A popular Marks & Spencer store located in Dublin city is set to close due to a ‘consistent decline in sales’ in recent years, with 19 people losing their jobs.
News of the Marks & Spencer Food Hall on Clarion Quay’s closure arrives just days after staff were informed that the company’s Drogheda store will close for good on March 8, 2024.
Marks & Spencer’s Country Director Ireland & Northern Ireland, Eddie Murphy confirmed that all 19 of those affected by the closure have already been informed.
Despite the 76 job losses, Mr Murphy emphasised that the retailer is ‘committed to Ireland’ and has ‘ambitious plans for growth’.
‘Our recent Christmas trading figures show we’re heading in the right direction. However, we also need to modernise our business to safeguard what we have achieved.
‘Shopping habits are changing, and we are shaping our store estate to focus our investment on the right stores in the right places,’ he said.
Mr Murphy added: ‘We have made the tough decision to close two under-performing stores in Ireland: M&S Clarion Quay Simply Food on Excise Walk in Dublin, and M&S Drogheda, Louth.
‘We’ve shared this news with affected colleagues today and our priority now is to support them through these changes.’
The closure of Clarion Quay store is due to a ‘consistent decline in sales and footfall over several years’, according to Mr Murphy, who said the store in Drogheda is closing as its low occupancy requires ‘significant investment’ and ‘its sales performance is behind’ is behind the rest of the retailer’s store estate.
‘We understand there will be some disappointment with our announcement, but we believe that this decision is the right one for the future of M&S in Ireland – allowing us to invest in our store estate, expand our Irish supply base and continue to build our partnership with Applegreen, whilst offering our customers exceptional value, quality, service and innovation,’ he said.
