In light of reports this week that retail chain Marks and Spencer is planning to close some of its stores, Athlone Chamber has announced that the M&S store in Athlone Towncentre will not be affected.
In fact the store has been mentioned by the company as one that is performing particularly well, particularly during the run up to Christmas.
“In light of the news that M&S are planning some closures we are happy to report that the Athlone M&S store in Athlone Town centre is doing fine,” president of Athlone Chamber, Aengus O’Rourke, reported this week.
“A source has confirmed to us that their ‘overseas’ operations, which obviously include Ireland, are the best performing and most profitable part of their group. The source named Athlone specifically as a store that has and continues to perform very well, in particular having had a great December.
“Shoppers will be pleased to hear that M&S Athlone is here to stay and is not affected by the news we are hearing about the M&S operation in the UK.”
Mr O’Rourke feels it is particularly important to emphasise this positive news in the current predominantly negative climate, and also stressed that Athlone as a whole had performed very well during the Christmas period.
“There is enough negativity out there at the moment and we are all getting a little weary of the constant national media appetite for negativity. So, I think it is important to knock any concerns or potential rumours on the head as soon as they materialise to ensure that confidence is not further damaged, and I am happy to do so in this case.”
M&S has 18 stores in Ireland, employing just fewer than 3,000 people and their business is performing well in Ireland.
Over the coming weeks retailer Marks & Spencer plans to close stores as it battles against tough trading conditions. It is proposing to close 27 UK stores, reporting poor quarterly sales in the 13 weeks to 27 December. Of these, 25 stores from its Simply Food format and two small chain stores will be closed with the loss of about 780 jobs, while also head office staff numbers will also be reduced.
