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16th Sep 2021

Marks & Spencer to pull 800 lines from Irish stores

Clara Kelly

It comes as the chain announced the closure of 11 stores in France.

Marks & Spencer are to pull 800 lines from Irish stores as the chain announced the closure of 11 stores in France on Thursday.

Following the news that the popular retailer would be closing 11 of out 20 franchise stores in the region, the company said in a statement to AFP news that “the lengthy and complex export processes following the UK’s exit from the European Union are significantly constraining.”

“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,” Managing Director Paul Friston added in the statement.

“However, as things stand today, the supply chain complexities in place following the UK’s exit from the European Union, now make it near impossible for us to serve fresh and chilled products to customers to the high standards they expect.”

An M&S spokesperson told the Irish Examiner that the closures will apply exclusively to French stores and there are no plans in place to close any stores in Ireland at present.

However, the retail giant will be cutting 800 lines including items such as free-range chicken, orchids or goods containing Parmesan Reggiano, the group’s chairman Archie Norman told The Irish Times on Thursday.

The company stated complex rules and excessive paperwork as the reason for pulling the lines from Irish stores.