By the end of this month JJB will have closed 65 branches and rebadged another seven as 'Original Shoe Company.’ It has set aside £25m to cover the costs of the closures, which mainly covers older and smaller stores.

Chairman Roger Lane-Smith said: “We are taking significant action to improve the performance of JJB's retail stores. Whilst we have identified a number of stores for closure, which will itself strengthen our remaining store portfolio, we are also investing to improve the quality of our stores and product with further store refits, the introduction of new products from our own brands and the implementation of staff training and incentivisation programmes.”

The refits follow a successful trial at The Trafford Centre in Manchester which incorporated many new features including a mezzanine floor. This will now be rolled out to both out-of-town superstore and high street formats.a

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