Morrisons has released a full list of UK-wide closures as part of a transformation plan under boss Rami Baitiéh. The retailer confirmed on Monday it will close 52 cafes, all 18 market kitchens, 17 convenience stores, 13 florists, 35 meat counters, 35 fish counters and four pharmacies in the coming months.  

It said impacted employees are expected to be moved into other roles, but 365 workers are at risk of redundancy. Chief executive Rami Baitiéh said the "necessary changes" will help "renew and reinvigorate" the supermarket and enable them to focus on investment and growth. He added: "In most locations the Morrisons Café has a bright future, but a minority have specific local challenges and in those locations, regrettably, closure and re-allocation of the space is the only sensible option."

Baitiéh confirmed that national insurance contribution hikes added "insult to injury", with an "an avalanche of costs that is coming all at once".

Retailers will have to increase contributions to 15% from 13.8% next month, and it is expected to cost Morrisons £75million.

Referencing the disruption to workers, Baitiéh added: “Although these changes are relatively small in the context of the overall scale of the Morrisons business, we do not take lightly the disruption and uncertainty they will cause to some of our colleagues.

"We will of course take particular care to look after all of them well through the coming changes."

The retailer plans to work with third parties to provide a "relevant specialist offer" in some stores where counters or cafes are being closed.