M&S targeting Sussex and Surrey locations for new food stores

M&S has launched a new list of 500 target locations it is considering for new and renewed Food stores as it aims to double the size of its Food business.

With 20 stores opening or renewing before the end of the financial year, creating 800 new jobs, M&S is picking up the pace on renewing in its store estate.

As M&S reshapes for growth, it is opening stores with the right space in the right places as it looks to double the size of its food business and modernise its store estate.

To grow the food business, M&S is looking to expand the size of its Food stores to stock a fuller range and attract more customers to do their weekly shop.

Following the excellent performance of the new M&S Food stores opened in the last three years, M&S is now expanding the number of locations in its search for sites, including areas where there is not yet an M&S store such as Hove, Marlborough and Wallingford.

All of these stores would be in the new renewal format with an extended range of M&S Food, wider aisles for bigger shopping trolleys and larger car parks for more family shoppers.

The Food store in Selby opened on Three Lakes retail park last year and has outperformed expectations, delivering above average food market share growth in the region.

M&S is now searching for sites in 500 potential locations to bring its tried and tested format for stores to modernise in existing markets and bring Food stores to new areas.

Over half of the stores across the M&S estate, including convenience stores, are expected to be in the renewal format by April 2028.

Alex Freudmann, managing director, M&S Food said: “The strong performance of our new M&S food stores gives us the confidence to explore even more locations across the UK, from Elgin to Exmouth.

“With more than twenty stores opening or modernised before the end of the financial year, we are moving faster.

“Our team want new sites where we could open a large M&S Food store as we deliver on our strategy to bring the right stores to the right places and offer the best shopping experience, range and availability for our customers.”

The full list of target locations in Sussex and Surrey are:

• Acorn Park Crawley
• Billingshurst
• Bognor Regis
• Burgess Hill
• Cranleigh
• Crowborough
• East Grinstead
• Fetcham/Leatherhead
• Haslemere
• Haywards Heath
• Heathfield
• Lewes
• North Brighton
• Oxted
• Reigate
• Rustington
• Seaford
• Storrington
• West Woking
• Worthing