Marks and Spencer to shut 80 stores, but none in Republic

Despite better-than- expected first-half results — a profit of £231m (€259m) beat market estimates of £216m, but was still down from £284m last year — M&S yesterday confirmed plans to close and realign a number of stores.
In all 80 are to close over the next five years. That will include all of its 53 centrally-owned non-profitable stores within its 466-strong international shop portfolio, most of which are either joint-venture agreements or franchise operated.