Large supermarkets 'plan to shut' for Queen's funeral

Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons are ‘planning to shut large supermarket stores between 10am and 2pm on day of Queen’s funeral’ as Primark, John Lewis and Waitrose say their stores will stay closed all day next Monday

• Businesses up and down the country are close their doors on September 19 
• Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons look set to shut big supermarkets 
• Closures are out of respect to the Queen and to allow staff to watch the funeral 
• Waitrose set to close 321 stores for the day with ten open along funeral route
• Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing

Some of UK’s biggest supermarket chains look set to close for the Queen’s funeral on Monday.

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons could shut big supermarkets as a mark of respect to the Queen and to allow staff to watch the funeral on TV, while Waitrose store closures are confirmed.

The five large supermarket chains are expected to shut for four hours, roughly between the 10am and 2pm, The Sun reports.

Clothing giant Primark has also confirmed that all of its 191 stores will close as a mark of respect. 

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons could shut big supermarkets as a mark of respect to the Queen

The five large supermarket chains are expected to shut for four hours, roughly between the 10am and 2pm, The Sun reports

Meanwhile, smaller convenience stores will remain open.

Plans for the closures are thought to be almost finalised for some of the stores, while Asda said a decision on whether to close is still being made.

Businesses up and down the country will close their doors on September 19, which King Charles III declared a bank holiday.

John Lewis Partnership, which owns Waitrose, will keep just ten food shops open along the funeral procession route.

‘When full details of the funeral are confirmed, an exception may be a very limited number of Waitrose stores on the route of the funeral procession to serve members of the public who we know will be lining the route for many hours,’ the company said in a statement. 

The few shops that could be left open in London, however, will close for the funeral itself, they added.

The company is also set to close the remaining 322 Waitrose stores for the day. 

Waitrose holds a Royal Warrant and is sells Duchy of Cornwall products. 

The retailers’ 34 John Lewis department stores across the country will all close during the funeral.

John Lewis Partnership is set to keep ten shops open and close the remaining 321 Waitrose stores for the day

Andrew Murphy, Chief Operating Officer, The John Lewis Partnership said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty The Queen. 

‘We will be closing our stores on the day of her funeral as a mark of respect, and because we believe this is the right thing to do for our Partners and customers.’

A Primark spokeswoman said: ‘Our stores, depots and head office in the UK will be closed on Monday September 19 to give our colleagues the opportunity to pay their respects and watch the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Clothing giant Primark has confirmed that all of its 191 stores will close as a mark of respect

‘We will reopen as normal on Tuesday September 20.’

The government has issued advice regarding the Bank Holiday to businesses.

‘Some businesses may wish to consider closing or postponing events, especially on the day of the State Funeral, however, this is at the discretion of individual businesses,’ it said.

A two minutes’ silence will be held at midday next Monday for the Queen’s state funeral and the London Stock Exchange will close.

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