British retailer Marks and Spencer said Thursday it planned to shut more than half its stores in France with Brexit affecting supplies of fresh and 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.
Paul Friston, managing director of the British company’s international arm, added that 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”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,”
Marks said it planned to close the mainly Paris stores by the end of the year.
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 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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