View source for Marks & Spencer

{{short description|British multinational department store company}}
{{redirect|M&S}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Marks & Spencer plc
| logo = [[File:M&S logo.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| type = [[Public limited company]]
| traded_as = {{Lse|MKS}}<br />[[FTSE 100 Index|FTSE 100 Component]]
| industry = [[Retail]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1884}}<br />[[Leeds]], West Riding of Yorkshire, England
| founders = {{ubl|[[Michael Marks]]|[[Thomas Spencer (businessman)|Thomas Spencer]]}}
| location = London
| locations = 1,463 (2019)
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|[[Archie Norman]] ([[Chairman]])|[[Stuart Machin]] ([[Chief Executive]])}}
| brands = {{unbulleted list| Autograph | Blue Harbour | Boutique | Goodmove |  [[Jaeger (clothing)|Jaeger]] | |[[M&S Bank]]{{efn|Owned by [[HSBC UK]]}}|M&S Collection | M&S Food |Per Una | Rosie
}}
| revenue = {{increase}}[[Pound sterling|£]]13,816.8&nbsp;million (2025)<ref name=ar>{{cite web|url=https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/sites/marksandspencer/files/05-2025/fy25-rns.pdf|title=Annual Results 2025|publisher=Marks and Spencer|access-date=21 May 2025}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{decrease}} [[Pound sterling|£]]624.3&nbsp;million (2025)<ref name=ar/>
| net_income = {{decrease}} [[Pound sterling|£]]291.9&nbsp;million (2025)<ref name=ar/>
| num_employees = 64,000 (2025)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/about-us/key-facts-figures|title=Key facts and figures|publisher=Marks and Spencer|access-date=21 May 2025}}</ref>
| parent = Marks and Spencer Group P.L.C. (2016–present)<ref>{{cite web |title=MARKS AND SPENCER P.L.C. persons with significant control |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00214436/persons-with-significant-control |access-date=7 August 2023 |website=[[Companies House]]}}</ref>
| footnotes = 
| homepage = {{Official URL}}
}}

'''Marks and Spencer plc''' (commonly abbreviated to '''M&S''' and colloquially known as '''Marks & Sparks''' or simply '''Marks''') is a major British multinational retailer based in [[London]], England, that specialises in selling clothing, beauty products, home products and food products. It is listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] (LSE) and is a constituent of the [[FTSE 100 Index]].

M&S was founded in 1884 by [[Michael Marks]] and [[Thomas Spencer (businessman)|Thomas Spencer]] in [[Leeds]]. Through its television advertising it asserts the exclusive nature and luxury of its food and beverages. It also offers an online food delivery service through a joint venture with [[Ocado]]. In 1980, M&S became the first British supermarket chain to sell packaged sandwiches.

In 1998, M&S became the first British retailer to make a pre-tax profit of over £1&nbsp;billion,<ref>{{cite news|date=2 July 2008|title=Marks & Spencer: A recent history|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/2792584/Marks-and-Spencer-A-recent-history.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/2792584/Marks-and-Spencer-A-recent-history.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=3 June 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> although it then went into a sudden slump taking the company and its stakeholders by surprise. In November 2008 the company began to sell branded goods such as [[Kellogg's]] [[corn flakes]].<ref name="top brands">{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/city-news/2009/11/04/marks-and-spencer-to-start-selling-top-brands-115875-21796883/|title=Marks and Spencer to start selling top brands|last=Hiscott |first=Graham|work=Daily Mirror|access-date=18 April 2011|location=London}}</ref> In November 2009, it was announced that [[Marc Bolland]], formerly of [[Morrisons]],<ref>{{cite news|first1=Zoe |last1=Wood  |first2=Julia |last2=Finch  |name-list-style=amp |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/nov/22/bolland-marks-spencer-problems |title=A new face, but the same old problems at Marks & Spencer |work=[[The Guardian]] |location=UK |date= 22 November 2009|access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref> would take over as chief executive from executive chairman [[Stuart Rose|Sir Stuart Rose]].<ref name="ft bolland">{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/8d85cb20-d438-11de-990c-00144feabdc0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/8d85cb20-d438-11de-990c-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=M&S names Bolland as new chief|last=Stafford|first=Philip|date=18 November 2009 |work=Financial Times |access-date=18 November 2009 |location=London}}</ref> In the early 21st century clothing sales fell, while food sales increased, after M&S dropped its traditional [[St Michael (brand)|St. Michael brand]]. 

On 22 May 2018, M&S announced that it would close over 100 stores by 2022 in a "radical" plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/news/marks-and-spencer-confirms-100-stores-will-close-by-2022/ar-AAxCEC7?OCID=ansmsnnews11 |title=Marks And Spencer Confirms 100 Stores Will Close By 2022 |publisher=Msn.com |access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> It cut 7,000 jobs in 2020 owing to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news|date=18 August 2020|title=M&S to cut 7,000 jobs over next three months|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53817598|access-date=18 August 2020}}</ref> In May 2021, M&S announced plans to close another 30 shops over the next 10 years as part of its turnaround plan.<ref name="BBC News">{{cite news|date=26 May 2021|title=M&S to close 30 more shops as Ocado deal pays off|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57251682|access-date=26 May 2021}}</ref> In its 2024 results the company stated that it was aiming at reducing locations to 180 full-line and 420 food stores in the UK, commenting that legacy stores were more expensive to operate.<ref name="results2024">{{cite web |date=22 May 2024 |title=Marks and Spencer Group Plc Full Year Results for 52 Weeks Ended 30 March 2024 |url=https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/media/press-releases/marks-and-spencer-group-plc-full-year-results-52-weeks-ended-30-march-2024 |quote=... performance is constrained by legacy stores that are more expensive to operate ... Rotation towards a target estate of 180 full line and 420 Food stores...}}</ref>

==History==
===Establishment===
[[File:Marks & Spencer, Briggate, Leeds.jpg|thumb|Marks and Spencer on [[Briggate]], not far from its original branch in [[Leeds]]]]
The company was founded by a partnership between [[Michael Marks]], a Polish Jew<ref>{{cite book |last=Camillus |first=John&nbsp;C. |date=2016 |title=Wicked Strategies; How Companies Conquer Complexity and Confound Competitors |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sf7QDAAAQBAJ&dq=michael+marks+polish&pg=PA129 |publisher=University of Toronto Press |page=129 |isbn=9781442650558 |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first1=Barbara |last1=Korte |first2=Eva Ulrike |last2=Pirker |first3=Sissy |last3=Helff |year=2010 |title=Facing the East in the West; Images of Eastern Europe in British Literature, Film and Culture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MlUgyqzuQs0C&dq=michael+marks+polish&pg=PA350 |publisher=Rodopi |page=350 |isbn=9789042030497 |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Szydlowska |first=Katarzyna |date=2020 |title=The Future Business Strategy of Marks and Spencer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RqPMDwAAQBAJ&dq=michael+marks+polish&pg=PA4 |publisher=GRIN Verlag |page=4 |isbn=9783346104281}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Abramson |first=Glenda |date=2000 |title=Modern Jewish Mythologies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GAZ-DwAAQBAJ&dq=michael+marks+polish&pg=PA22 |location= |publisher=Hebrew Union College Press |page=22 |isbn=9780878204748 |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Bryce |first1=Alan |last2=Wilson |first2=Jamieson |year=2002 |title=Business Management for Standard Grade |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jHu8A7lp20UC&dq=michael+marks+polish&pg=PA44 |publisher=Heinemann Educational |page=44 |isbn=9780435455484 |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref> born in [[Slonim]] (now [[Belarus]]), who had migrated to Leeds, England in the early 1880s, and [[Thomas Spencer (businessman)|Thomas Spencer]], a cashier from the English market town of [[Skipton]] in [[North Yorkshire]].<ref name=bbc>{{cite web |publisher=BBC| title=The History of Marks and Spencer | date=3 February 2009 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbarchers/html/A43825629| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223065722/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A43825629 | archive-date=23 December 2008 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://theskiptonpress.co.uk/skiptons-illustrious-citizen-thomas-spencer-co-founder-marks-spencer/|title=Skipton's Most Illustrious Citizen: Thomas Spencer, Co-Founder Of Marks & Spencer|publisher=Skipton Press|access-date=25 February 2017|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722203734/https://theskiptonpress.co.uk/skiptons-illustrious-citizen-thomas-spencer-co-founder-marks-spencer/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Marks worked for a company in Leeds called Barran, which employed Jewish migrants (see [[Sir John Barran, 1st Baronet]]). In 1884, he met Isaac Jowitt Dewhirst while looking for work. Dewhirst lent Marks £5 ({{Inflation|UK-GDP|5|1884|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}), which he used to establish his [[penny]] [[bazaar]] on [[Leeds Kirkgate Market|Kirkgate Market]] in Leeds.<ref name=bbc/> 

[[File:Marks and Spencer Original Stall Leeds Kirkgate Market 2023.jpg|alt=Original Penny Bazaar|thumb|The original penny bazaar setup by Marks & Spencer is still in operation in Leeds Kirkgate Market.]]

Dewhirst also taught him a little English. Dewhirst's cashier was Thomas Spencer, a bookkeeper, whose second wife, Agnes, helped improve Marks's English. In 1894, when Marks acquired a permanent stall in the Leeds covered market, he invited Spencer to become his partner.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/gallery/2008/jul/09/marksandspencer.history|title=The history of Marks and Spencer|date=9 July 2008|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=9 April 2017}}</ref>

In 1901, Marks moved to the [[Birkenhead]] open market in North West England, amalgamating his business with Spencer's. In 1903, the two men were allocated stall numbers 11 and 12 in the centre aisle; there they opened the penny bazaar. The company left Birkenhead Market on 24 February 1923.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upton-wirral.co.uk/wir3.php |title=Birkenhead Market Fire |work=upton-wirral.co.uk |access-date=20 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427143731/http://www.upton-wirral.co.uk/wir3.php |archive-date=27 April 2013 }}</ref>

The next few years saw Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer move the original Leeds penny bazaar to 20, Cheetham Hill Road, [[Manchester]], and they also opened market stalls in many locations around the North West of England.<ref name="bbc"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://spartacus-educational.com/BUmarks.htm |title=Spartacus: Michael Marks |publisher=Spartacus-Educational.com |date=31 December 1907 |access-date=26 February 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605081542/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/BUmarks.htm |archive-date=5 June 2011 }}</ref> Spencer died in 1905, and Marks in 1907; Michael Marks' son Simon became chairman in 1916. Under [[Simon Marks]], the company acquired other chains of penny bazaars, growing into a retail empire.<ref name=bbc/>

===Domestic growth===
[[File:Marks and Spencer shop, Bekonscot.JPG|thumb|Representation of historic store from the 1930s, [[Bekonscot]] model village, UK]]

Textiles were first sold in 1926, and food  from 1931.<ref name=bbc/> Marks and Spencer, known colloquially as "Marks and Sparks",<ref>''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' – [https://web.archive.org/web/20081215105839/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,919169,00.html "Business: Marks & Sparks Trades Up"], 28 November 1977</ref> or "M&S", made its reputation until the 1990s with a policy of selling 99% British-made goods.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/mampss-uturns-will-the-latest-plans-last-2133453.html |title=M&S's U-turns: Will the latest plans last? |work=The Independent |location=London |date=14 November 2010}}</ref> It entered into long-term relationships with British manufacturers, and sold clothes under the "[[St Michael (brand)|St Michael]]" brand, after Michael Marks, which was introduced in 1928, and extended to food in 1941, replacing all other brands by 1956.<ref name=bbc/> It also accepted the return of unwanted items, giving a full cash refund if the receipt was shown, no matter how long ago the product was purchased, which was unusual for the time.<ref name="marksintime"/>

During the [[Second World War]] in 1941, M&S staff raised £5,000 to pay for a [[Supermarine Spitfire]] fighter aircraft called ''The Marksman''.<ref name="marksintime">{{cite book | title = Marks in Time: 125 Years of Marks & Spencer | date = 3 September 2009 | last = Chislett | first = Helen | publisher=Weidenfeld and Nicolson | isbn = 978-0-297-85873-7 }}</ref> By 1950, virtually all goods were sold under the "St Michael" label. M&S lingerie, women's clothes and girls' school uniform were branded under the "St Margaret" label until the whole range of general merchandise became "St Michael". Simon Marks died in 1964, after fifty-six years' service. [[Israel Sieff, Baron Sieff|Israel Sieff]], the son-in-law of Michael Marks, took over as chairman and in 1968 [[John Salisse]] became a company director. A cautious international expansion began with the introduction of Asian food in 1974. M&S opened stores in continental Europe in 1975 and in Ireland four years later.<ref name="marksintime"/>

