LONDON: British retailer Marks and Spencer said on Thursday (the 16th day of September, 2021) it planned to shut more than half its stores in France with Brexit affecting supplies of fresh as well as chilled products.
Announcing the closure of 11 out of 20 franchise stores, the food-to-clothing retailer said in a statement that “the lengthy and complex export processes… following the UK’s exit from the European Union are significantly constraining” supplies.
While it will shut all 11 franchise stores with partner SFH in France over the coming months, the nine franchise stores with partner Lagardere Travel Retail will remain open across airports and train stations, Marks and Spencer added.
“Marks and Spencer has a long history of serving customers in France and this is not a decision we or our partner SFH have taken lightly,” Paul Friston, managing director of the British company’s international arm, 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.”
Marks and Spencer said it planned to close the mainly Paris stores by the end of the year (2021).
Already following Britain’s formal EU exit at the start of the year, Marks has reconfigured its food business in Czech Republic, removing the sale of all fresh and chilled products from stores.
It comes as British businesses across various sectors are struggling with deliveries as the pandemic and Brexit result in a shortage of lorry drivers.
Consequently, Britain on Tuesday (the 14th day of September, 2021) said it would push back its implementation of full post-Brexit borders checks on goods from the European Union, as Covid, red tape and new immigration rules fuel supply problems.

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