M&S has disclosed a list of 500 potential locations for future store openings. Last year, the supermarket announced plans to launch or refurbish 20 M&S stores, generating 800 new jobs. New branches in Northwich, Abingdon, and Stonehaven are set to open soon.
Additionally, stores in Farnham, Northampton, and Godalming, which will be M&S’ largest standalone food store, are expected to open in 2026. The company has already introduced new stores in Cannock and Bath and aims to expand into areas such as Hove, Marlborough, and Wallingford.
M&S is actively seeking sites across the UK with a minimum trading space of 18,000sqft (25,000sqft gross). Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, expressed confidence in opening more locations nationwide, emphasizing the importance of offering the best shopping experience for customers.
Following a successful Christmas period with a 5.6% growth in food sales, M&S reported a decline of 2.9% in its fashion, home, and beauty division. The company cited reduced high street footfall and the impact of a cyber attack on its stock data and management systems for the sales setback.
Despite challenges, M&S remains focused on reshaping the business for growth in an uncertain consumer environment. The company plans to optimize store operations and reduce costs to drive future success.
