Marks and Spencer has unveiled an ambitious nationwide expansion strategy, targeting up to 500 new and refurbished food stores across the UK. A significant part of this plan focuses on the capital, with 200 potential locations identified in London, including areas in Croydon, Ealing, and Hounslow.
A Bold Plan to Double the Food Business
The retail giant, which currently operates 330 stores nationally, aims to radically reshape its estate. The goal is to establish a network of 180 mixed clothing and home stores alongside 420 dedicated food shops. This expansion is central to M&S's strategy of doubling the size of its food business, a move expected to generate thousands of new jobs.
The company is already moving quickly, with plans to launch or renovate 20 stores by April 2026, creating 800 new roles. A flagship example is the new 83,000 sq ft store in Southgate, Bath, scheduled to open in early February. This push follows the retailer's recovery from a devastating cyber attack that cost approximately £324 million.
Targeting New Locations and Larger Formats
M&S is actively seeking large sites capable of stocking its full food range, which will increase the average store size to around 18,000 square feet. The focus is on areas currently without an M&S presence, with towns like Hove, Marlborough, and Wallingford highlighted. Every new outlet will feature a modern layout with wider aisles for bigger trolleys and larger car parks to attract families doing their weekly shop.
This expansion leverages the acquisition of 12 former Homebase stores last year, which are being converted into M&S Food halls. The first, opened in Cannock in December, is three times the size of a nearby older store it replaced. More than half of all M&S stores are set to be transformed into this new format within two years.
What This Means for London Shoppers
The detailed map of potential London sites includes neighbourhoods such as:
- Carshalton
- Lower Cheam
- Sanderstead
- Selsdon
- Coulsdon
- Hackbridge
- South Ealing
- West Ealing
- Hanwell
- Brentford
- Harrow Weald
- North Harrow
Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, stated: "The strong performance of our new M&S food stores gives us the confidence to explore even more locations across the UK... We are moving faster to bring the right stores to the right places and offer the best shopping experience." This grand plan signals a major shift in the UK retail landscape, aiming to draw customers from traditional supermarkets into M&S's expanded food hall network.
