Marks & Spencer said yesterday it will speed up a major shake-up of its stores which includes closing 67 larger shops.
However, the company has not identified where these bigger outlets shutting their doors are located.
M&S has a significant nationwide presence, and the north-east has a number of shops.
There are two large stores in the centre of Aberdeen - a full-line shop on St Nicholas Street and a food and homeware outlet in Union Square shopping centre.
There are seven other sites in the area selling M&S products - including Simply Food outlets at Westhill and Inverurie, Foodhalls at Bridge of Don and Stoneywood, and other retail sites at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and petrol stations at Culter and Inverurie.
The Press and Journal says that, in 2019, M&S confirmed plans to axe 110 stores over the next five financial years as part of a sweeping overhaul under previous boss Steve Rowe. This included 67 "lower productivity" full-line shops.
Transformation plan
The company is now seeking to speed up this transformation plan, with the aim of completing the stores shake-up over three years.
M&S stressed that the previously-announced closures will be more than offset by new openings as the group seeks to focus more on its grocery business and online operations.
The move will also see the retailer open 104 more Simply Food outlets over the same period, with many expected to reopen in the same area or location as sites earmarked for closure.
M&S said it had made "some progress to date" on the transformation of its stores portfolio, but had further to go.
It is looking to exit the plan with 180 full-line branches and 420 food shops.
There will be a 20% reduction in retail space dedicated to clothing and home products, amid significant online growth.
Retail parks
In some locations, M&S is planning to take stores out of town centres and move them into retail parks.
Chief executive Stuart Machin told the Telegraph: "We're seeing strong performances from our recently-relocated stores and this gives us the confidence to go faster in our rotation plans, whilst at the same time investing in bigger and better food stores."
He said the company was "creating a fit for the future store estate, with shops in great locations".
It comes at a time when retailers are facing mounting cost pressure, with larger stores not only costing more in rent but also requiring companies to pay higher business rates and spend more on energy for lighting and heating.
M&S said that its energy costs were £40million higher than it had expected this year, and could rise to more than £100million next year if the Government does not intervene.
Labour costs are also increasing and up by around 7% so far this year, M&S said.
Cost-of-living package
Late last month, it announced a £15million cost-of-living package for staff including wage increases "to do what we can to help ease some of that strain", Mr Machin said.
Other retailers have taken similar steps, including Tesco and Aldi, as they race to bring on board staff ahead of the busy Christmas period.
M&S said it was currently battling "significant cost headwinds" even after having already shut a swathe of stores in recent years and cut 7,000 jobs.
The company gave the update ahead of its interim results on November 9, where investors will be watching closely for any signs of a consumer squeeze.
Tesco last week suggested that it was expecting customers to be buying fewer gifts this Christmas, as they were "watching every penny to make ends meet".