M&S is accelerating the opening of its Food stores having snapped up 12 former Homebase sites.
These stores, which are being opened as part of the retailer’s renewal programme, will feature large bakeries with fresh coffee to go as part of a Coffee Bakery concept.
‘Coffee first’ is a key part of M&S’ strategy as more customers are looking for options to be enjoyed in-store or to takeaway. Morning coffee with a pastry has also been identified as an important mission for M&S customers so putting barista coffee next to in-store bakeries (ISBs) is ‘the most natural place’.
The concept is already in place in a number of stores where a coffee and pastry deal is available before 11am, priced at £3.50.
Roast & Ritual is the coffee served. It’s a medium-light roast made from a blend of hand-picked arabica coffee cherries from Brazil, Ethiopia, and Peru. M&S said the lighter roast offers a ‘more aromatic’ and ‘fuller flavour of candied nuts and dried fruit’ with a long, sweet finish, adding that it is the first specialty coffee to be offered at scale by any national retailer.
Reigning Bakery Retailer of the Year, the M&S ISB operation is predominantly a bake-off model with a few thaw & serve lines. It has been investing across the portfolio with new space added to the fixtures, ‘market-leading’ ovens rolled out, and freezer space increased. It has also worked with its production technology provider to deliver a forecast tool to help improve cost controls, full counters for customers, and lower waste overall. The retailer has also revamped its pastries line-up with a rotation of new flavours and has overhauled its muffins, cookies, and handcrafted rolls offering.
The new stores, which are subject to planning approval, will include Abingdon, Cannock, Farnham, Godalming, and Northampton, and are expected to open in late 2025 and spring 2026. At 22k sq ft, the Godalming food hall in Surrey is set to be M&S’ largest standalone food store to date.
They will feature the latest in-store designs to bring more of the M&S Food range to customers. Alongside the large bakeries, there will also be market-style fruit and vegetables as well as click & collect counters for orders from the wider M&S range. They will also have wider, more spacious aisles, larger car parks, and expanded frozen sections.
The openings mark a significant step forward in M&S’ store rotation and renewal programme which is focussed on having the ‘right stores in the right place with the right space’. Store rotation and renewal aims to create 420 bigger, fresher Food stores and a more productive group of 180 Full Line stores, with half of the estate expected to be in the renewal format by 2027/28.
“Investing in new and renewed stores is one of our key transformation priorities,” said M&S CEO Stuart Machin. “Securing these highly desirable sites in priority locations will accelerate this strategy, drive further growth in our M&S food business and most importantly give our customers the best possible M&S shopping experience.”
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