The company also plans to open over 100 larger and better food stores by FY2028
M&S has announced a £50 million investment in stores across the North West of England for the coming year, creating 300 jobs and adding 100,000 square feet of retail space in the area. This investment is part of M&S’s store renewal and rotation program, which focuses on ensuring the right stores are in the right locations. It is a crucial part of the company’s transformation aimed at future growth.
In its half-year results, M&S reported that the store rotation program is gaining momentum, with new and refurbished stores performing well. The relocation of Full Line stores is proving more effective, and the renewed stores are now able to offer a complete M&S Food range.
This investment, which will be spread across the next three financial years, includes the renewal of three existing stores to the latest format and the opening of five brand-new locations, allowing customers to do their weekly grocery shopping at M&S.
In Cheshire, the Full Line store at Gemini Retail Park in Warrington has been redesigned to serve a wider array of customer shopping needs. The updated store features a refreshed Clothing and Home area, a larger Beauty department with a full range of M&S own-brand products as well as third-party brands, and an expanded Food Hall that doubles the previous store’s fresh produce section. Additionally, the in-store bakery has been enhanced to provide takeaway coffee.
M&S aims to operate 180 high-quality, high-productivity full-line stores that offer a complete Clothing, Home, and Food selection. The company also plans to open over 100 larger and better food stores by FY2028. Just a few miles from the new Gemini store, M&S intends to launch a brand-new Outlet store in Warrington, which will include a Click and collect service. This new outlet is expected to open towards the end of summer this year.
