Morrisons is looking to sell dozens of its pharmacies on a store-by-store basis, after finding that many of its in-store pharmacies are not financially viable.
The affected pharmacies are likely to remain open in stores, but under the brand of any eventual buyer.
This move to sell pharmacies comes after the supermarket chain lost £321m last year, caused by debt pressures and weaker consumer spending.
Morrisons currently have 101 pharmacies according to the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) register.
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In response to these reports, the Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) reminded pharmacists employed by Morrisons that they can seek support.
If a branch is sold to another organisation, staff may be transferred to a new employer. This can mean that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) regulations apply, and the PDA has ‘significant’ experience supporting pharmacists who go through TUPE transfers.
It advised pharmacists to have an up to date copy of their employment contract and their employer’s staff handbook at home in case change is announced at their workplace.
This news follows the closure of four Morrisons pharmacies in 2025 as well as 52 cafés, all 18 of its ‘market kitchens’, 17 convenience stores, 13 florists, 35 meat counters and 35 fish counters.
The PDA has called for more effective oversight of pharmacy businesses from NHS England and the GPhC to protect patients and staff from future issues.
Janet Morrison, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England (CPE), said: 'The news that yet another large business is having to sell community pharmacies will come as no surprise to those battling to survive in the current climate.
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'The pressures on pharmacy businesses are extreme, and this news should be yet another loud warning signal for Government and the NHS.'
Morrisons declined to comment.
However, bad business behaviours aren’t entirely to blame as rising costs have put the whole pharmacy sector under intense pressure in recent years.
An upcoming rise in business rates will push many pharmacies to the ‘bring of collapse’, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said last month.
And pharmacies in England face ‘at least £275m’ of additional costs in 2026 due to inflation, increased waged costs due to a rise in the national living wage, and ongoing growth in prescription volume.
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Meanwhile six in ten pharmacy owners in Wales reported that they remortgaged their house or used personal savings to keep their doors open last year, according to a new survey by the NPA.
Updated on 17 February to include a comment from Janet Morrison, chief executive of CPE.
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