The economic devastation on the high street could boost independent retailers in neighbourhood locations, secondary shopping parades and villages near larger towns.
The disappearance of Woolworths outlets across the country has been followed by the planned closures of 25 Marks & Spencer (M&S) Simply Food stores and two main M&S outlets.
Vanetta Keitch, who runs a 4,500sq ft Spar store in the village of Dunkeswell, near Honiton, Devon, said: “Honiton have already lost Woolworths and now M&S Simply Food, which will be good for us as Honiton won’t have much to offer any more.”
She said it was possible villagers would shop locally more often as a result.
The M&S Simply Food stores due for closure are at the Grafton Centre (Cambridge), Bracknell, Torquay, Imperial Wharf (London), Harbourside (Bristol), Newtownards, Trowbridge, Letchworth, Huntingdon, Marlborough, Braintree, Caversham, Balham, Palmers, Green, Colmore Row (Birmingham), Evesham, Tewkesbury, Whitley Bay, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Biggin Hill, Sudbury, Ripon, Melton Mowbray, Honiton and Market Harborough.
Major M&S stores at Valley Park in Croydon and Woking are also due to close.
Mike Dennis
The original story appeared in Independent Retail News
