Waitrose has announced the closure of seven stores, which very sadly includes Marlow.
This is huge news for Marlow, which has had a Waitrose for many years. We wish all the best to the staff, who are referenced to in a statement by one of the Directors below.
Waitrose stores in Bromley, Oadby and Wollaton are being acquired by Lidl; the party acquiring Sandhurst has not been named.
For three other stores – Marlow, Stevenage, and Waterside, British Airways HQ, near Heathrow – details of the arrangements are not yet finalised, but the expectation is that the shops will close in the autumn.
The 677 Partners working at these shops will now enter a period of consultation.
Waitrose & Partners Director of shop trade Mark Gifford said: “We haven’t taken this decision lightly but we have to do what’s right for the business as a whole. Thanks to the hard work of all our Partners we’re making good progress and Waitrose & Partners is on track for profit growth this year but, despite the best efforts of everyone involved, we haven’t been able to find a way to make these shops profitable in the long term.
“Our priority now is the wellbeing and future of our Partners in these shops. We will do everything we can to support them and will explore opportunities for anyone wishing to remain with the Partnership.”
If you or anyone you know has ever worked at Waitrose Marlow, in either of the sites, please come and join our Waitrose Marlow Alumni group – we invite you to share your memories, stories and photos.
More info as we get it… mymarlow.co.uk
The story also made the BBC news:
