Thomas Cook to close 21 stores with more than 300 jobs at risk
Thomas Cook has announced plans to close 21 stores across the UK as the travel company looks to streamline its retail network with the majority of holidays being booked online.
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The closures will see the loss of 102 jobs across the country, with a further 218 store-based roles under threat of being made redundant in a review of the retail workforce.
The company claims the reason for the closures is due to an increase in holidaymakers booking online, which accounted for 64 per cent of all Thomas Cook bookings in the UK last year.
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Stores across the country set to be closed include in Kingston upon Thames and Guildford in Surrey, as well as in Colchester, Stevenage, Chesham, Stratford-upon-Avon and several in the north east and north west of England.
It will leave Thomas Cook with 566 shops across the UK amid a 30 per cent growth in online sales for the 2018 period.
The company has also began a consultation process with affected staff and union representatives but did not state when the store closures would come into effect.
Chief of tour operating, Will Waggott, said: "Today's announcement reflects the wider challenges seen on the high street, with more and more customers choosing to book online. These measures will help us to drive greater efficiencies across Thomas Cook so that we relentlessly focus our resources in those areas that give us the greatest opportunity to make a difference to customers in our core holiday offering.
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"Looking ahead, we will be working to ensure that Thomas Cook is fit for the future, putting a rigorous focus on costs in a competitive environment while giving customers more reasons to holiday with the strongest brand in travel."