M&S has disclosed a list of 500 potential locations for future store openings. Last year, the retail giant announced plans to launch or renovate 20 M&S stores, leading to the creation of 800 job opportunities. New branches in Northwich, Abingdon, and Stonehaven are set to debut soon.
Additionally, upcoming store launches in Farnham, Northampton, and Godalming, which will be M&S’ largest standalone food store, are expected in the spring and summer of 2026. M&S aims to expand into new territories where it currently lacks a presence, such as Hove, Marlborough, and Wallingford.
The retailer is actively seeking sites across the UK capable of accommodating trading spaces ranging from 18,000sqft to 25,000sqft. Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, expressed confidence in the brand’s performance, citing the successful operation of new food stores as a reason to explore additional locations nationwide.
Following a robust holiday season with record foot traffic, M&S observed a 5.6% growth in food sales but a 2.9% decline in its fashion, home, and beauty division. The company attributed reduced in-store spending to decreased high street footfall and disruptions caused by a cyber attack, which affected its stock data and management systems.
Looking forward, M&S intends to restructure its operations to drive growth amidst an uncertain consumer climate, focusing on store transformations and cost reductions.