Shutterstock.com
Supermarket chain Morrisons is to sell “dozens” of its pharmacies, following losses of £381m.
On 15 February 2026, Rami Baitieh, chief executive of Morrisons, was quoted by LBC as saying the cuts were a “necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate Morrisons” after going through a “challenging period”.
Baitieh added that lower consumer spending among poorer shoppers, with many affected by price rises, was to blame.
The exact number of pharmacies being sold has not been confirmed, but it is understood that decisions will be made on a “branch-by-branch basis” across the 101 pharmacies Morrisons currently has registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
It is believed that pharmacies are expected to remain open in stores, but will come under the new brand of any eventual buyer.
The Pharmaceutical Journal has approached Morrisons for further details.
Morrisons, which is a member of the Company Chemists’ Association (CCA), closed four pharmacies in 2025.
Malcolm Harrison, chief executive of the CCA, said the closure is a “stark reminder” of financial pressures on the sector.
“Morrisons has made us aware that they are looking to sell some of their pharmacy contracts,” he said.
“This is another stark reminder of the huge financial strain that the community pharmacy sector is under.
“The NHS’ own analysis confirms that there is a funding gap of around £2bn annually, confirming that the current funding provision is simply not sustainable.”
The NHS-commissioned economic review of the pharmacy sector, published in March 2025, found that nearly eight in ten pharmacies are not financially sustainable in the short term.
Harrison added: “Despite a 14% uplift for 2025/2026 and a 4% uplift the previous year, this has done little to reverse nearly a decade of real-terms cuts and rising operational costs. Pharmacies are still operating under a 20% real-term cut in funding compared to a decade ago.
“The consequences of this adverse funding landscape are clear; since 2017 there had been a loss of 1,476 pharmacies, representing a 15% contraction in the network.
“It is clear the pressures on pharmacies have reached an unsustainable level. Without urgent investment more pharmacies will be forced to reduce hours or close entirely. This will not only further restrict patients’ access to medicines and primary care, but it will place even more pressure onto other areas of an NHS that is already struggling.”
The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) said it would support pharmacists affected by the closures.
“Pharmacists employed at Morrisons who are not yet members of the PDA should consider joining as soon as possible … The PDA can represent pharmacists wherever they are employed or practice,” it added.
