M&S to close two warehouses as overhaul continues

Marks & Spencer is closing two big UK warehouses in moves that will affect more than 500 workers as the retailer seeks to improve its distribution systems.

The retailer said it would close its Thorncliffe distribution site in Sheffield in summer 2021, affecting about 250 staff. A further 330 jobs will be at risk when M&S closes its Long Eaton warehouse in Nottinghamshire, also in 2021, the Daily Mirror reported.

The Thorcliffe site is run by goods management company XPO Logistics and the Long Eaton warehouse is managed by DHL.

M&S is trying to overhaul its business under Chief Executive Steve Rowe to reverse many years of underperformance. The company dropped out of the FTSE 100 for the first time last year.

An M&S spokesman told the Mirror: "We're in the early stages of changing our supply chain to address flow of product and availability for our customers … Moving the operations is not a decision we've taken lightly but it's an important change to help us best serve our customers as we move to a nationally connected network."

Usdaw, the union representing workers at the warehouses, said it would discuss the closures with M&S and scrutinise the reasons the company gives for its decisions.

"This proposed closure has come as a shock and is devastating news for staff," the union said.