M&S has disclosed a list of 500 potential locations for future store openings. Last year, the supermarket announced plans to launch or renovate 20 M&S stores, generating 800 new job opportunities. New branches in Northwich, Abingdon, and Stonehaven are set to open soon.
Additionally, stores in Farnham and Northampton are expected to open in the upcoming spring and summer of 2026. A new flagship store in Godalming, which will be M&S’ largest standalone food store, is also in the pipeline.
M&S has already introduced new stores in Cannock and Bath and aims to expand into areas without existing stores like Hove, Marlborough, and Wallingford.
The retailer is actively seeking locations across the UK that can accommodate a trading space of 18,000sqft (25,000sqft gross). Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, expressed confidence in exploring new locations nationwide, emphasizing the company’s commitment to offering the best shopping experience for customers.
Following a successful holiday season with a record number of store visitors, M&S reported 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 foot traffic on high streets and ongoing challenges from a recent cyber attack affecting stock data and management systems.
Looking forward, M&S plans to enhance its business operations to adapt to evolving consumer trends and uncertainties, including store transformations and cost reductions.