Marks & Spencer has revealed ambitious plans to significantly expand its food retail presence across the United Kingdom, identifying 500 potential locations for new and modernised stores.
The retail giant's strategy forms part of a broader vision to double the size of its food business, with the West Midlands and Birmingham featuring prominently in the expansion blueprint.
Major Expansion Strategy
M&S is moving rapidly with its growth plans, aiming to open or refurbish 20 branches before the end of the current financial year. This initial phase alone is expected to create approximately 800 new jobs, providing a significant boost to the British high street.
Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, stated: "The strong performance of our new M&S food stores gives us the confidence to explore even more locations across the UK. With more than twenty stores opening or modernised before the end of the financial year, we are moving faster."
Transformed Shopping Experience
The new locations will feature M&S's latest store format, offering customers an enhanced shopping experience. Key improvements include an extended range of M&S food products, wider aisles designed to accommodate larger shopping trolleys, and more spacious car parks to serve increased customer numbers.
The retailer has set an ambitious target for its store modernisation programme, expecting over half of its estate, including convenience outlets, to feature the renewed format by April 2028.
West Midlands Focus
The West Midlands emerges as a key beneficiary of M&S's expansion strategy, with numerous locations identified for potential new stores. The full list of potential sites in the region includes:
- Balsall Common
- Birmingham areas including Great Barr and Quinton
- Redditch and Bromsgrove
- Wolverhampton and Wednesbury
- Stourbridge and Kidderminster
- Bridgnorth and Aldridge
- Dorridge and Princess Park
This expansion news comes as M&S's Merry Hill store undergoes its final transformation phase, recently revealing a completely revamped fashion department that includes the latest partywear collection featured in the retailer's Christmas advertisement.
Freudmann added: "Our team want new sites where we could open a large M&S Food store as we deliver on our strategy to bring the right stores to the right places and offer the best shopping experience, range and availability for our customers."
