JUST weeks after the store celebrated its 80th birthday, Marks & Spencer have announced the closure of their store in Kirkcaldy.
The store which is one of the largest in the Fife town’s High Street is to close despite appearing to have been reprieved when M&S announced the closure of 100 stores in May after a fall in profits in the last financial year.
Having been told yesterday of the closure, it has emerged that none of the Kirkcaldy staff are to lose their jobs as they will be relocating to other stores including the new M&S Food Hall that is due to open in Glenrothes next year.
The M&S store opened in Kirkcaldy in August, 1938, and has been a lynchpin of the town centre ever since. While no date has yet been given for the closure, it is reported that the shutdown will coincide with the opening of the new Glenrothes outlet.
Bill Harvey, manager of Kirkcaldy4All which promotes the town centre told Fife Today that the news showed a lack of loyalty to the town and the store’s customers.
He said: “I feel very disappointed that a company the size of M&S feels the need not to support town centres.
“Only 28% of their stores are on High Streets and 20% of their entire business is now online and their focus is to drive more online – rapidly.
“I feel particularly sorry for the very loyal customers that continued to support the High Street shop throughout the difficult times that M&S have had in recent years.
Shona Lawrie, M&S head of region for Scotland, said: “The decision to close M&S Kirkcaldy was incredibly difficult, we know we have many loyal customers who will be disappointed by the news.
“Closing and relocating stores is never easy but it is vital for the future of M&S.
“We’re pleased that our dedicated colleagues will all move to nearby stores including our new Foodhall at Glenrothes which is due to open in early 2019.”
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