// Marks & Spencer is expected to close stores across France
// The retailer has been holding talks with its French franchise partners over potential changes
Marks & Spencer is planning to scale back its presence in France, following European border restrictions leaving its Paris stores with empty shelves.
The retailer is expected to close stores across the country and could potentially stop selling its sandwiches and food entirely.
An announcement could be made in the next few weeks, The Mail on Sunday reported.
READ MORE: M&S to bring back St Michael brand after 21 years
M&S has been holding talks with its franchise partners in France over the delayed lorries amid Brexit.
The forced retreat will come as a blow to M&S, which relaunched its French business almost exactly a decade ago.
The extent of closures is not yet clear, with the final decision on which stores remain resting in part on the commitment of its two French franchise partners.
Earlier this year, M&S overhauled its Czech business and removed all its fresh and chilled foods from stores and replaced them with expanded ranges of products that have a long shelf life in order to fill gaps.
It is believed that any remaining French stores will follow suit after lengthy border delays meant food arrived past its sell-by date or was turned back to British warehouses.
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