Mace store taking over at food store

The only Marks & Spencer food store in Sandwell has closed down.

The Simply Food branch at the BP Connect service station in Wednesbury will be replaced by a Mace convenience store, and all the staff can keep their jobs.

The petrol station and associated store have been off-loaded by owners BP, meaning the M&S brand will no longer be offered from the site.

BP will continue to supply the fuel to the filling station in Walsall Street, a busy gateway into the town centre close to Junction 9 of the M6, but the site has been sold to the Motor Fuel Group.

BP Connect joined forces with M&S to offer Simply Food outlets at service stations around the country in 2005, opening the revamped Wednesbury branch in 2007.

M&S signs and displays have now been taken down and the shop is being refitted for a reopening on Thursday. Petrol is still being sold but the shop is currently closed.

BP's Mark Salt said: "This site is leaving BP's company owned network to be run by the Motor Fuel Group, which will have its own shop offer. BP will continue as the fuel supplier."