LONDON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - British clothing and food
retailer Marks & Spencer has reversed a decision to open
over 200 stores on Dec. 26, giving its workforce of more than
70,000 an extended break over the festive period, it said on
Thursday.
Boxing Day is traditionally one of the biggest shopping days
in Britain's retail calendar as store groups kick off
post-Christmas sale events.
However, trading this year could be more subdued, given the
government's announcement on Tuesday that it would temporarily
relax COVID-19 restrictions - allowing up to three households to
meet at home over the Dec. 23 to Dec. 27 period.
M&S said it will now close all of its owned stores in the
United Kingdom, as well as its customer service and distribution
centres in Castle Donington, central England, so that as many
employees as possible can spend time with family and friends on
Christmas Day and Dec. 26.
"This is a big decision, but it is absolutely the right one
given the incredible effort everyone has made in the most
challenging of circumstances," said Chief Executive Steve Rowe.
Shares in the group were down 3.1% at 1425 GMT, extending
2020 losses to 39%.
In August, M&S cut 7,000 jobs and earlier this month
reported the first loss in its 94 years as a publicly-listed
company after clothing sales were hammered by the COVID-19
pandemic.
To try and make up for some of the trade lost during the
various lockdowns across Britain, M&S plans to operate its
longest ever trading hours this Christmas, with around 400
stores open until midnight from Dec. 21 to 23 to help manage
capacity while adhering to social distancing requirements.
M&S, along with the wider retail sector, is also lobbying
the government to relax strict Sunday trading restrictions in
December.
(Reporting by James Davey, Editing by Paul Sandle and Emelia
Sithole-Matarise)