Morrisons has confirmed it is to close its McColl’s store in Caol, near Fort William.
The shop on Glenloy Street also includes a post office.
It is is one of 132 stores to shut across the UK, putting 1,300 jobs at risk.
Morrisons said the decision had been made due to the shops showing “no realistic prospect of achieving a breakeven position in the medium term”.
However, it’s been confirmed the Caol store will remain open into the new year so the post office can operate during the Christmas period and allow the Post Office to make alternative arrangements.
It was in May the supermarket giant sealed a deal to buy its troubled rival retail chain for £190 million in a rescue deal.
There are currently 1,164 McColl’s stores trading, 286 of which are Morrisons Daily stores which includes one in Gardner Drive in the Kincorth area of Aberdeen.
After a detailed review of the McColl’s estate, Morrisons now plans to convert the substantial majority of the McColl’s stores to Morrisons Daily, bringing the total number trading within two years to more than 1,000.
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes said: “Given that this store and post office are in the heart of the village of Caol, I am deeply concerned to hear about this development.
“This will be a very worrying time for staff and their families, as well as the wider community.
“As few details have been released at this point in time, I have written to Morrisons seeking further information, as well as urging them to explore every possible option to closure.”
Loss-making stores
It’s anticipated that all the McColl’s conversions will be completed within the next two to three years.
A spokesman for McColl’s said: “McColl’s is a business of significant scale, with an annual turnover of c. £1.2 billion, representing around 0.8% of the UK grocery market.
“However, a number of McColl’s stores have been loss-making for some time and although some of these stores will be able to return to profitability over time, there are 132 stores where there is no realistic prospect of achieving a break even position in the medium term.
“The majority of these 132 stores will now be closed in an orderly fashion over the remainder of the year.
“Regrettably this means that around 1,300 McColl’s colleagues will be placed at risk of redundancy.
“Every affected colleague however will be offered alternative employment at a nearby McColl’s store, Morrisons store, logistics operation or foodmaking centre.”
Post office shops given extra time
Of the 132 stores that will close, 55 include a Post Office counter.
The spokesman added: “Recognising the particular importance of the community Post Office counters to their local areas, especially around Christmas, Morrisons will delay the closure of these 55 stores until next year to enable them to serve their communities through Christmas and to allow the Post Office additional time to make alternative arrangements.
“We are currently working with the Post Office to see if nearby McColl’s or Morrisons stores could be part of the solution and we are currently looking at a number of potential stores for replacement Post Office counters.”
Morrison said no further stores closures are being considered but they remain “in discussions with a number of landlords of challenged stores”.
Regenerating the business
Morrisons convenience, online and wholesale director Joseph Sutton said: “We have a great deal of work to do but there’s no question that McColl’s is a business with strong potential.
“I’m confident that the combination of McColl’s conveniently located stores and great colleagues together with Morrisons scale, brand, systems and fresh food expertise will lead to a transformation of the business.
“We very much regret the proposed closure of 132 loss-making stores but it is, very sadly, an important step towards the regeneration of the business.
“I am confident that McColl’s can, in the Morrisons family, once again become a growing, thriving and vibrant convenience business serving local communities across the UK.”
McColl’s history
RSM McColl in Scotland was founded by footballer Robert Smyth “Bobby” McColl in 1901.
He set up the newsagent chain alongside his brother Tom.
He played for a number of football clubs including Queens Park, Newcastle United and Rangers as well as for Scotland.
In 1912, his penultimate game was against Port Glasgow Athletic where he scored 6 goals, which is still a record to present day.
Mr McColl also played 13 games and scored 13 goals for the Scotland national football team and he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in November 2011.
In 1912, his penultimate game was against Port Glasgow Athletic where he scored 6 goals, which is still a record to present day.
Mr McColl also played 13 games and scored 13 goals for the Scotland national football team and he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in November 2011
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