M&S has disclosed a list of 500 potential locations for future store openings. Last year, the supermarket announced plans to launch or renovate 20 M&S stores, generating 800 job opportunities. New M&S sites in Northwich, Abingdon, and Stonehaven are set to open soon.
Additionally, stores in Farnham, Northampton, and Godalming are expected to open in 2026. The Godalming store will be the largest standalone food store for M&S. The company has already inaugurated stores in Cannock and Bath and aims to expand into new areas like Hove, Marlborough, and Wallingford.
M&S is actively seeking sites across the UK with trading space capabilities of 18,000sqft (25,000sqft gross). Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, expressed confidence in exploring more locations nationwide, mentioning plans to open over twenty stores by the end of the financial year.
Following a successful holiday season with a record number of shoppers, M&S reported a 5.6% growth in food sales but a 2.9% decline in fashion, home, and beauty sales. The company attributed the decrease in store spending to reduced foot traffic on high streets and disruptions from a cyber attack affecting its stock data and management systems.
Despite challenges, M&S is looking to reshape its business for growth amid uncertain consumer trends by focusing on store transformations and cost reductions.
