Under-fire Morrisons opens new Leeds city centre stores

The first of the Morrisons M Local stores will be based on Infirmary Street and will welcome its first customers this coming Monday. A second, on The Headrow, will open for business on January 31.

Each of the stores has created 20 new jobs and will offer a mix of fresh food and on-the-go snacks as well as a salad bar.

The board of the supermarket chain last week ousted embattled chief executive Dalton Philips after years of sliding sales and a dramatic recent fall in profits.

The company said at the time that it was closing ten loss making stores but creating more M Locals.

Paul Foster, manager of the Infirmary Street branch, said: “We are proud to be the first of two M Locals opening in Leeds city centre, creating new jobs and bring a mixture of fresh food and hot and cold snacks to the busy people of Leeds.

“Fresh food will be at the heart of our store and as a team we will work hard to be a positive addition to the local community.”

The Infirmary Street store will be opened by representatives from Sue Ryder’s Wheatfields Hospice in Headingley.

Sue Ryder is Morrisons’ charity partner, with their link-up having raised more than £1m in the space of a single year. Representatives of the British Heart Foundation will do the honours at the opening of the Headrow branch. The store is planning fundraising activities for the charity.

The Infirmary Street and Headrow outlets will be open from 6am to 8pm and 6am to 10pm respectively daily.