The company put its main emphasis on quality, including a 1957 stocking size measuring system.<ref name="marksintime"/> In 1948, it established a Food Technology department.  Staff in the canteens and cafeterias had hygiene training by the mid-1950s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Otter |first1=Chris |title=Diet for a large planet |date=2020 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |location=USA |isbn=978-0-226-69710-9 |page=129 }}</ref> For most of its history, it also had a reputation for offering fair value for money. When this reputation began to waver, it encountered serious difficulties. Arguably, M&S has historically been an iconic retailer of 'British Quality Goods'.<ref name="marksintime"/>

The uncompromising attitude towards customer relations was summarised by the 1953 slogan: "The customer ''is'' always and completely right!"<ref name="marksintime"/>

Energy efficiency was improved by the addition of thermostatically controlled refrigerators in 1963.<ref name="marksintime"/>

M&S began selling [[Christmas cake]]s and [[Christmas pudding]]s in 1958. In an effort to improve the quality of their [[Swiss roll]]s, they hired the food expert Nat Goldberg, who made a major improvement across their entire cake range, which had lost the public's favour a few years earlier. As a later measure to improve food quality, food labelling was improved and "sell by dates" were phased in between 1970 and 1972.<ref name="marksintime"/>

Smoking was banned as a fire hazard from all M&S shops in 1959.<ref name="marksintime"/>

===Terror attack===
The [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine]] bombed the [[Oxford Street]] store of Marks & Spencer in London on 18 July 1969.<ref name=dopa79>{{cite book
|year=1979|first1=Christopher |last1=Dobson|page=195|first2=Ronald |last2=Payne|title=The Weapons of Terror: International Terrorism at Work|publisher=The Macmillan Press Ltd.|author2-link=Ronald Payne|location=London; Basingstoke|isbn=978-1-349-16111-9|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-16111-9|doi=10.1007/978-1-349-16111-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=687618|title=Innovation in Terrorist Organizations: The Case of PFLP and its Offshoots|first=Yoram |last=Schweitzer|page=18}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=VjmwDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA325   |title=London Bombed, Blitzed and Blown Up : the British Capital Under Attack Since 1867|first= Ian|last= Jones|year= 2016|publisher=Frontline Books|isbn=978-1473878990}}</ref>

===International expansion===
In 1972, [[Marcus Sieff, Baron Sieff of Brimpton|Marcus Sieff]] became chairman, remaining in place until 1984, and emphasising the importance of good staff relations to the tradition of the store while extending staff benefits to areas such as restaurants and [[Podiatry|chiropody]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1323890/Lord-Sieff-of-Brimpton.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1323890/Lord-Sieff-of-Brimpton.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Obituary – Marcus sieff |date=26 February 2001 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |access-date=22 October 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[File:Central Tower Marks & Spencer 2009.jpg|thumb|A Marks & Spencer store in [[Central, Hong Kong]]]]
[[File:Marks & Spencer in Times Square HK 201507.jpg|thumb|A Marks & Spencer store in [[Times Square (Hong Kong)|Times Square]], [[Causeway Bay]], Hong Kong]]
Marks & Spencer expanded into Canada in 1973, and at one point had 47 stores. Despite efforts to improve its image, the chain was never able to move beyond its reputation there as a stodgy retailer, one that catered primarily to senior citizens and expatriate Britons. The shops in Canada were smaller than British outlets, and did not carry the same selection. In the late 1990s, further efforts were made to modernise them and also expand the customer base. Unprofitable locations were closed. Nevertheless, the Canadian operations continued to lose money, and the last 38 shops in Canada were closed in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/marks-spencer-closing-ahead-of-schedule-1.184100 |title=Marks and Spencer close ahead of schedule |publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=10 November 2000 |access-date=18 April 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826234315/http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/1999/07/14/marks990714.html |archive-date=26 August 2010 }}</ref>

Expansion into France began with shops opening in [[Paris]] at [[Boulevard Haussmann]] and [[Lyon]] in 1975, followed by a second Paris shop at Rosny 2 in 1977. Further expansion into other French and Belgian cities followed into the 1980s. Although the Paris shops remained popular and profitable, the Western European operation as a whole did not fare as well and 18 shops were sold in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pfanner |first=Eric |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2001/10/18/t15_14.php |title=Galeries Lafayette buying 18 stores |work=International Herald Tribune |date=18 October 2001 |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref> In April 2011, M&S changed direction again, with a plan to reopen a store that would sell food as well as clothing. In addition, the group opened several food outlets throughout Paris. The first branch opened on 24 November 2011, on the [[Champs-Élysées]] in a ceremony attended by the company's CEO [[Marc Bolland]], the model [[Rosie Huntington-Whiteley]], and the British Ambassador to France, Sir [[Peter Westmacott]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8917910/Paris-has-a-Marks-and-Spencer-again-but-its-the-wrong-size-and-in-the-wrong-place.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8917910/Paris-has-a-Marks-and-Spencer-again-but-its-the-wrong-size-and-in-the-wrong-place.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Paris has a Marks and Spencer again, but it's the wrong size and in the wrong place|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=27 November 2018|access-date=13 October 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 1988, Marks & Spencer acquired [[Brooks Brothers]], an American clothing company<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooksbrothers.com/aboutus/heritage3.tem |title=Brooks Brothers Heritage |publisher=Brooksbrothers.com |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref> and [[Kings Food Markets]], a US food chain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/sector-44-45-retail-trade/clothing-clothing/1181357-1.html |title=Kings Supermarkets |publisher=Allbusiness.com |date=1 May 2006 |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref> In early 1980, Marks & Spencer became the first British supermarket chain to sell packaged sandwiches, beginning with five shops. Demand was so high that M&S enlisted suppliers to industrialise the process, and other supermarkets followed. By 1990, the British sandwich industry was worth £1&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news |last=Knight |first=Sam |date=24 November 2017 |title=How the sandwich consumed Britain |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/24/how-the-sandwich-consumed-britain |access-date=5 July 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===21st century===
====Financial decline====
[[File:M & S, Inverness (1998).png|thumb|M&S shop in [[Inverness]] in 1998]]
M&S's profits peaked in the financial year 1997–1998.<ref name="profit">{{cite news|date=19 May 1998|title=Marks & Spencer profits top expectations|work=BBC News|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/96531.stm|access-date=7 November 2009}}</ref> At the time it was seen as a continuing success story, but with hindsight it is considered that during Sir [[Richard Greenbury]]'s tenure as head of the company, profit margins were pushed to untenable levels, and the loyalty of its customers was seriously eroded. Another factor was the company's refusal until 2001 to accept any credit cards except its own chargecard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ciao.co.uk/Marks_Spencer_Chargecard__Review_5001590 |title=Marks & Spencer storecard fading value |publisher=Ciao.co.uk |access-date=18 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724031156/http://www.ciao.co.uk/Marks_Spencer_Chargecard__Review_5001590 |archive-date=24 July 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> These factors combined to send M&S into a sudden slump: its profits fell from more than a billion pounds in 1997 and 1998, to £145&nbsp;million in the year ended 31 March 2001.<ref>{{cite news |title=Marks & Spencer: A recent history |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/2792584/Marks-and-Spencer-A-recent-history.html |access-date=5 February 2025 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |date=2 July 2008 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603070116/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/2792584/Marks-and-Spencer-A-recent-history.html |archive-date=3 June 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2002, with changes in its business focus such as accepting credit cards, the introduction of the "Per Una" clothing range designed by [[George Davies (retailer)|George Davies]], and a redesign of its underlying business model, profits recovered somewhat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/2794432/Marks-and-Spencer-loses-Per-Una-design-director.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/2794432/Marks-and-Spencer-loses-Per-Una-design-director.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Marks & Spencer loses Per Una design director|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=7 August 2008|access-date=9 April 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2004, M&S was in the throes of an attempted takeover by [[Arcadia Group]] and [[British Home Stores|BHS]] boss, [[Philip Green]].<ref name="green">{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0DQA/is_2000_Feb_17/ai_59870857 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016211356/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0DQA/is_2000_Feb_17/ai_59870857 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 October 2015 |title=Green drops Marks & Spencer bid |publisher=Findarticles.com |access-date=18 April 2011 |year=2000 }}</ref> On 12 July a recovery plan was announced which would involve selling off its financial services business [[M&S Bank|M&S Money]] to [[HSBC (United Kingdom)|HSBC Bank]], buying control of the ''Per Una'' range, closing the [[Gateshead]] Lifestore and stopping the expansion of its Simply Food line of shops. [[Philip Green]] withdrew his takeover bid after failing to get sufficient backing from shareholders.<ref name="green"/><ref>The book- "Marks in time" by Orionbooks.co.uk (2009)</ref>

In February 2007, M&S announced the opening of the world's largest M&S shop outside the UK at [[Dubai Festival City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dubai.mconet.biz/index.php?action=fullnews&id=282535&category=884&category_name= |title=Dubai Online |publisher=Dubai.mconet.biz |access-date=7 November 2009 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On 2 October 2008, M&S opened its first mainland China shop which is in [[Shanghai]]. Problems with the supply chain for the first few months of opening led Stuart Rose, M&S chairman, to describe failures in "basic shopkeeping".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/2bac61ae-f6e2-11dd-8a1f-0000779fd2ac |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2bac61ae-f6e2-11dd-8a1f-0000779fd2ac.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=M&S admits Shanghai errors |first = Patti | last = Waldmeir |work=Financial Times |date=9 February 2009 |access-date=19 December 2009}}</ref>

====Restructuring====
[[File:Interior of Marks & Spencer, Kirkgate, Wakefield, West Yorkshire (8th December 2020) 003.jpg|thumb|right|The interior of a branch in [[Wakefield, West Yorkshire]] in 2020]]
Twenty-two unprofitable and minor food stores, including branches in [[Ripon]] and [[Balham]], were closed in early 2009 as part of a cost-cutting measure.<ref name="marksintime"/> In August 2010, it was confirmed that the [[Grantham]] branch of M&S would close, along with two other [[Lincolnshire]] branches in [[Skegness]] and [[Scunthorpe]], owing to low sales in these older format stores. These decisions met with protests from the local communities and petitions were signed in support of retaining the stores, although the closures went ahead.<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC News Lincolnshire |date=25 August 2010 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-11076135 |title=M&S confirms three store closures in Lincolnshire |accessdate= 25 August 2010}}</ref>

The Retail Knowledge Bank conducted an audit of the company's brands in August 2010, and revealed that sales of womenswear were at a 10-year low. ''[[Drapers (magazine)|Drapers]]'' magazine claimed that Per Una was the only clothing brand not at risk of being axed while [[Marc Bolland]], the chief executive, considered which brands would be retained.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8098977/MandS-plans-to-take-Twiggy-international.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8098977/MandS-plans-to-take-Twiggy-international.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=M&S plans to take Twiggy international|last=Hall|first=James|date=30 October 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In October 2010, chairman Sir Stuart Rose was a signatory to a letter to ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/8069609/Osbornes-cuts-will-strengthen-Britains-economy-by-allowing-the-private-sector-to-generate-more-jobs.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/8069609/Osbornes-cuts-will-strengthen-Britains-economy-by-allowing-the-private-sector-to-generate-more-jobs.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Osborne's cuts will strengthen Britain's economy by allowing the private sector to generate more jobs |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK |date=18 October 2010 |access-date=18 April 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> which stated that "The private sector should be more than capable of generating additional jobs to replace those lost in the public sector, and the redeployment of people to more productive activities will improve economic performance, so generating more employment opportunities", despite recent job cuts of 1,000 staff.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110612031348/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article5455026.ece M&S cuts 1,000 jobs as fashion sales dive], Helen Power and Marcus Leroux, ''The Times'', 6 January 2009 </ref>

