Marks & Spencer has announced investment in 12 brand new food stores, some with over 20,000 sq ft of trading space, on former Homebase sites across England, creating over 550 new jobs.
The retailer, which last week said a cyberattack affecting its online service is set to last through to July, termed the development as a “significant step forward” in its store rotation and renewal programme, and a “key strand” in the business’s transformation as it reshapes for growth.
Store rotation and renewal aims to create 420 bigger, fresher Food stores and a more productive group of 180 full line stores, with half of the estate expected to be in the renewal format by 2027/28.
Last year M&S opened six Food stores and two full line stores as well as renewing nine existing stores.
The new Food stores averaged around 15,000 sq ft, enabling more customers to shop the full range. In a strong year, Food sales outperformed target by around 20 per cent.
Two new full line stores at Dundee and Washington Galleries opened with their Fashion, Home & Beauty sales trading 15 per cent ahead of plan. Fosse Park was extended during the year, with Fashion, Home & Beauty trading up 20 per cent versus last year.
This year M&S plans to open ten Food stores and two full line stores. A number of other stores will be updated to the renewal format.
The new stores will include Abingdon, Cannock (both expected to open in late 2025), Farnham (spring 2026), Godalming (summer 2026 – the largest standalone Food store to date at 22,000 sq ft) and (summer 2026)
“Investing in new and renewed stores is one of our key transformation priorities,” M&S chief executive Stuart Machin said.
“Securing these highly desirable sites in priority locations will accelerate this strategy, drive further growth in our M&S food business and most importantly give our customers the best possible M&S shopping experience.”
