Shock at sudden closure of Kettering clothes shop

A popular clothes shop has suddenly closed its store at a Kettering shopping centre.

M&Co is the latest big name to leave the town after permanently closing its Newlands Shopping Centre branch overnight, following the likes of M&S, Burton and New Look who have shut up shop in recent years.

It's understood staff were only told of the closure last night (Tuesday) and today external workers have been in to help clear it out.

The store only officially opened on August 31 last year after moving into the shopping centre from its previous unit in Gold Street.

Like shops up and down the country it was forced to close in March because of the Covid-19 crisis, before re-opening in June.

But it is now one of 47 M&Co stores to close nationally as part of urgent financial restructuring. The M&Co in Stamford just up the A43 is also closing.

In a post on the M&Co Kettering Facebook page, the retailer said: "We are sad to say our time in Kettering has come to an end."

Nationally about 380 staff will lose their jobs, although the number of staff affected in Kettering has not been confirmed.

Shoppers shared their sadness at the closure on social media.

One woman said: "Such sad news, thinking of all the staff. I hope they look after the staff and recognise the years of service they have given to the company."

Another said: "One of my fave shops. So sorry for you all."

M&Co has not responded to a request for comment on the Kettering closure from the Northants Telegraph.

But their 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.

“I am really pleased that we have been able to maintain a presence in over 200 communities."

The nearest M&Co store for Kettering shoppers will now be in Market Harborough after their branch was saved from the axe.

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