On 9 November 2010, Bolland revealed plans to strengthen the company's overall brand image and targeting sales of between £800&nbsp;million and £1&nbsp;billion for which company will increase capital expenditure to £850&nbsp;million to £900&nbsp;million over the next three years to fund the plans.<ref name="reuters.com">{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE6A70V420101109 |work=Reuters   | first=Mark | last=Potter | title=UPDATE 5-Marks & Spencer's new CEO lifts investment | date=9 November 2010}}</ref> The plan also involved the discontinuation of its 'Portfolio' fashion brand and the sale of electrical products. The company announced a new marketing strapline, 'Only at M&S', and that it would revamp its website.<ref name="htanna">{{cite web|title=M&S plans £900m capital expenditure to boost sales|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/economy/2010/11/sales-plans-1bn-operations|work=2010 plans for expansion|access-date=11 November 2010}}</ref> Bolland ordered a new store design in May 2011, and it was announced that the company would spend around £600&nbsp;million between 2011 and 2014 on its UK stores.<ref name="telegraph2">{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8534666/2bn-Marks-and-Spencer-makeover-less-than-inspiring.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8534666/2bn-Marks-and-Spencer-makeover-less-than-inspiring.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=£2bn Marks & Spencer makeover 'less than inspiring'|date=25 May 2011|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=25 March 2012|first=James|last=Hall|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In May 2013, some Marks & Spencer customers claimed  that the chain's [[contactless payment]] terminals have taken money from cards other than the ones intended for payment. Contactless cards are supposed to be within about 4&nbsp;cm of the front of the terminal to work. M&S investigated the incident and confirmed the new system had been extensively tested and was robust. It had rolled out the contactless payments system, provided by Visa Europe, to 644 UK stores.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22545804|title=Contactless 'charging errors' at Marks and Spencer|date=18 May 2013|access-date=12 March 2014|work=BBC News}}</ref>

In May 2013, the ''Best of British'' range was launched along with an overhaul of ''Per Una'' and ''Indigo''.<ref name="mirror1">{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/city-news/marks-spencer-fashion-launch-slick-1889943 |title=Marks and Spencer fashion launch was slick but what matters is what core customers think |work=Daily Mirror |last=Hiscott |first=Graham |date=15 May 2013 |access-date=22 July 2013}}</ref> Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne became the marketing director, succeeding Steven Sharp in July. Bolland vowed to bring "quality and style back".<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-22546823 |title=M&S tries to boost sales with new clothing range |work=BBC News |date=15 May 2013 |access-date=22 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite news|first=Emma |last=Simpson |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22533986 |title=M&S tries to lure back shoppers with new fashion ranges |work=BBC News |date=14 May 2013 |access-date=22 July 2013}}</ref> In November 2013, it was revealed that Bill Adderley, founder of homeware chain [[Dunelm Group]], had built a £250&nbsp;million stake in M&S over the past 18 months. This disclosure was made under stock market rules which require any holding larger than a 3 per cent share to be made public.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/business-news/business-headlines/yorkshire-retail-entrepreneur-builds-up-250m-stake-in-m-s-1-6212162|title=Yorkshire retail entrepreneur builds up £250m stake in M&S|newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|access-date=12 March 2014}}</ref>

In December 2013, Marks & Spencer announced that Muslim checkout staff in the UK could refuse to sell pork products or alcohol to customers at their till.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ms-says-muslim-staff-may-refuse-to-serve-customers-pork-and-alcohol-9020982.html |title=M&S says Muslim staff may refuse to serve customers pork and alcohol |work=The Independent |date=22 December 2013 |access-date=22 December 2013 |location=London |first1=Adam |last1=Withnall |first2=Alex |last2=Delmar-Morgan}}</ref> The policy was announced after at least one news outlet reported that customers waiting with goods that included pork or alcohol were refused service, and were told by a Muslim checkout worker to wait until another till became available.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10532782/Muslim-staff-at-Marks-and-Spencer-can-refuse-to-sell-alcohol-and-pork.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10532782/Muslim-staff-at-Marks-and-Spencer-can-refuse-to-sell-alcohol-and-pork.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Muslim staff at Marks & Spencer can refuse to sell alcohol and pork |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=21 December 2013 |access-date=22 December 2013 |location=London |first=Robert |last=Mendick}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The policy applied across all 703 UK M&S stores and prompted a strong backlash by customers.<ref>{{cite news |title=M&S faces furious backlash from customers over Muslim policy |url=http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/m-faces-furious-backlash-customers-174843463.html |work=Yahoo News |date=22 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103021213/https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/m-faces-furious-backlash-customers-174843463.html |archive-date=3 January 2016 }}</ref> A company spokesman subsequently apologised and stated that they will attempt to reassign staff whose beliefs may impact their work to different departments, such as clothing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25488259 |title=M&S apology over Muslim alcohol refusal |work=BBC News |date=22 December 2013 |access-date=23 December 2013}}</ref>

On 7 January 2016, it was announced that Marc Bolland, who has been CEO since 2010, would step down on 2 April 2016, and be replaced by [[Steve Rowe (businessman)|Steve Rowe]], head of clothing, and previously head of the food business.<ref name=Guardian_20160107>{{cite news|last1=Butler|first1=Sarah|last2=Kollewe|first2=Julia|title=M&S boss Marc Bolland to step down|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/07/ms-boss-marc-bolland-to-step-down|access-date=7 January 2016|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=7 January 2016}}</ref> In 2018, [[Stuart Machin]] was appointed managing director of Food to lead the transformation of the food business.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://anthonygregg.com/move-week-ms-new-food-md-stuart-machin/|title=Move of the week: M&S' new food MD Stuart Machin|publisher=Anthony Gregg|date=23 March 2018|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref> On 28 June 2024, the company announced that it would be launching a new service for clothing repairs and alterations in partnership with the Sojo company.<ref>{{cite news|date=28 June 2024 |title=Marks & Spencer to launch clothing repairs service |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpe35e7kgnzo |access-date=1 July 2024 |website=BBC News}}</ref>

In September 2018, television presenter and model [[Holly Willoughby]] became the company's new brand ambassador along with her 'Must Have' collection which launched on 27 September 2018. However, the company failed to order sufficient stock and many customers were left disappointed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/style/g23124252/holly-willoughby-marks-and-spencer-collection/|title=The curse of Willoughby: it's great Holly's M&S range sells out – but not so for the rest of us|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=7 March 2019|access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref>

Marks & Spencer introduced a hijab in its section of school uniforms in late 2018 and subsequently faced a backlash and boycott from some customers; the product is stocked for girls as young as three.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/ms-started-selling-hijabs-its-15268756|title=M&S has started selling hijabs made for children as young as three|last=Hodgson|first=Sarah|date=12 October 2018|work=[[Daily Post (North Wales)]]|access-date=13 October 2018}}</ref>

====Store culls, developments and openings====
Some 30 stores were identified for closure in 2015–2016.<ref name="auto2">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jul/29/marks-spencer-local-anger-confirming-store-closures-nine-shops|title=Marks & Spencer triggers local anger after confirming store closures|first=Graham|last=Ruddick|date=29 July 2015|work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name="newsshopper.co.uk">{{cite news|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/11252488.UPDATE__Woolwich_M_S_to_close__with_Lewisham_store_losing_a_floor/|title=UPDATE: Woolwich M&S to close, with Lewisham store losing a floor|date=3 June 2014|work=newsshopper.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/08/m-and-s-marks-spencer-close-80-stores-major-overhaul|title=M&S to close 30 UK stores and cut back on clothing|first=Zoe|last=Wood|date=8 November 2016|work=The Guardian}}</ref> Several smaller stores were identified for closure in November 2017.<ref>{{cite web|last=Davey |first=James |url=https://uk.yahoo.com/news/marks-spencer-speed-change-profits-fall-again-072111338--finance.html |title=M&S to speed up store closures as profits fall |date=8 November 2017 |publisher=Uk.yahoo.com |access-date=10 November 2017}}</ref><ref name="yahoo1">{{cite web|url=https://uk.yahoo.com/news/m-signals-more-store-closures-071700147.html |title=M&S signals more store closures ahead in transformation plan |publisher=Uk.yahoo.com |date=15 September 2017 |access-date=10 November 2017}}</ref> On 31&nbsp;January 2018, another fourteen stores were identified for closure in April 2018,<ref name="BBC31012018">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-42886154|title=Marks and Spencer plans to close up to 14 stores|work=BBC News|date=31 January 2018|access-date=1 February 2018}}</ref> and eight other stores were earmarked for closure later, pending consultation.<ref name="BBC31012018" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/ms-which-shops-are-closing-14225884|title=Marks and Spencer to shut store in Stockport and Denton as closures put hundreds of jobs at risk|work=Manchester Evening News|date=31 January 2018|access-date=1 February 2018}}</ref> On 23 May 2018, M&S managers confirmed that 14 more shops were to be closed and another 86 were under investigation, and thus put on notice, because of falling corporate sales and customer footfall. This would take the total to over 100 closing by 2022,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44197128|title=M&S to close 100 stores by 2022|work=BBC News|date=22 May 2018}}</ref><ref name="yahoo.com2">{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/m-store-closures-full-list-072800891.html|title=Marks and Spencer store closures – full list: Which shops is the retailer shutting around the UK?|website=www.yahoo.com|date=23 May 2018 }}</ref><ref name="yahoo.com1">{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/m-confirms-14-more-shops-092928845.html|title=M&S confirms 14 more shops to be axed taking total to over 100|website=www.yahoo.com|date=22 May 2018 }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/05/23/ms-profits-plunge-store-closure-costs/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2018/05/23/ms-profits-plunge-store-closure-costs/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=M&S profits plunge 62pc amid sweeping store closure plans|first=Ben|last=Woods|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=23 May 2018|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-05-23/m-amp-s-takes-its-medicine|title=Analysis – M&S Takes Its Medicine|first=Andrea Felsted |last=Bloomberg|newspaper=Bloomberg |date=23 May 2018|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> On 15&nbsp;January 2019, the company named the next 17 stores to be closed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46876749|title=M&S names next 17 stores it wants to close|date=15 January 2019|access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> In May 2021, the company announced plans to close another 30 shops over the next 10&nbsp;years as part of its turnaround plan,<ref name="BBC News"/> and in September 2021 it was confirmed that half of the French stores had been closed due to supply chain issues arising from [[Brexit]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/fr/france/20210917-brexit-plus-de-la-moiti%C3%A9-des-magasins-marks-spencer-ferment-leurs-portes-en-france|title=Brexit : plus de la moitié des magasins Marks & Spencer ferment leurs portes en France|date=17 September 2021|website=France 24}}</ref> 

In March 2021, M&S announced it intended to redevelop its largest store, the Marble Arch branch on [[Oxford Street]] in London, replacing it with a 10-storey building with two-and-a-half floors of shop space below several floors of offices.<ref name="Butler-07Mar2022">{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Sarah |title=M&S to redevelop big Oxford Street store as shoppers move online |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/09/m-and-s-oxford-street-store-marks-spencer-covid-crisis |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=Guardian |date=7 March 2021}}</ref> Despite protests from groups including [[Save Britain's Heritage]], [[The Twentieth Century Society]] and [[Create Streets]], the plans were approved by [[Westminster City Council]] in November 2021,<ref name="Ing-24Nov2022">{{cite news |last1=Ing |first1=Will |title=M&S's Oxford Street store to be demolished under Pilbrow & Partners plans |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/mss-oxford-street-store-to-be-demolished-under-pilbrow-partners-plans |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=Architects' Journal |date=24 November 2021}}</ref> and [[Mayor of London]] [[Sadiq Khan]] chose not to intervene.<ref name="Goldfingle-12Apr2022">{{cite news |last1=Goldfingle |first1=Gemma |title=M&S Marble Arch store to be demolished as Sadiq Khan opts not to intervene |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2022/04/ms-marble-arch-store-to-be-demolished-as-sadiq-khan-opts-not-to-intervene/ |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=Retail Gazette |date=12 April 2022}}</ref> However, in April 2022, Communities Secretary [[Michael Gove]] blocked the plans to allow time for the [[Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities]] to review the proposed redevelopment.<ref name="Hurst-20Apr2022">{{cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Will |title=M&S Oxford St demolition scheme halted by Gove |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/ms-oxford-st-demolition-scheme-halted-by-gove |access-date=21 April 2022 |work=Architects' Journal |date=20 April 2022}}</ref> In June 2022, Gove ordered a public enquiry into the plans; M&S said it was "bewildered" by his "baseless" decision.<ref name="Rogers-22Jun2022">{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Dave |title=M&S turns guns on Gove and says decision over Oxford Street rebuild is 'bewildering' |url=https://www.building.co.uk/news/mands-turns-guns-on-gove-and-says-decision-over-oxford-street-rebuild-is-bewildering/5118055.article |access-date=22 June 2022 |work=Building |date=22 June 2022}}</ref> A two-week planning enquiry, starting in October 2022, looked at whether the project complied with planning rules concerning heritage and the historic environment and also address environmental concerns, notably the release of almost 40,000 tonnes of [[embodied carbon]] into the atmosphere caused by the construction of the replacement structure.<ref name="Hurst-21Oct2022">{{cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Will |title=Demolition in the dock: Why the M&S Oxford St public inquiry really matters |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/this-is-not-just-any-public-inquiry |access-date=21 October 2022 |work=Architects' Journal |date=21 October 2022}}</ref> 

