Marks and Spencer has issued a statement on whether its Malvern clothing store is set to close. 

The future of the store in the Retail Park on Roman Way has been thrown into doubt after the retail giant revealed it will be closing 25 per cent of its larger stores. 

M&S stores selling clothes and home goods are likely to close to make way for 100 new Simply Food outlets on high streets across the country. 

The company has not yet announced which stores will be closing, however, it puts a question mark over the future of Malvern's store and many across the country. 

M&S CEO Stuart Machin has previously said: "We are creating a fit for the future store estate, with shops in great locations -  that help our customers shop the way they want to.

"We’re seeing strong performances from our recently relocated stores and this gives us the confidence to go faster in our rotation plans, whilst at the same time investing in bigger and better Food stores."

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Worcester News: M&S aims to expand its Simply Food business' M&S aims to expand its Simply Food business' (Image: M&S in Malvern is in the Retail Park on Roman Way)

Closures are set to target 'lower productivity' outlets and M&S bosses aim for the store closures to be ideally completed in the next three years. 

This means the number of clothes and homeware stores would be reduced from 247 currently to around 180 shops by 2028. 

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Moving forward M&S will be focusing on selling food and groceries to its customers. 

Several businesses have been facing troubles due to the cost of living crisis and the company has cited the need to deal with the 'difficult economic backdrop' as the reason for the change in strategy.  

M&S recently committed to a pay rise for over 40,000 staff members.

The pay rise impacts the staff with the lowest wages because it means they will be paid at least £10.20 an hour from October having previously been upped to £10 in April. 

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And the package of changes will cost the business around £15 million a year. 

M&S first opened in Malvern on Thursday, June 26, 2008, and created 110 new jobs in the area with a food hall and a cafe with 80 seats. 

In Malvern retail park, there is also an Argos, Cafe Nero, McDonald's, Halfords, New Look, Next, and Specsavers.