Marks & Spencer (M&S) is focusing on Kettering and Corby as part of its strategy to expand its food store presence across the United Kingdom. The retail group aims to identify large sites in these locations to stock a full range of M&S Food, with plans to increase the average size of its food stores to approximately 18,000 square feet. This initiative is part of a broader ambition to double the size of its food business.
Alex Freudmann, managing director of M&S Food, expressed confidence in the company’s growth, stating, “The strong performance of our new M&S food stores gives us the confidence to explore even more locations across the UK, from Elgin to Exmouth.” The retailer plans to open or modernize more than twenty stores before the end of the financial year, emphasizing the need for new locations that can accommodate large food stores.
Currently, Corby is home to an M&S Foodhall located on Courier Road. Kettering, on the other hand, previously hosted an M&S store on High Street, which closed in August 2018. As part of its expansion strategy, M&S has identified over 500 potential locations throughout the UK. This initiative aims to modernize its store estate to include 180 full-line stores and 420 food shops.
In a significant move earlier this summer, M&S announced the acquisition of 12 Homebase sites, which are expected to be transformed into some of the largest standalone M&S Food stores in the UK. The first of these new stores is anticipated to open before Christmas in Cannock. Between November and March, M&S plans to launch or renew 20 stores, which will create approximately 800 jobs.
The new M&S stores will feature an extended range of food products, wider aisles designed for larger shopping trolleys, and larger car parks to accommodate families. These enhancements aim to improve the shopping experience for customers, aligning with M&S’s strategy to provide the right stores in the right locations.
For property owners who believe they have suitable sites for M&S, the company encourages contact via its designated email addresses. This outreach reflects M&S’s proactive approach in identifying locations that can support its ambitious expansion plans.
