M&Co’s stores in West Kirby and Heswall are among more than 200 of the company’s UK outlets to be saved following a financial restructuring exercise.
The company appointed administrators in April as the coronavirus outbreak forced the closure of most UK retailers for almost four months, and it has now announced that a total of 47 of its shops are to shut permanently.
At the stores which are remaining open, the firm is pledging to work in partnership with neighbouring retailers to encourage people to shop local.
M&Co’s chief executive Andy McGeoch said: “It quickly became clear that best way to save most jobs and most stores was to enter administration, with a new company acquiring the assets of the old business, and this process has now been finalised.
“Covid has been by far the biggest challenge our family business has faced in almost 60 years, and I am really pleased that we have been able to maintain a presence in over 200 communities.
“Covid-19 means many people don’t feel comfortable travelling on public transport or visiting busy city centres and that can be good news for local High Street stores like M&Co. That’s why we are looking at ways of working in partnership with other local retailers to highlight the tremendous range of shopping that can be found in communities like this all over the country.
“Local economies rely to a huge degree on their town centres and we have seen too many High Streets hollowed out by successive shop closures. More and more people are beginning to realise that, if they don’t support their town centres, everyone’s quality of living really takes a hit, so we are proud to be playing a part in the drive to shop locally.”
M&Co was founded in 1961 and expanded from its Scottish roots to towns throughout the UK.
