The Midlands Co-op to axe fashion stores for good

The Midlands Co-operative, one of the largest independent

retailers in the UK, will be closing down its fashion and home stores in the coming six months. 400 jobs are under threat and, according to the society, conversations are currently held with trade unions and other stakeholders to review the most suitable options.

“We regret to inform our customers that Midlands Co-operative Fashion & Home Department stores will be closing,” gloomily announced the company in a communication published on their corporate site.

All clothing stores will be axed, except one that might survive after reconverting into a different business model: "The society is also exploring viable change of use options for the Fashion & Home sites. It is anticipated that the Society's Raunds Homestore will continue to trade but with a different product offer to the one currently stocked."

Reason being for this decision “major and fundamental” challenges both the fashion and home lines are going through to because of the “ever increasing growth in online shopping”.

The society explains that “Whilst our other businesses have flourished, the Society has been incurring substantial losses from the Fashion & Home operation for more than a decade and in spite of sustained efforts to improve performance, the latest financial projections indicate a further decline with increasing losses in future years.”

Midlands Co-operative chief executive Martyn Cheatle said that "A plan has been put in place for a phased closure of the society's Fashion & Home stores over the next six months. This could potentially affect some 388 store-based employees, although every effort will be made to redeploy employees into other business areas.