UK retailer Marks & Spencer has put the brakes on plans to close the 18 stores it operates in France after a sustained wave of protest from local employees, trade unions and even the government. The closures were announced in March as part of a large-scale shutdown of the group’s non-UK operations. M&S France chairman Alain Juillet has now announced that it is seeking a buyer for the French stores, in order that employees might retain their positions or be offered similar employment by the new store owner.
The sale would not include the M&S brand or products, simply the physical stores. Juillet revealed that talks are already ongoing with at least one potential suitor, and indicated that the identity of the eventual buyer. The BBC has speculated that the department store chain Galeries Lafayette and retailer Pinault Printemps Redoute could be among the interested parties.
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