M&S has disclosed a list of 500 potential locations for future store openings. Last year, the retailer announced plans to launch or renovate 20 M&S stores, leading to the creation of 800 jobs. New branches 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 M&S’ largest standalone food store. M&S aims to expand into new areas like Hove, Marlborough, and Wallingford where it currently has no presence.
The retailer is actively seeking sites across the UK capable of providing at least 18,000sqft of trading space. Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, expressed confidence in exploring new locations nationwide, with plans for over twenty stores to be operational or revamped by the end of the financial year.
Despite a successful holiday season with a 5.6% growth in food sales, M&S faced challenges in its fashion, home, and beauty division, which experienced a 2.9% decline in sales. The company attributed reduced in-store spending to decreased foot traffic on high streets, exacerbated by issues with its stock data and management systems following a cyber attack.
M&S expects a financial impact of approximately £136 million, including £34 million in the latter half of the fiscal year, due to the cyber attack. Looking forward, the company aims to restructure for growth in an uncertain consumer climate by enhancing store operations and cutting costs.