In July 2023, Gove rejected the plans to demolish and redevelop the Oxford Street store, stating it conflicted with policies on heritage and design, and involved significant embodied carbon impact and waste.<ref name="AJ-20Jul2023">{{cite news |last1=Waite |first1=Richard |last2=Highfield |first2=Anna |last3=Hurst |first3=Will |title=BREAKING: Gove rejects M&S Oxford Street demolition |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/breaking-gove-rejects-ms-oxford-street-demolition |access-date=20 July 2023 |work=Architects' Journal |date=20 July 2023}}</ref> As well as overruling Westminster City Council and the Mayor of London, Gove also overruled his planning inspector, David Nicholson, who had recommended the project should go ahead due to its importance to the viability of the Oxford Street area.<ref name="Butler-20Jul2023">{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Sarah |title=Marks & Spencer refused permission to demolish and rebuild Oxford Street store |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/20/marks-spencer-refused-permission-to-demolish-and-rebuild-oxford-street-store |access-date=20 July 2023 |work=Guardian |date=20 July 2023}}</ref> M&S CEO Stuart Machin called the decision "utterly pathetic" and a "shortsighted act of self-sabotage".<ref name="AJ-20Jul2023"/> M&S subsequently launched a legal challenge against Gove's decision.<ref name="Prior-31Aug2023">{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=M&S launches legal challenge to Gove store rebuild rebuff |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2023/08/31/ms-launches-legal-challenge-to-gove-store-rebuild-rebuff/ |access-date=1 September 2023 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=31 August 2023}}</ref> In November 2023, the High Court allowed M&S to proceed with a [[judicial review]],<ref name="AJ-21Nov2023">{{cite news |last1=Waite |first1=Richard |last2=Highfield |first2=Anna |last3=Hurst |first3=Will |title=M&S clears first hurdle in legal challenge to Gove's Oxford St refusal |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/ms-clears-first-hurdle-in-legal-challenge-to-goves-oxford-st-refusal |access-date=21 November 2023 |work=Architects' Journal |date=21 November 2023}}</ref> and after a two-day hearing on 13–14 February 2024, Gove's decision to block demolition was quashed by a High Court judge on 1 March 2024.<ref name="Hurst-01Mar2024">{{cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Will |title=M&S wins High Court battle over Gove's Oxford Street decision |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/ms-wins-high-court-battle-over-goves-oxford-street-decision |access-date=1 March 2024 |work=Architects' Journal |date=1 March 2024}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite web |date=1 March 2024 |title=M&S wins High Court appeal to tear down Marble Arch store |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cv2y5mm70l6o |access-date=2 March 2024 |website=BBC News }}</ref> In December 2024, Gove's successor [[Angela Rayner]] approved the store's demolition, citing the advantages of a concentrated development in a highly accessible location, the employment and regeneration benefits, and "potential harm to the vitality and viability" of London's West End if permission had been refused.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pitcher |first1=Greg |title=Rayner approves M&S Oxford Street plans |url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/ms-oxford-street-demolition-deciscion |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=Architects' Journal |date=5 December 2024}}</ref>

In its results for the 52 weeks ending on 30 March 2024, the company stated that it was aiming at having 180 full-line and 420 food stores in the UK, commenting that legacy stores were more expensive to operate.<ref name="results2024" /> In 2025, Marks and Spencer opened a new store in Bristol's Cabot Circus shopping centre, nearly four years after a store in Bristol closed. This was one of 16 new stores opening across the UK in that financial year, as part of a £300&nbsp;million investment.<ref>{{cite news |date=13 November 2025 |title=Marks and Spencer opens flagship store in Bristol's Cabot Circus |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c33pyxx230go |access-date=13 November 2025 |website=BBC News }}</ref>

====New management====
In May 2021, Machin's remit had expanded as he was appointed joint Chief Operating Officer taking oversight responsibility for Store and Central Operations, Property, Store Development, Technology, People and the Island of Ireland whilst remaining the Food Managing Director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/marks-and-spencer/mands-makes-machin-joint-chief-operating-officer-in-management-shake-up/656195.article|title=M&S makes Machin joint chief operating officer in management shake-up|first=Steve|last=Farrell|date=18 May 2021|website=The Grocer|accessdate=16 February 2022}}</ref> In March 2022, it was announced that chief executive (CEO) Steve Rowe would step down after six years in role. Rowe stayed on as an advisor before officially leaving the company in July 2022. Machin was announced as his successor as CEO, with [[Katie Bickerstaffe]] assisting as co-CEO.<ref>{{cite web |title=M&S boss announces departure after 'six successful years' |url=https://news.sky.com/story/m-s-boss-announces-departure-after-six-successful-years-12562415 |access-date=10 March 2022 |website=Sky News }}</ref>

==== Animal welfare ====
In July 2022, secret cameras at an intensive dairy farm in North Yorkshire that supplied milk and cheese to M&S, [[Ocado]], [[Asda]] and [[Morrisons]] captured lame animals "unable to get up to reach water" as some workers killed goats "of no value" at the intensive farm. Animals were seen with overgrown hooves and piles of dead goats were observed outside the property. A spokesperson for the [[British Retail Consortium]] said: "Our members take their responsibilities to animal welfare very seriously and will investigate these claims. Swift action will be taken against any breaches to the high animal welfare standards our members uphold."<ref>{{cite news |last=Dalton |first=Jane |date=9 July 2022 |title=Goats 'shoved and neglected' at show farm that supplies milk and cheese to M&S, Ocado, Asda and Morrisons |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/goats-milk-cheese-farm-m-s-ocado-asda-morrisons-b2113892.html |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=The Independent }}</ref> Marks & Spencer is a member of the [[RSPCA Assured]] food labelling scheme that states "any animals involved in a product's production have been reared to the RSPCA's strict farm animal welfare standards".<ref>{{cite web|date=2024|title=RSPCA Assured at Marks & Spencer|url=https://www.rspcaassured.org.uk/retailers/buy-at-marks-spencer|website=RSPCA|archive-date=16 October 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241016161845/https://www.rspcaassured.org.uk/retailers/buy-at-marks-spencer/|url-status=live}}</ref> The scheme has been subject to controversy due to animal abuse being captured by hidden cameras at some farms, with the RSPCA president calling it "utterly indefensible".<ref>{{cite web |last=Gadher |first=Dipesh |date=8 June 2024 |title=Chris Packham: The truth at some RSPCA-assured farms makes me sick |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/society/article/chris-packham-rspca-assured-farms-nlgt0ngl3 |access-date=16 November 2024 |website=[[The Times]]}}</ref>

In April 2024, ''[[The Guardian]]'' obtained footage of pigs from RSPCA Assured farms at a slaughterhouse being hit in the face by workers with a paddle before entering a gas chamber to die. The [[RSPCA]] reviewed the footage and said the hitting of any animals was completely unacceptable and they would launch an immediate investigation.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dalton |first=Jane |date=3 April 2024 |title=Pigs hit in face before 'agonising' CO2 death at supplier for Tesco, Asda, Aldi and M&S |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/pigs-bacon-tesco-asda-aldi-mands-b2520254.html |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=The Independent }}</ref> In May 2024, animal welfare activists released footage that was filmed at several intensive RSPCA Assured farms that supplied meat to Marks & Spencer, [[Tesco]] and [[Asda]]. The footage showed sick, dying and dead hens alongside living ones. M&S suspended one of the farms.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dalton |first=Jane |date=9 May 2024 |title=Free-range hens suffering at egg farms supplying M&S, Tesco and Asda, animal rights activists say |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/free-range-eggs-tesco-mands-rspca-b2538181.html |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=The Independent }}</ref> In September 2024, undercover footage was released from an RSPCA Assured farm which supplied milk to M&S. Workers were observed mistreating cows, striking them with poles and kicking them. In one incident, a worker was seen jabbing a cow with a screwdriver.<ref name="Dalton 2024">{{cite web|last1=Dalton|first1=Jane|last2=Colley|first2=Claire|date=2024|title=Cows on farms supplying M&S and Muller kicked, punched, hit with chains and sworn at in shocking footage|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cows-abuse-muller-marks-spencers-milk-rspca-b2611198.html|website=The Independent|archive-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240915180542/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/cows-abuse-muller-marks-spencers-milk-rspca-b2611198.html|url-status=live}}</ref> M&S immediately suspended the farm from their supply chain when the footage was released. The RSPCA also suspended the farm. An M&S spokesperson said: "We take animal welfare extremely seriously and set rigorous standards for our suppliers."<ref name="Dalton 2024"/>

Marks & Spencer, along with [[Waitrose]] and other supermarkets, has phased out the practice of [[eyestalk ablation]] in its shrimp supply chain.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ungoed-Thomas |first=Jon |date=15 February 2025 |title=Waitrose to stop selling suffocated farmed prawns, as campaigners say they feel pain |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/15/prawn-farming-cruelty-electrical-stunning-waitrose |access-date=9 May 2025 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> It has also committed to source only [[free-range eggs]] by the end of 2025. In 2024, it joined a letter by [[Compassion in World Farming]] and other major UK food companies calling on the government to ban the use of [[battery cage]]s and [[furnished cage|colony cage]]s for egg-laying hens.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Speare-Cole |first1=Rebecca |title=Major supermarkets back call to ban cages for UK hens |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/uk-government-steve-reed-government-waitrose-aldi-b2654449.html |access-date=30 October 2025 |work=The Independent |date=27 November 2024}}</ref>

====Acquisitions====
In July 2022, the company agreed to buy the logistics firm Gist Limited for £145&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/britains-ms-buy-logistics-firm-gist-2022-07-21/|title=Britain's M&S seeks food supply chain control with $173-mln Gist buyout|newspaper=Reuters |date=21 July 2022|via=www.reuters.com|accessdate=26 July 2022}}</ref> In November 2022, it was reported that the company had acquired the intellectual property developed by collapsed fashion marketplace Thread, and hired some former Thread staff including co-founder [[Kieran O'Neill]], with the aim of adding personalised recommendations to the M&S website.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shearsmith |first=Tom |date=30 November 2022 |title=Marks & Spencer acquires IP developed by collapsed fashion marketplace Thread |url=https://www.theindustry.fashion/marks-spencer-acquires-ip-developed-by-collapsed-fashion-marketplace-thread/ |access-date=1 December 2022 |website=TheIndustry.fashion }}</ref>

==== Partnerships ====
In June 2018, M&S announced a strategic partnership with [[Microsoft]] to explore the integration of [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) technologies into its customer experience, stores, and wider operations.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 June 2018 |title=Microsoft and M&S launch partnership aimed at transforming retail using AI |url=https://ukstories.microsoft.com/features/microsoft-and-ms-launch-strategic-partnership-aimed-at-transforming-the-retail-experience-using-the-power-of-ai/ |access-date=6 June 2025 |website=Microsoft UK Stories }}</ref> 

