11:04am Wednesday 7th January 2009
By Charley Morgan
LESS than three years after it opened, the Marks & Spencer Simply Food store in Trowbridge is to close with the loss of 29 jobs.
Stuart Rose, chairman of M&S, said: "We believe that we have looked at every available option and opportunity to keep the Trowbridge store open, but in this tough trading environment it is no longer commercially viable.
"We are very sadly putting forward this proposal to close the store and will listen carefully to any suggestions employees have for alternatives.
"We have a great team here and I would like to thank them for their commitment to the store and for their hard work delivering excellent service to our customers.
"If this proposed closure goes ahead, we hope that our valued customers will continue to shop with M&S at one of our alternative local stores such as Bath, which also offers a wide variety of quality M&S products."
A period of consultation will now start with the store’s 29 employees and the company said it would offer employees help to find alternative employment in the local area.
The company announced it was closing 25 of its 355 Simply Food stores nationwide this morning.
The store in Marlborough will close its doors also.
The Trowbridge store opened in The Shires shopping centre on June 29 in 2006.
What do you think about the closure? Leave a comment below.
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