‘A real loss’: Disappointment as convenience store closes in town centre

Published: 14:28, 21 August 2026

 | Updated: 15:04, 21 August 2026

Disappointment has been expressed following the closure of a convenience store in a town centre.

The Morrisons Daily at 1-2 Market Place, in Mildenhall, shut its doors on July 11.

It comes after Morrisons bought the McColls business in 2022 and stores were converted to the Morrisons Daily brand.

Renovations were carried out at the Mildenhall store in September 2024.

A Morrisons spokesperson said significant cost increases resulting from Government policy choices, made it more difficult to make stores profitable that were previously making a loss.

West Suffolk councillors Andy Neal and Ian Shipp, who both live in Mildenhall, were left disappointed by Morrisons’ decision to close the store.

Cllr Neal said: “It’s bad news for Mildenhall that Morrisons has closed as it will diminish the vibrancy and economic vitality of the town centre.

“It’s definitely a big concern and the impact it has on the town will depend on how quickly the shop gets new occupants.

“If that store and the former Original Factory Shop at 12 Market Place were to be occupied, Mildenhall would be transformed.

“That’s why I’m fighting for growth on our market. A stronger market will encourage footfall into the town and then all retail benefits.”

Cllr Shipp said: “This is a real loss for residents and the wider community.

“These everyday services matter and their loss will be felt locally.

“I am also particularly concerned that the closure means the cash machine that was hosted there is no longer available, removing an important and convenient service for those who rely on cash.”

The Original Factory Shop in Mildenhall closed in 2023 and Cllr Neal had previously launched a petition in an attempt to prevent the store from shutting.

He is now eager to see the Morrisons building used as quickly as possible and hopes that its use will be something different for the town so there’s a variety of shops for the community.

A Morrisons spokesperson in June confirmed that the Mildenhall shop was on the proposed list of closures after opening more than 120 franchise stores in 2025.

The spokesperson previously said: “The performance of all company owned stores across our convenience business is subject to continuous review.

“This process has identified a number of stores, which were part of the McColl’s acquisition, whose performance has been challenged for a number of years and which are loss making, despite remedial action.

“This situation has been exacerbated in more recent years by significant cost increases resulting from Government policy choices, which have made returning these stores to profitability even more difficult.

“Having completed the review, we are now proposing to take the tough but necessary decision to close a number of these stores over the next few months.”

The spokesperson added that the combination of the closure of loss-making stores and the continued addition of attractive new franchise openings, enabled the company to concentrate on the stores which worked best for customers.

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