WAITROSE has announced four of its stores are set to shut with a loss of 124 jobs.
But the supermarkets in Bromsgrove and Droitwich are both unaffected by the two closures.
The chain said it was closing sites in Caldicot, Ipswich Corn Exchange and Shrewsbury and will also be selling its Wolverhampton store to Tesco.
Despite the best efforts, the company said, it had been unable to make the stores concerned profitable long-term.
Consultations have started on the 124 staff earmarked for redundancy and the jobs of the 140 employees in Wolverhampton will transfer to Tesco.
Bérangère Michel, Partner and Executive Director, Customer Service for the John Lewis Partnership, said: “Closing any of our shops is always a last resort and is not a reflection on the dedication of our Partners in Caldicot, Ipswich Corn Exchange, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton. Sadly, we have not been able to find a way to make these shops profitable in the long-term, despite the hard work of everyone involved.
“Our priority now is the wellbeing and future of our Partners in these shops. We will do everything we can to support them and explore opportunities wherever possible for those who may wish to remain with the Partnership.”