====2025 cyber incident====
In April 2025, M&S experienced difficulties with contactless payments and click-and-collect orders over the Easter weekend. On 23 April, Stuart Machin issued a statement confirming the business was dealing with a cyber incident. On 25 April, M&S stopped taking orders at its website.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxnkg7rln2o|title=M&S stops online orders and issues refunds after cyber attack|date=25 April 2025|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> The attack was believed to be a ransomware attack, orchestrated by [[Scattered Spider|'Scattered Spider']] – a splinter group of [[Lapsus$]] – a notorious hacking group responsible for high profile breaches at Transport for London ([[Transport for London|TfL]]) and [[MGM Resorts International|MGM resorts]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Koopman |first=Saskia |date=1 May 2025 |title=M&S and Co-op: UK retailers brace for cyber attacks |url=https://www.cityam.com/ms-and-co-op-uk-retailers-brace-for-cyber-attacks/ |access-date=2 May 2025 |website=City AM }}</ref> It appears that the attacker employed a SIM swapping technique to gain unauthorised access to the network and compromise M&S’s critical systems.<ref>{{cite web |last=Abroshan |first=Hossein |date=14 May 2025 |title=M&S cyberattacks used a little-known but dangerous technique – and anyone could be vulnerable |url=https://theconversation.com/mands-cyberattacks-used-a-little-known-but-dangerous-technique-and-anyone-could-be-vulnerable-256739/ |access-date=17 May 2025 |website= The Conversation }}</ref> The company said the breach occurred at a third-party service provider.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last=Fish |first=Isabella |date=21 May 2025 |title=M&S profits surged before crippling cyberattack and Ocado writedown |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/m-and-s-profits-surged-before-crippling-cyberattack-and-ocado-writedown-ml9zcnbql |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=www.thetimes.com }}</ref>

In May 2025, it was reported that M&S was preparing to make a claim under a [[cyber insurance]] policy to cover a wide range of losses, including but not restricted to Data Protection breaches and loss of online sales, which could total as much as £300&nbsp;million. [[Allianz]] was reported to be the lead insurer, with other insurers including [[Beazley plc]] also being exposed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sellers |first=Matthew |date=14 May 2025 |title=Allianz, Beazley could be on the hook as M&S insurance claim expected to be £100m + |url=https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/uk/news/cyber/allianz-beazley-could-be-on-the-hook-as-mands-insurance-claim-expected-to-be-100m--535626.aspx |access-date=14 May 2025 |website=www.insurancebusinessmag.com }}</ref> It was reported that the loss of profits would only be partly covered by any insurance pay-out.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hooker |first=Lucy |date=21 May 2025 |title=M&S cyber-attack disruption to last until July|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93llkg4n51o |access-date=21 May 2025 |website= BBC News }}</ref> The incident has reduced the company's market value by more than £1&nbsp;billion as of 21 May 2025.<ref name=":3" /> On 10 June 2025, the company restored online ordering on its website.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gevk2x03go|title=M&S restarts online orders after cyber attack|work=BBC News|access-date=11 June 2025}}</ref> On 11 August 2025, M&S resumed its 'click and collect' service following the outage caused by the incident.<ref>{{cite news |date=11 August 2025 |title=M&S Click & Collect returns 15 weeks after cyber attack |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewyyjdzql4o |access-date=12 August 2025 |website=BBC News }}</ref>

In October 2025, M&S announced that they had terminated their contract with its IT provider [[Tata Consultancy Services]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Kenny |first=Lee |date=27 October 2025 |title=M&S terminates IT contract |work= Retail Gazette |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2025/10/ms-terminates-it-contract/ |access-date=27 October 2025 }}</ref>

====Protests====
Marks & Spencer has been repeatedly targeted and boycotted by [[Criticism of Israel|anti-Israel]] protestors during the [[Arab League boycott of Israel]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Arabs Seeking Boycott Against British Stores Owned by Jews or by Israeli Sympathizers |url=https://www.jta.org/1974/07/31/archive/arabs-seeking-boycott-against-british-stores-owned-by-jews-or-by-israeli-sympathizers |access-date=10 August 2019 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=31 July 1974}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Amelia |title=WikiLeaks cables: Libyan attacks aimed to force out 'Zionist' Marks & Spencer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/20/wikileaks-cables-libya-marks-spencer |access-date=10 August 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=20 December 2010}}</ref> In August 2014, it was reported that the Marble Arch branch was picketed weekly by protesters objecting to the sale of Israeli goods.<ref>{{cite news|date=22 August 2014 |title=Sparks fly at Marks as protesters clash over Israel |url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/sparks-fly-marks-protesters-clash-israel/ |access-date=10 August 2019 |work=[[Jewish News]]}}</ref>

==Corporate affairs==
===Head office locations===
[[File:Paddington Waterside geograph-2790569-by-Colin-Smith.jpg|thumb|Waterside House, 35 North Wharf Road, London]]
The headquarters of M&S had been since 1957 at Michael House, 55 [[Baker Street]], London. This had formerly been the Baker Street Bazaar which had been destroyed in a fire in 1940. The site was redeveloped by M&S, under the direction of the then Sir Simon Marks, as the company had outgrown its previous Bayswater HQ.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stjohnswoodmemories.org.uk/content/samuel-godley/our-blog/unearthing-treasures-baker-street-bazaar |title=Unearthing Treasures: The Baker Street Bazaar |access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref> In 2004, the company moved to a new headquarters designed by [[Michel Mossessian|Mossessian & Partners]] at Waterside House, in [[Paddington Basin]], London.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/node/n/46005031 |title=Paddington Basin registered business address |publisher=Marks & Spencer |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref>

As well as the main offices in London, there are a number of other head office sites across the UK; Stockley Park (IT Services), [[Salford Quays]] (Marks & Spencer Shared Services Ltd. which provides human resources, and finance administration)<ref>"[http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/node/n/45867031/026-7667460-4435653?ie=UTF8&mnSBrand=core Shared Services Recruitment Page]". Company Website</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liveherenw.co.uk/working/man/sha.asp |title=Living and Working in the North West – Working in Manchester: Shared Services |publisher=Liveherenw.co.uk |access-date=18 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213163329/http://www.liveherenw.co.uk/working/man/sha.asp |archive-date=13 February 2009 }}</ref> and [[Chester]] ([[M&S Bank]] joint venture and Retail Customer Services).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lexdon.com/article/HSBC_and_Marks_&_Spencer/92.html |title=Lexdon Business Library – HSBC and Marks & Spencer complete the sale of M&S Money |publisher=Lexdon.com |access-date=18 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713202931/http://www.lexdon.com/article/HSBC_and_Marks_%26_Spencer/92.html |archive-date=13 July 2011 }}</ref>

The company has overseas sourcing offices in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, mainland China, Ireland, Italy, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.<ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/200509/29/eng20050929_211522.html UK's leading retailer launches Asian Sourcing Office in Hong Kong] English People. 29 September 2005</ref>

===Financial performance===
Financial performance has been as follows:<ref name="ar" />
''Until 1999 M&S's financial year ended on 31 March. Since then, the company has changed to reporting for 52- or 53-week periods, ending on variable dates.''<div class="center">
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year ended
! Turnover (£ M)
! Profit before tax (£ M)
! Net profit (£ M)
! Basic [[Earnings per share|eps]] (p)
|-
|29 March 2025
|13,816.8
|511.8
|291.9
|14.6
|-
| 30 March 2024
| 13,040.1
| 672.5
| 425.2
| 21.9
|-
| 1 April 2023
| 11,931.3
| 475.7
| 364.5
| 18.5
|-
| 2 April 2022
| 10,885.1
| 391.7
| 309.0
| 15.7
|-
| 3 April 2021
| 9,155.7
| (209.4)
| (201.2)
| (10.1)
|-
| 28 March 2020
| 10,181.9
| 403.1
| 27.4
| 1.3
|-
| 30 March 2019
| 10,377.3
| 523.2 
| 37.3
| 2.1
|-
| 31 March 2018
| 10,698.2
| 580.9
| 29.1
| 1.6
|-
| 1 April 2017
| 10,622.0
| 613.8
| 115.7
| 7.2
|-
| 2 April 2016
| 10,555.4
| 488.8
| 404.4
| 24.9
|-
| 28 March 2015
| 10,311.4
| 600.0
| 481.7
| 29.7
|-
| 29 March 2014
| 10,309.7
| 580.4
| 506.0
| 32.5
|-
| 30 March 2013
| 10,026.8
| 564.3
| 458.0
| 29.2
|-
| 31 March 2012
| 9,934.3
| 658.0
| 489.6
| 32.5
|-
| 2 April 2011
| 9,740.3
| 780.6
| 598.6
| 38.8
|-
| 3 April 2010
| 9,536.6
| 702.7
| 523.0
| 33.5
|-
| 28 March 2009
| 9,062.1
| 706.2
| 506.8
| 32.3
|-
| 29 March 2008
| 9,022.0
| 1,129.1
| 821.0
| 49.2
|-
| 31 March 2007
| 8,588.1
| 936.7
| 659.9
| 39.1
|-
| 1 April 2006
| 7,797.7
| 745.7
| 520.6
| 36.4
|-
| 2 April 2005
| 7,490.5
| 505.1
| 355.0
| 29.1
|-
| 3 April 2004
| 8,301.5
| 781.6
| 452.3
| 24.2
|-
| 29 March 2003
| 8,019.1
| 677.5
| 480.5
| 20.7
|-
| 30 March 2002
| 8,135.4
| 335.9
| 153.0
| 5.4
|-
| 31 March 2001
| 8,075.7
| 145.5
| 2.8
| 0.0
|-
| 1 April 2000
| 8,195.5
| 417.5
| 258.7
| 9.0
|-
| 31 March 1999
| 8,224.0
| 546.1
| 372.1
| 13.0
|-
| 31 March 1998
| 8,243.3
| 1,155.0
| 815.9
| 28.6
|-
| 31 March 1997
| 7,841.9
| 1,129.1
| 746.6
| 26.7
|-
| 31 March 1996
| 7,233.7
| 965.8
| 652.6
| 455.8
|}
</div>

===Senior management===
The following have served as the chairman of the company since it was founded:
* 1884–1907: [[Michael Marks]] (set up first stall in Leeds in 1884)
* 1907–1916: William Chapman<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/marks-and-spencer-p-l-c |title=Marks and Spencer plc |publisher=answers.com |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref>
* 1916–1964: [[Simon Marks]] (Lord Marks)
* 1964–1967: [[Israel Sieff]] (Lord Sieff)
* 1967–1972: [[Edward Sieff]]
* 1972–1984: [[Marcus Sieff]] (Lord Sieff)
* 1984–1991: [[Derek Rayner, Baron Rayner|Derek Rayner]] (Lord Rayner)
* 1991–1999: [[Richard Greenbury|Sir Richard Greenbury]]
* 2000–2004: Luc Vandevelde
* 2004–2006: [[Paul Myners]]
* 2006–2009: [[Terence Burns, Baron Burns|Lord Burns]]
* 2009–2011: [[Sir Stuart Rose]]
* 2011–2017: [[Robert Swannell]]
* 2017–present: [[Archie Norman]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://moneyweek.com/514983/archie-norman-can-the-turnaround-king-save-ms/|title=Archie Norman: can the turnaround king save M&S?|date=16 September 2019|work=MoneyWeek|access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>
The following have served as chief executives of the company since it was founded:

* 1967–1983: [[Marcus Sieff]] (Lord Sieff)
* 1973–1991: [[Derek Rayner, Baron Rayner|Derek Rayner]] (Lord Rayner)
* 1988–1999: [[Richard Greenbury|Sir Richard Greenbury]]
* 2000–2004: Luc Vandevelde
* 2001–2004: Roger Holmes 
* 2004–2010: [[Sir Stuart Rose]]
* 2010–2016: [[Marc Bolland]]
* 2016–2022: [[Steve Rowe (businessman)|Steve Rowe]]
* 2022–present: [[Stuart Machin]]

===Archives===
The M&S company archive is held in the Michael Marks Building at the [[University of Leeds]]. The archive has permanent museum-style displays and hosts temporary exhibitions.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Archive |url=https://marksintime.marksandspencer.com/the-collection |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=Marks In Time}}</ref>

==Stores==
===Great Britain===
[[File:A picture of M&S White City branch in Westfield London 2014-01-17 17-26.jpg|thumb|M&S White City in [[Westfield London]] (2014), one of the company's largest stores]]
The largest shop is near [[Marble Arch]], on [[Oxford Street]] in London, which has around {{convert|16000|m2}} of [[shop floor]] (as noted above, a proposed redevelopment of this store was blocked in April 2022, and then successfully appealed in February 2024).<ref name=":2" /><ref name="Hurst-01Mar2024" /> The second largest is in Cheshire Oaks, [[Ellesmere Port]], which is the largest store outside of London.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=36&storycode=3103910&c=1 |title=M&S megastore for Leeds&nbsp;— Property Week |publisher=Property Week|access-date=7 November 2009}}</ref> The third largest shop is at the Gemini Retail Park in [[Warrington]]. In 1999 M&S opened its shop in [[Manchester]]'s [[Exchange Square, Manchester|Exchange Square]], which was destroyed in the [[1996 Manchester bombing]] and rebuilt. At re-opening, it was the largest M&S shop with {{convert|250000|sqft|m2|abbr=on|order=flip}} of retail space, but half was subsequently sold to [[Selfridges]], the company's second site in Manchester. The smallest branch is a 'Marks & Spencer Penny Bazaar' clearance outlet located in the [[Grainger Market]] in Newcastle upon Tyne.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/things-to-do/grainger-market-p433811|title=Grainger Market|publisher=Newcastle Gateshead|access-date=20 March 2015}}</ref>

