Morrisons to reopen meat, fish counters
Reopened counters will feature improved layouts and measures to reduce waste
UK – UK supermarket chain Morrisons will reopen a number of its Market Street meat and fish counters after reviewing customer feedback and making operational changes to improve efficiency, reversing part of a closure programme introduced last year.
The retailer announced in March 2025 that it would close 35 Market Street meat and fish counters, saying the move was necessary to address rising operating costs, as several locations were no longer commercially viable because customer demand and sales volumes did not justify the expense of running the service.
At the time, Morrisons Chief Executive Rami Baitiéh said the company remained committed to the Market Street concept but needed to make changes to parts of the business that were no longer economically sustainable while continuing its wider modernisation programme.
Following a review of the closures and customer responses, the supermarket has decided to restore selected counters after introducing new approaches to improve stock yield and reduce food waste.
A Morrisons spokesperson said the company’s Market Street counters remain a core part of its retail offering and continue to distinguish the supermarket from competitors, adding that the business had gained valuable operational insights since the closures.
The spokesperson said customers had expressed a strong preference for the return of in-store butcher and fishmonger services, prompting the retailer to begin reopening several locations over the coming months.
New format to improve efficiency
According to the company, the redesigned counters will combine traditional assisted service with flatbed displays and grab-and-go products, while incorporating operational improvements developed over the past year to manage waste more effectively and improve efficiency.
Morrisons said the updated format is intended to maintain personalised meat and seafood preparation services while supporting a more sustainable operating model for the business.
The first reopened meat and fish counters are already operating at stores in Great Park Newcastle, Herne Bay, Thornbury, Yeadon and Bolton Dawes, with additional locations expected to reopen in the coming months.
The decision marks a change in direction for Morrisons after initially reducing its fresh service counters as part of cost-saving measures, reflecting the retailer’s efforts to balance operational efficiency with customer demand for traditional supermarket services.
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