Morrisons, the UK supermarket chain, is reportedly looking to sell dozens of its in-store pharmacies as part of a broader strategy to cut costs. This initiative comes in light of the company's substantial pre-tax loss of £381 million for the year ending October 26, primarily due to a hefty interest bill of £281 million on its debt. The decision reflects the retailer's ongoing struggles with financial profitability in specific areas of its operations.

The pharmacies that are deemed financially unviable for Morrisons will reportedly be sold on a store-by-store basis and are likely to be rebranded under their new owners, ensuring that they remain operational rather than facing closure. This approach suggests that Morrisons aims to offset losses while still retaining some of its pharmacy operations, albeit under different management.

While the exact number of pharmacies up for sale has not been disclosed, it has been indicated that Morrisons holds 120 in-store pharmacies overall and will not be selling all of them. The move underscores the challenges faced by traditional retailers in the face of rising operational costs and competitive pressures, necessitating strategic shifts to maintain viability in a complex retail landscape.