M&S has opened a number of stores at out-of-town sites since a trend to build shopping centres away from town centres began in the 1980s. The first was at the [[MetroCentre (shopping centre)|MetroCentre]], [[Gateshead]], Tyne and Wear, which opened in 1986. Another notable example is the store at the [[Merry Hill Shopping Centre]] at [[Brierley Hill]], West Midlands. This store opened in October 1990 shortly after the closure of stores in the nearby town centres of [[Dudley]] and [[West Bromwich]]; the Merry Hill store was not originally intended to replace these two town centre stores, but both the Dudley and West Bromwich stores had experienced a downturn in trade as the opening of the Merry Hill store loomed, and both stores were closed in August 1990.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120106032922/http://www.sthelens.oxon.sch.uk/Geography/Downloads/Geopress%20Factsheets/Geo%20factsheets/11%20out%20of%20town%20shopping%20centres.pdf Out Of Town Shopping Centres] Geofactsheet No. 11</ref>

Before Christmas 2006, twenty-two M&S shops were open for 24-hour trading.<ref>"[http://www.marksandspencer.com/gp/browse.html/ref=sc_fe_c_1/026-7667460-4435653?ie=UTF8&node=51065031&no=51237031&mnSBrand=core&me=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM Marks & Spencer announces pre Christmas opening hours]" Press Release – 8 December 2006</ref><ref>"[https://archive.today/20120710184134/http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0750expats/expats/tm_headline=-m-s--opens-for-24hrs-and-other-department-stores-extend-hours-to-boost-slow-trading-&method=full&objectid=18289095&siteid=50082-name_page.html M&S opens for 24hrs and other department stores extend hours to boost slow trading]". Watson, Molly&nbsp;— icWales.co.uk – 20 December 2006</ref>

===Ireland===

Marks and Spencer opened its first shop on the island of [[Ireland]] in 1979.<ref name="marksintime"/> It operates its Irish business on an all-island basis, with Eddie Murphy as country director and Laura Harper as trading director for the island of Ireland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cantwell |first1=Molly |title=Applegreen set to open 20 new M&S Food Stores in 2025 |url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/applegreen-set-to-open-20-new-ms-food-stores-in-2025-2140026 |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=Newstalk }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Maev |title=Marks & Spencer: A Retailer's Road To Recovery |url=https://www.checkout.ie/retail/marks-spencer-a-retailers-road-to-recovery-217582 |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=Checkout |date=25 April 2025 }}</ref> Its main competitor in the grocery, drapery and homewares markets in Ireland is [[Dunnes Stores]].<ref> Cooper, Matt (2025) 'Dynasty', Chapter 1.</ref>

By June 2022, Marks and Spencer had 38 shops across the island of Ireland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Canning |first1=Margaret |title=Co Down sandwich maker wins £3.5&nbsp;million supply deal with Marks & Spencer |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/food-drink-hospitality/co-down-sandwich-maker-wins-35m-supply-deal-with-marks-and-spencer/41771183.html |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=20 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="auto4">{{cite news |last1=Hamill |first1=Gillian |title=Around Noon secures £3.5m deal to supply sandwiches to M&S stores across Ireland |url=https://www.shelflife.ie/around-noon-secures-3-5m-deal-to-supply-handmade-county-down-sandwiches-to-ms-stores-across-ireland/ |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=Shelflife Magazine |date=22 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{cite news |last1=O'Hare |first1=Columba |title=Around Noon secure £3.5m Marks and Spencer deal |url=https://newry.ie/business/around-noon-secure-3-5m-marks-and-spencer-deal |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=Newry.ie |date=22 June 2022}}</ref>

Following the United Kingdom's departure from the [[European Union]] and the consequent additional burden of importing goods from [[Great Britain]] into Ireland, the Irish division began sourcing some products (particularly short shelf-life products) within the island of Ireland.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/retail-and-services/marks-spencer-sourcing-irish-product-after-brexit-cuts-1.4677118|title=Marks & Spencer sourcing Irish product after Brexit cuts|first=Colin|last=Gleeson|date=17 September 2021|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McCambridge |first1=Jonathan |title=Marks and Spencer boss: Brexit forced us to withdraw 600 lines from Irish stores |url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/business/marks-and-spencer-boss-brexit-forced-us-to-withdraw-600-lines-from-irish-stores-1303552.html |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=BreakingNews |date=11 May 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McAleer |first1=Ryan |title=M&S to increasingly turn to Irish food producers to curb post-Brexit headwinds |url=https://www.irishnews.com/business/2021/11/11/news/m-s-to-increasingly-turn-to-irish-food-producers-to-curb-post-brexit-headwinds-2504147/ |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=The Irish News |date=11 November 2021 }}</ref> In June 2022, it was announced that the business was to begin sourcing its sandwiches for sale in Ireland from Around Noon, based in [[County Down]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Canning |first1=Margaret |title=Co Down sandwich maker wins £3.5m supply deal with Marks & Spencer |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/food-drink-hospitality/co-down-sandwich-maker-wins-35m-supply-deal-with-marks-and-spencer/41771183.html |access-date=9 November 2025 |work= Belfast Telegraph |date=20 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="auto4"/><ref name="auto3"/> and in May 2025, it was announced that the business was to begin sourcing its parsnips for sale in Ireland from Gilfresh Produce, based in [[County Armagh]].<ref>{{cite web |title=M&S Partners with Gilfresh Produce to Supply Locally Grown Parsnips Across the Island of Ireland |url=https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/media/press-releases/ms-partners-gilfresh-produce-supply-locally-grown-parsnips-across-island |website=Marks & Spencer |access-date=9 November 2025 |date=14 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=M&S Partners with Gilfresh Produce to Supply Locally Grown Parsnips Across the Island of Ireland |url=https://gilfreshproduce.com/news/ms-partners-with-gilfresh-produce-to-supply-locally-grown-parsnips-across-the-island-of-ireland/ |website=Gilfresh Produce |access-date=9 November 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Retailer partners with local supplier for Irish-grown parsnips |url=https://www.freshplaza.com/europe/article/9731969/retailer-partners-with-local-supplier-for-irish-grown-parsnips/ |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=www.freshplaza.com |date=14 May 2025 }}</ref> It also began importing some products directly from suppliers in continental Europe rather than bringing them via Great Britain as it had done previously.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gonçalves |first1=Maria |title=M&S reinstates Christmas food ordering service on island of Ireland |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/mands-reinstates-christmas-food-ordering-service-on-island-of-ireland/673432.article |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=The Grocer |date=14 November 2022 }}</ref>

In 2023, Marks and Spencer entered into a partnership with the [[Applegreen]] petrol station chain to stock Marks and Spencer products in a number of Applegreen's 200 forecourt shops across the island of Ireland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McHugh |first1=Robert |title=Applegreen To Open 20 New M&S Food Stores In 2025 |url=https://www.hospitalityireland.com/general-industry/applegreen-to-open-20-new-ms-food-stores-in-2025-208714 |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=Hospitality Ireland |date=26 February 2025 }}</ref> It began rolling out the concept in 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=Applegreen expands M&S Food partnership to NI |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2024/1211/1485853-applegreen-expands-ms-food-partnership-to-ni/ |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=RTÉ News |date=11 December 2024 }}</ref> By October 2025, the business had a presence in 30 Applegreen shops across the island of Ireland, with a plan to increase that number to 41 by the end of 2025 and to 60 in the medium term.<ref>{{cite news |title=Applegreen to open 20 new M&S food stores this year |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0226/1498998-applegreen-m-s-deal-extended/ |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=RTÉ News |date=26 February 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=M&S Expands Click & Collect Convenience With New Naas Food Outlet |url=https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/media/press-releases/ms-expands-click-collect-convenience-new-naas-food-outlet |website=Marks & Spencer |access-date=9 November 2025 |date=31 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Applegreen To Open 20 New M&S Food Stores - Business Eye |url=https://www.businesseye.co.uk/business-ie/applegreen-to-open-20-new-ms-food-stores/ |access-date=9 November 2025 |work=Business Eye |date=26 February 2025}}</ref>

===Mainland Europe===
[[File:Marks & Spencer, The Mall Athens.JPG|thumb|A Marks & Spencer branch in [[Athens]], Greece]]
The company reopened its store in Paris on 24 November 2011, following the launch of a new French website on 11 October 2011.<ref>Rigby, Chloe [http://www.internetretailing.net/2011/10/ms-launches-new-french-website/ ''M&S launches new French website''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013140815/http://www.internetretailing.net/2011/10/ms-launches-new-french-website/ |date=13 October 2011 }} 11 October 2011, internetretailing.net</ref> A new store opened on 17 April 2013 in [[Kalverstraat]] in [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands, more than 10 years after closure of the previous store. On 17 September 2013 the British ambassador to the Netherlands, Sir Geoffrey Adams, opened the first Dutch Marks & Spencer Food pilot store at a [[BP]] petrol station in Bijleveld beside the [[A12 motorway (Netherlands)|A12 motorway]].<ref>BP press release [http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=16002516&contentId=7086707 ''BP opent vandaag eerste Marks & Spencer Food pilot in Nederland''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927092216/http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=16002516&contentId=7086707 |date=27 September 2013 }} 10 September 2013, BP</ref><ref>Horecatrends website [http://www.horecatrends.com/en/retail/marks-and-spencer-food-pilot-bij-bp-tankstation "Marks and Spencer Food pilot at BP gas station"] 12 September 2013, Horeca Trends</ref> There are over 300 stores in some 40 overseas locations.<ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/nov/07/bolland-strategy-marks-spencer | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Julia | last=Finch | title=Bolland looks to middle England and overseas for Marks & Spencer blueprint | date=7 November 2010}}</ref>

In the Netherlands, as of 2015, M&S had a supermarket in the expensive [[Kalverstraat]] shopping street in Amsterdam, as well as a larger store including clothing in [[The Hague]]. A number of BP petrol stations in the Western area of the Netherlands included M&S [[convenience food]] stores.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marksandspencer.eu/Our-Stores/store-finder,en_NL,pg.html |title=M&S Store Finder – Netherlands |publisher=M&S.eu |access-date=9 November 2015}}</ref> In 2016, M&S was due to open a much larger store in Amsterdam, with a direct underground link to a new metro station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/149435/luxe-warenhuizen-aan-rokin-krijgen-eigen-tunnel-naar-noordzuidlijn-station |title=Luxe warenhuizen aan Rokin krijgen eigen tunnel naar Noord/Zuidlijn-station |publisher=AT5.nl |date=9 November 2015 |access-date=9 November 2015}}</ref> However, in November 2016 the company announced that they were closing all of their stores on the European mainland, something that did not actually happen. Nevertheless, they closed both of their stores in the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.fashionnetwork.com/news/marks-spencer-closes-dutch-stores-earlier-than-expected,878930.html|title=Marks & Spencer closes Dutch stores earlier than expected|website=FashionNetwork.com|date=11 October 2017 |access-date=11 January 2020}}</ref>

Marks & Spencer owns 51 stores in [[Turkey]] as of 2022. Fiba Retail is the sole agent authorised to open Marks & Spencer stores in Turkey and Ukraine region.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.marksandspencer.com.tr/stores/|title=M&S Mağazalar|work=marksandspencer.com.tr|access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref>

In September 2021, M&S confirmed the closure of 11 stores in France and ended its partnership with SFH, saying it was "near impossible for us to serve fresh and chilled products to customers" following the UK's [[Brexit|exit from the European Union]]. The company would still operate nine smaller stores in or near major travel hubs.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58582860|title=Marks & Spencer blames Brexit as it closes 11 French stores|work=BBC News |date=16 September 2021}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

===Asia===
In the Philippines, the [[Rustan's|Rustans]] Group of Companies serves as the official franchise partner.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tatler |first=Philippine |title=Twenty Years of Marks and Spencer in the Philippines |url=https://www.tatlerasia.com/the-scene/people-parties/twenty-years-of-marks-and-spencer-in-the-philippines |access-date=24 March 2022 |website=Tatler Asia }}</ref>

