'Bigger, fresher, brighter' - Marks & Spencer reveals pictures of new M&S Food store concept in Cannock
Retail giant Marks & Spencer has shared fresh images of how a new food store will look when it opens in Cannock later this year.
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Marks & Spencer announced yesterday that it would open a new M&S Food store in a former homebase store in Cannock as part of a £500 million programme of store changes taking place across the country.
Under the plans, the existing M&S Food on the Orbital Retail Park will relocate to the larger former Homebase site, which closed last year as the DIY firm tumbled into administration.
The new 18,000 square foot store is expected to open towards the end of this year, with M&S bosses saying customers can look forward to a range of new in-store experiences in their refreshed outlet - including a bakery with fresh coffee to take away, and expanded frozen sections that cater to "every occasion" from breakfast to dessert.
The company says other features include larger car parks making access to the store easier, bright and welcoming entrances with fresh "Farm to Foodhall" produce front and centre, and wider, more spacious aisles to ensure an "easy and enjoyable journey" for customers.
"All new Food stores are thoughtfully designed with customers in mind and will carry the full range of M&S Food products," said a spokesperson for Marks & Spencer.
"They feature the latest in-store designs to bring more of the M&S Food range to customers with market-style fruit and vegetables, large bakeries with fresh coffee to go and Click & Collect counters for orders from the wider fashion, home and beauty range on M&S.com.
"Store rotation and renewal aims to create 420 bigger, fresher M&S Food stores and a more productive group of 180 full line stores, with half of the estate expected to be in the renewal format by 2027/28."
The company announced an investment in twelve brand new stores this week, some with over 20,000 square feet of trading space, on former Homebase sites across England, which it says will create over 550 new jobs.
M&S plans to open ten M&S Food stores and two full line stores this year. A number of other stores will be updated to the renewal format, it says.
"Investing in new and renewed stores is one of our key transformation priorities," said M&S CEO Stuart Machin.
"Securing these highly desirable sites in priority locations will accelerate this strategy, drive further growth in our M&S food business and most importantly give our customers the best possible M&S shopping experience.”
