M&S has disclosed a list of 500 preferred locations for potential future store openings.
In a recent update, the grocery chain announced plans to launch or renovate 20 M&S outlets, generating 800 employment opportunities. New stores in Northwich, Abingdon, and Stonehaven are set to open soon.
Additionally, stores in Farnham, Northampton, and a flagship store in Godalming, the largest standalone M&S food store, are expected to open in the spring and summer of 2026.
M&S has already inaugurated new stores in Cannock and Bath. The company aims to expand into new territories where it currently lacks a presence, such as Hove, Marlborough, and Wallingford.
M&S is actively seeking locations in the UK that can accommodate trading spaces of 18,000sqft (25,000sqft gross).
Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, stated, “The strong performance of our new M&S food stores has emboldened us to consider additional sites across the UK, spanning from Elgin to Exmouth.
“With more than twenty stores set to open or be revamped by the end of the fiscal year, we are accelerating our expansion efforts.
“Our team is actively pursuing new locations suitable for large M&S Food stores to align with our strategy of offering optimal shopping experiences, variety, and availability to our clientele.”
This move follows a surge in customer visits to M&S stores during the holiday season. Food sales increased by 5.6% over the 13-week period ending December 27, compared to the corresponding period in the previous year.
However, the company’s fashion, home, and beauty segment lagged behind its food business, experiencing a 2.9% decline in sales year-on-year.
M&S attributed the drop in store spending to reduced foot traffic on high streets and ongoing disruptions in its inventory and management systems following a significant cyber attack last year.
In November, M&S revealed that the cyber incident would impact its annual profits by approximately £136 million, with around £34 million affecting the final six months of the financial year.
The retailer faced a halt in online sales for about six weeks and encountered inventory shortages due to disruptions in its logistics systems after being targeted by hackers around the Easter weekend.
Looking to the future, M&S intends to restructure its operations for growth amidst an uncertain consumer landscape, focusing on store transformations