Marks & Spencer has launched a major new food hall in the West Midlands, perfectly timed to capture the crucial Christmas shopping period. The expansive store opened its doors at Cannock's Orbital Retail Park, marking a significant upgrade for local shoppers.
A Spacious New Destination for Festive Shoppers
The new outlet represents a substantial investment, covering an impressive 18,000 square feet of retail space. It has taken over a former Homebase unit at the retail park, a site that is part of a wider strategy by M&S to convert twelve such locations. The opening comes just as the festive season reaches its peak, ensuring customers have access to a full Christmas food offering.
This new development is a major expansion for the area. The store is three times larger than the previous M&S food store that was located just a few yards away at Unit 4. That smaller unit permanently closed its doors on the evening of Tuesday, December 2, making way for this enhanced shopping experience.
Store Features and Job Creation Boost
The opening is a welcome boost for the local economy, having created 50 new jobs. The store was officially inaugurated just before 8am on Wednesday, December 3, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by two long-serving M&S colleagues. In-store bakers Trish and Sarah, who have dedicated 39 and 40 years to the company respectively, had the honour of opening the new premises.
Shoppers can now explore a comprehensive layout featuring the complete M&S Food range. Key highlights within the store include:
- A fresh bakery section.
- A dedicated coffee counter serving barista-made hot and iced drinks.
- A hot chicken counter for quick meal solutions.
- A sushi counter for fresh, on-the-go options.
Location and Opening Hours
The new M&S Orbital store is situated at Unit 1, Voyager Drive, within the Orbital Retail Centre in Cannock. For customers planning their visit, the store will operate with the following opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 8am to 8pm.
Sunday: 10am to 4pm.
This strategic move underscores M&S's commitment to expanding its food hall footprint with larger, more comprehensive stores. The Cannock launch is the first of several planned conversions of former Homebase sites, setting a precedent for future developments across the region.