On 11 November 2013, Marks & Spencer announced "that it is set to have about 80 stores open in the [Indian] region by 2016 as part of its strategy to become a leading international, multichannel retailer" with partner Reliance Retail.<ref name="Marks &amp; Spencer to Expand in India">{{cite web | url=http://www.wwd.com/retail-news/mass-off-price/marks-spencer-to-expand-in-india-7272370?src=nl/mornReport/20131112 | title=Marks & Spencer to Expand in India | work=WWD | date=11 November 2013 | access-date=12 November 2013 | last=Conti |first=Samantha}}</ref> It opened a flagship store in Bandra in Mumbai.<ref name="Marks &amp; Spencer to Expand in India"/> M&S sales of lingerie accounts for more than a fifth of the sales in the Indian market, with total lingerie sales increasing by a third during the last six months of 2013.<ref name="Marks &amp; Spencer to Expand in India"/>  In May 2014 Marks & Spencer announced that their intention was now to open 100 stores in the country by 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/m-s-india-idINKBN0E00TU20140520|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103021215/http://in.reuters.com/article/m-s-india-idINKBN0E00TU20140520|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2016|title=Marks & Spencer plans to open 100 stores in India by 2016|work=reuters.com|access-date=20 March 2015}}</ref>

Stores in the territories of [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]] were sold in early 2018 to [[Al-Futtaim Group]], a Dubai-based long-term franchise partner.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jan/02/marks-spencer-sells-hong-kong-macau-al-futtaim|title=Marks & Spencer sells Hong Kong stores as it retreats from overseas markets|date=2 January 2018|website=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/4e9b5222-efa5-11e7-b220-857e26d1aca4|title=M&S sells Hong Kong business to franchise partner|newspaper=Financial Times|date=2 January 2018 }}</ref>

==Store formats==
===Full-line stores===
M&S core shops typically feature a selection of the company's clothing, homeware and beauty ranges and an M&S Food-branded food hall. The range of clothing sold and the space given to it depends on the location and customer demographic (an example would be that some London shops do not stock the Classic Collection, but stock Limited Edition and a full Autograph range). Select locations feature an M&S Café. The current store format was designed by Urban Salon Architects in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2586665.ece |title=Marks and sparks: Shopping in the 21st century |work=The Independent |location=UK |date=27 May 2007 |access-date=7 November 2009 |first=Paul |last=Rodgers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118145633/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2586665.ece |archive-date=18 January 2008 }}</ref>

===M&S Food===
All the '''St Michael Food hall''' supermarkets were renamed ''M&S Foodhall'' when Marks & Spencer dropped the ''St Michael'' brand in 2000. They sell groceries, which historically were all under the Marks & Spencer brand. However, in 2006 the company began selling a limited range of other brands, such as [[Coca-Cola]] and [[Stella Artois]], without reducing the number of M&S lines they sold. This marked the first time in its 125-year history that Marks & Spencer had sold any brands other than its own.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/950570/M-S-sell-brands-first-time-125-years/|title=M&S to sell other brands for the first time in 125 years|publisher=Brand Republic|first=James|last=Quilfer|date=4 November 2009|access-date=22 November 2009}}</ref> M&S introduced [[self-checkout]] tills in the food halls of a small number of trial stores in 2002. Self-service checkouts were implemented in the general merchandise sections in three trial stores in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/mands-to-test-self-scan-tills/79913.article|title=M&S to test self-scan tills|date=14 September 2002|newspaper=The Grocer|access-date=7 June 2025}}</ref> The M&S £10 [[meal deal]] was introduced in the late 2000s and included chimichurri beef steak, aromatic half duck, or fillet of fish. In 2018 the price was increased to give the customer a choice of [[prosecco]], red wine, or white wine.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/10/29/marks-spencer-ditch-dine-in-for-two-meal-deal-offer-8077387/|title=Marks & Spencer ditch Dine In For Two £12 meal deal offer|publisher=metro.co.uk|first=Hattie |last=Gladwell|date=29 October 2018}}</ref>

M&S launched a convenience format in 2001, branded ''Simply Food'', with the first shops opening in [[Twickenham]] and [[Surbiton]]. These predominantly sell food, although some larger stores also stock a small selection of general merchandise.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Finch |first1=Julia |date=8 November 2006 |title=Simply Food to triple in size with restaurant plan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/nov/08/marksspencer.supermarkets |access-date=20 January 2015 |publisher=The Guardian}}</ref> A number of these are run under [[franchising|franchise]] agreements:
* [[SSP Group]] runs the outlets at mainline railway stations and airports.<ref>[http://www.ssp-intl.com/SSPInternet/Content/Brands/National.htm Select Service Partner]. Company Website</ref>
* [[Moto Hospitality|Moto]] has outlets at many of its motorway service areas.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6136684.stm Perils of the motorway pit stops] May, Maurice&nbsp;— ''BBC News Online'' – 10 November 2006</ref>
* [[BP]] has petrol stations with ''Simply Food'' offerings.<ref>{{cite web|title=M&S Simply Food at BP Connect |url=http://www.bp.com/retail/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9036797&contentId=7067920 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425003517/http://www.bp.com/retail/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9036797&contentId=7067920 |archive-date=25 April 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Marks and Spencer, Banstead, Surrey - geograph.org.uk - 339773.jpg|thumb|M&S Simply Food in [[Banstead]], Surrey]]Orders from M&S accounted for more than half of [[Uniq plc|Uniq]]'s food product supplies to UK retailers in 2010, after several years' service as a major M&S food product supplier.<ref>{{cite web|date=23 July 2010 |title=Uniq: Brands will drive footfall at M&S, but not in the desserts fixture |url=http://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Business-News/Uniq-Brands-will-drive-footfall-at-M-S-but-not-in-the-desserts-fixture |access-date=18 April 2011 |publisher=Foodmanufacture.co.uk}}</ref>

The ''Simply Food'' brand was phased out in stand-alone larger stores after the rebrand in 2015, with the larger stores rebranded as ''M&S Foodhall''.<ref>{{cite news|date=2 February 2016 |title=Marks & Spencer to open an M&S Foodhall in Bath |url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/marks-spencer-open-m-s-foodhall-bath/story-28652896-detail/story.html |access-date=21 March 2017 |publisher=Bath Chronicle}}{{dead link|date=November 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

In March 2019, M&S announced that they would open more supermarket-sized food halls, with a floor area of between {{convert|10,000|and|15,000|sqft}}, that would stock their full food range, in order to attract more families looking to do a weekly shop. M&S also lowered the price of over 1,000 of their popular lines to compete with their larger supermarket rivals such as [[Tesco]] and [[Sainsbury's]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Baker |first=Hannah |date=18 March 2019 |title=Bristol could get huge M&S supermarket-style store |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/business/marks-and-spencer-supermarket-stores-2657018 |access-date=22 May 2019 |website=bristolpost}}</ref>[[File:M&S Food to Go, SUTTON, Surrey, Greater London.jpg|thumb|An M&S Food to Go store in Sutton station, [[Sutton, London]]]]In 2019, M&S launched five new "food renewal" stores. This was part of the transformation of the food business, led by Managing Director Stuart Machin, to have bigger food stores with "the mind of a supermarket and the soul of a fresh market".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/aug/03/marks-spencer-wants-bigger-food-share-with-help-from-percy-pig|title= Marks & Spencer wants bigger food share (with help from Percy Pig)|date= 3 August 2019|work= The Guardian|access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref>

In 2019, M&S unified its food halls, supermarkets, convenience stores and offerings under the ''M&S Food'' brand. Stores were revamped to have a consistent market-like appearance.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 June 2020 |title=Analyst Corner: A Look Into the M&S Foodhall Transformation |url=https://www.lumina-intelligence.com/blog/retail/analyst-corner-a-look-into-the-ms-foodhall-transformation/ |access-date=21 July 2025 |website=Lumina Intelligence }}</ref>

===Home stores===
In 2007, M&S announced that dedicated shops for home furnishings were to be launched. These have been opened in [[Cheltenham]] in Gloucestershire (closed in 2024),<ref>{{cite web |last=Wood |first=Sarah |date=4 June 2024 |title=M&S to close this week |url=https://www.punchline-gloucester.com/articles/aanews/m-and-s-to-close-this-week-marks-and-spencer-foodhall-cheltenham |access-date=14 April 2025 |website=punchline-gloucester.com}}</ref> [[Royal Tunbridge Wells]] in Kent, [[Lisburn]] Sprucefield in Northern Ireland,<ref>{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=John |date=31 August 2007 |title=No place like home |url=https://www.retail-week.com/Stores/theres_no_place_like_home.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106160327/https://www.retail-week.com/Stores/theres_no_place_like_home.html |archive-date=6 January 2009 |website=Retail Week |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> and in the Barton Square section of [[Trafford Centre|The Trafford Centre]], Manchester.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shopping-centre.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2591/Trafford_extends_Barton_Square_homewares_offer.html |title=Trafford extends Barton Square homewares offer |publisher=Shopping-centre.co.uk |date=19 May 2008 |access-date=18 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725092414/http://www.shopping-centre.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/2591/Trafford_extends_Barton_Square_homewares_offer.html |archive-date=25 July 2011 }}</ref>

===Outlet stores===
The [[Outlet store|outlet]] division offers M&S products, with the majority discounted at least 30% from the original selling price.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.marksandspencer.com/thecompany/our_stores/outlet.shtml |title=Outlet |publisher=Marks and Spencer |access-date=18 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714041208/http://www2.marksandspencer.com/thecompany/our_stores/outlet.shtml |archive-date=14 July 2011 }}</ref> The first of these stores opened at [[Ashford, Kent|Ashford]] in Kent in 2000, and by 2020 there were 25.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 June 2020 |title=M&S to open all 25 outlets |url=https://www.drapersonline.com/news/ms-to-open-all-25-outlets |access-date=22 October 2022 |publisher=Drapers}}</ref> Many of the outlet shops are in retail parks and outlet centres, although others are high street shops such as the one in [[Woolwich]], South London.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 May 2014 |title=Marks & Spencer Outlet in Woolwich, London |url=http://www.misterwhat.co.uk/company/146221-marks-spencer-outlet-london |publisher=MisterWhat}}</ref>

=== Online services ===
Online food deliveries began with trials in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-39743611 |title=M&S online food delivery service will be no piece of cake |last=Plummer |first=Robert |date=28 April 2017 |work=BBC News |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref> In 2019, M&S paid up to £750&nbsp;million (dependent on future performance) for 50% of online retailer [[Ocado|Ocado Retail Ltd]], displacing [[Waitrose]] as Ocado's retail partner.<ref name=":12">{{cite news |last=Fish |first=Isabella |date=12 July 2023 |title=M&S looks to refresh its ailing Ocado deal |work=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/m-s-looks-to-refresh-its-ailing-ocado-deal-gw36pxxp7 |url-access=limited |access-date=12 July 2023 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> Since 2020,<ref>{{cite web|date=1 December 2019|title=Ocado Retail Limited: Annual Report|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03875000/filing-history/MzI3NjU4MzQ2N2FkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0|access-date=1 April 2021|website=Companies House}}</ref> customers are directed to Ocado's website where they can order food and selected clothing items.<ref>{{cite web|title=FAQs: Ocado|url=https://www.marksandspencer.com/c/help/ocado|access-date=1 April 2021|website=www.marksandspencer.com}}</ref> In February 2024, it was reported that M&S did not intend to pay the final £191&nbsp;million instalment to Ocado, after performance targets were not met in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fish |first=Isabella |date=3 March 2024 |title=Ocado threatens to sue M&S over withheld payment |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/ocado-losses-narrow-after-performance-picks-up-bzv2jrfqx |url-access=registration |access-date=3 March 2024 |work=[[The Times]] |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

The online flower service was accused of unfair trading and using [[Google]] to piggy-back advertise on online searches aimed at [[Interflora]] online in 2010.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11531677 |work=BBC News  | title=Interflora sues Marks & Spencer over Google ad links | date=13 October 2010}}</ref>

