us to serve fresh and chilled products to customers to the high standards they expect, resulting in an ongoing impact to the performance of our business.”
M&S will continue to trade online in France and from a network of stores in the Czech Republic. In April, M&S stopped selling fresh and chilled products in its Czech stores and doubled its frozen and ambient ranges.
The retailer said the performance of its Czech business “continues to be ahead of expectations and availability of products has remained consistent” since the changes.
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