==Other services==
In addition to the main retail business, M&S partners with other companies to provide additional M&S-branded services: 
* [[M&S Bank]] – credit cards, loans and other financial services, operated by [[HSBC|HSBC UK]]<ref>{{cite news|title=M&S Bank celebrates 30th anniversary|url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/business/ms-bank-celebrates-30th-anniversary-9039947|access-date=8 March 2021|work=Chester Chronicle|date=15 April 2015}}</ref>
* M&S Travel Money – in-store [[Bureau de change|bureaux de change]] and foreign currency orders provided by a division of [[Eurochange]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mandstravelmoney.com/legal/privacy|title=Privacy Notice|publisher=Ignite FXCorp Ltd|access-date=20 April 2025}}</ref>
* M&S Opticians – operated by Owl Optical<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mandsopticians.com/|title=M&S Opticians|publisher=M&S Opticians|access-date=31 March 2021}}</ref>

==Product line history==
{{Main|List of Marks & Spencer brands}}

[[File:Women peruna.jpg|thumb|Per Una's logo: three hearts]]
The "St Michael" brand was introduced by Simon Marks in 1928 in honour of his father and co-founder of Marks & Spencer, [[Michael Marks]]. By 1950, virtually all goods were sold under the St Michael brand. M&S lingerie, women's clothing and girls' uniform had been branded as ''St Margaret'' until 1950, when the whole range of general merchandise became St Michael.<ref name="marksintime"/> The St Michael brand was retired in 2000 but returned to a limited extent as an emblem in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nazir |first=Sahar |date=9 September 2021 |title=M&S to bring back St Michael brand after 21 years |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2021/09/ms-to-bring-back-st-michael-brand-after-21-years/ |access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>

The synthetic fibre [[Tricell]] was first used in 1957 and lasted until the 1970s.<ref name="marksintime"/> Another synthetic fibre called [[Courtelle]] was first launched, nationally, by Marks & Spencer during 1960 and lasted well into the 1970s.<ref name="marksintime"/> Machine-washable wool first appeared in 1972, and [[Lycra]] hosiery first came in during 1986.<ref name="marksintime"/>

"Per Una" was launched on 28 September 2001 as a joint venture between M&S and [[Next plc|Next]] founder [[George Davies (retailer)|George Davies]] with the contribution of Julie Strang. The ''Per Una'' brand has been a major success for the company,<ref name=davies>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4329412.stm |title=M&S sales rise but Davies resigns |date=11 October 2005 |access-date=4 April 2011 |work= [[BBC News]] }}</ref> and in October 2004, M&S bought the brand in a £125&nbsp;million, two-year service contract with Davies.<ref name=per>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3715654.stm |title=M&S completes Per Una purchase |date=5 October 2004 |access-date=4 April 2011 |work = [[BBC News]] }}</ref> He was to stay on for at least two years to run the company, with 12-months' notice required if he wished to leave.<ref name=davies/><ref name=per/>

In 2004, Sir Stuart Rose axed a number of brands including the menswear brand "SP Clothing", the "View From" sportswear range, the [[David Beckham]] children's range "DB07" and several food lines, as he thought the company's stock inventory management had become 'too complicated'.<ref>{{cite web |first=David |last=Birnbaum |url=http://www.just-style.com/analysis/sir-stuart-hands-over-golden-baton_id108297.aspx |title=Sir Stuart hands over golden baton: Apparel and textile news & analysis |publisher=Just-style.com |access-date=18 April 2011 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720171848/http://www.just-style.com/analysis/sir-stuart-hands-over-golden-baton_id108297.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> A version of Per Una aimed at teenagers, "Per Una Due", was also discontinued, owing to poor sales, despite having launched earlier in the year.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hayes |first=David |date=7 February 2004 |access-date=4 April 2011 |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-11737114-ms-and-teenage-frills.do |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421120827/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-11737114-ms-and-teenage-frills.do |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2013 |title=M&S and teenage frills |work=[[Evening Standard]] |location=London }}</ref>

The company began to sell branded goods such as [[Kellogg's]] [[corn flakes]] in November 2008.<ref name="top brands"/> Following a review by Marc Bolland in 2011, M&S confirmed it would begin to reduce the number of branded items on sale, instead offering only those that it did not have an M&S alternative for.<ref name="ausfoodnews.com.au">{{cite news| url=http://www.ausfoodnews.com.au/2010/10/19/marks-and-spencer-may-cut-sales-of-name-brands.html|title=Marks and Spencer may cut sales of name brands|publisher=Food News|date=19 October 2010|access-date=25 March 2012 }}</ref>

In January 2021, Marks & Spencer purchased the [[Jaeger (clothing)|Jaeger]] fashion brand from its administrators. The £5&nbsp;million deal was part of the firm's strategy to boost its clothing division with new names. However, it did not include Jaeger's 63 shops and 13 concessions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jan/11/marks-spencer-buys-jaeger-fashion-brand-from-administrators|title=Marks & Spencer buys Jaeger fashion brand from administrators|access-date=11 January 2021|website=The Guardian|date=11 January 2021 }}</ref>

==Marketing==
[[File:M&S sign c1990.jpg|thumb|An M&S store with old signage, {{circa|1990}}]]

===Early 2000s===
[[File:Marks & Spencer corporate logo.svg|thumbnail|The older logo, used from 2000 to 2007]]
During the height of the company's troubles at the beginning of the 21st century, the ''St Michael'' brand used as the selling label for all M&S products was discontinued in favour of ''Marks & Spencer'' and a new logo in the [[Optima]] typeface was introduced and began to appear in place of ''St Michael'' on product packaging. The same logo was also applied to store fascias and carrier bags. The ''St Michael'' name was subsequently adopted as a 'quality guarantee' and appeared as the ''St Michael Quality Promise'' on the back of food products, on the side of delivery vehicles and on in-store ordering receipts.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/674973.stm|title=M&S drops St Michael|date=12 March 2000|work=BBC News|access-date=11 March 2018}}</ref>

===Your M&S===
[[File:Your M&S logo.svg|thumb|''Your M&S'' promotional logo 2004–2014]]
When Steve Sharp joined as marketing director in 2004, after being hired by Stuart Rose, he introduced a new promotional brand under the ''Your M&S'' banner, with a corresponding logo.<ref>"[https://www.theguardian.com/marks/story/0,,1804124,00.html Steve Sharp: Shy marketing whizz creating sparks at Marks]". Martinson, Jane – ''The Guardian'', 23 June 2006</ref>

===High-profile media campaigns===
[[File:Marks & Spencer new logo.svg|thumbnail|Logo 2007–2015]]
[[File:MarksAndSpencer1884 logo.svg|thumbnail|''Est. 1884'' byline variant used until 2022]]
M&S has run newspaper and/or magazine advertisements since the early 1950s, but the introduction of some famous stars including [[Twiggy]]<ref name="telegraph1">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/6636506/Supermodel-Erin-OConnor-told-to-have-cosmetic-surgery.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/6636506/Supermodel-Erin-OConnor-told-to-have-cosmetic-surgery.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Supermodel Erin O'Connor told to have cosmetic surgery |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=24 November 2009 |access-date=19 December 2009 | location=London | first=Urmee | last=Khan}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/video/2009/may/15/marks-spencer-anniversary-ad |title=Video: Watch Twiggy in Marks & Spencer's 125th birthday ad |work=The Guardian |location=UK |date= 18 May 2009|access-date=19 December 2009 }}</ref> and [[David Jason]] in television advertisements helped raise the company's profile. Twiggy first appeared in 1967, returning later in 1995 and 2005. Anne Grierson<ref name="marksintime"/> featured in advertisements during the late 1950s and most of the 1960s. In later years, [[Erin O'Connor]],<ref name="telegraph1"/> [[Myleene Klass]],<ref name="telegraph1"/> [[David Beckham]],<ref name="marksintime"/> [[Antonio Banderas]],<ref name="marksintime"/> [[Claudia Schiffer]],<ref name="marksintime"/> [[Helena Christensen]],<ref name="marksintime"/> [[Tatjana Patitz]],<ref name="marksintime"/> [[Lisa Snowdon]], [[Dannii Minogue]], [[V V Brown]], and [[Carmen Kass]] have featured in advertisements.<ref name="marksintime"/> [[John Sergeant (journalist)|John Sergeant]], David Jason and [[Joanna Lumley]] have either appeared in or voiced over advertisements since 2008.<ref name="marksintime"/>

Advertisements from the 2000s had the tag-line "This is not just food, this is M&S food" and featured slow motion, close-up footage of various food products, described in a sultry [[voice-over]] by [[Dervla Kirwan]], to an enticing instrumental song&nbsp;— including Fleetwood Mac's "[[Albatross (instrumental)|Albatross]]" as well as [[Santana (band)|Santana]]'s "[[Samba Pa Ti]]", [[Olly Murs]]' "[[Busy (Olly Murs song)|Busy]]", [[Groove Armada]]'s "[[At the River]]" or [[Spandau Ballet]]'s "[[True (Spandau Ballet song)|True]]". These advertisements were referred to by some sections of the media as ''[[food porn]]'', with a number of other companies copying the idea, such as [[Aldi]] and, subsequently, [[Waitrose]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Kollewe |first=Julia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jul/04/marksspencer |title=Food porn for every hedonist in the world |work=The Guardian |location=London |date= 4 July 2008|access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref>

The 2009 TV advertising campaign drew complaints, leading to national press coverage, regarding sexism.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/sexism-complaints-over-marks-and-spencer-christmas-ad-14566626.html |title=Sexism complaints over Marks and Spencer's Christmas ad |work=Belfast Telegraph |date=19 November 2009 |access-date=18 April 2011}}</ref>

In 2010, it was confirmed that [[Dannii Minogue]] would be one of the new faces of Marks & Spencer. She filmed her first commercial in South Africa, which featured [[Cheryl Lynn]]'s "[[Got to Be Real]]", for their Spring campaign that aired on 24 March.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/mar/24/dannii-minogue-marks-and-spencer-ad|title=Marks & Spencer launches ads starring Dannii Minogue and Lisa Snowdon|newspaper=The Guardian|date=24 March 2010|access-date=13 October 2018}}</ref> In August 2011, M&S announced the new faces of their campaigns would be [[Rosie Huntington-Whiteley]], [[Ryan Reynolds]], and [[David Gandy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/Article.aspx?Id=TMG8731621 |title=David Gandy and Ryan Reynolds Join Rosie Huntington-Whiteley for M&S |location=London |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=30 August 2011 |access-date=22 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313062227/http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/Article.aspx?Id=TMG8731621 |archive-date=13 March 2014 }}</ref>

Marks & Spencer released a series of planned television adverts in July 2011, featuring Twiggy, Minogue and [[V V Brown]], as it started its corporate image revamp. It confirmed that Twiggy, [[Lisa Snowdon]], and [[Jamie Redknapp]] would return for future advertising.<ref name="peacock1">{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8643936/MandS-drops-ad-featuring-Twiggy-Minogue-and-VV-Brown.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8643936/MandS-drops-ad-featuring-Twiggy-Minogue-and-VV-Brown.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Louisa | last=Peacock | title=M&S drops ad featuring Twiggy, Minogue and VV Brown | date=18 July 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 31 March 2014, M&S launched the new iteration of its 'Leading Ladies' marketing campaign featuring [[Emma Thompson]], [[Annie Lennox]], [[Rita Ora]] and [[Doreen Lawrence]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/1286622/emma-thompson-annie-lennox-rita-ora-unveiled-marks-spencer-leading-ladies/ | title = Emma Thompson, Annie Lennox and Rita Ora unveiled as Marks & Spencer 'Leading Ladies' | publisher = Campaign Live | access-date = 25 March 2014}}</ref>

In June 2024, [[Alex Scott (footballer, born 1984)|Alex Scott]] became the sportswear ambassador at M&S.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lioness Alex Scott becomes sportswear ambassador at M&S |url=https://www.theindustry.fashion/lioness-alex-scott-becomes-sportswear-ambassador-at-ms/ |access-date=12 June 2024 |website=The Industry|date=11 June 2024 }}</ref>

== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" />

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{Portal|Companies|Food}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Burns|first=Paul|title=Corporate Entrepreneurship: Building an Entrepreneurial Organization |year=2008|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan
|location=Basingstoke|isbn=978-023-054-263-1}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Marks & Spencer}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{PM20|FID=co/015736|TEXT=Documents and clippings about|NAME=}}

{{FTSE 100 Index constituents}}
{{UK supermarkets}}
{{UK Department stores}}
{{Supermarkets in Ireland}}
{{Supermarkets of Hong Kong}}
{{European Retail Round Table}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marks & Spencer}}
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