Marks and Spencer is set to open six new or transformed stores in London before Christmas. The openings kicked off this week with the retailer opening a brand-new 5,300 square foot fresh market style Foodhall on Southampton Street in Covent Garden on October 15. M&S also re-opened two Foodhalls this week in Temple Fortune and Wimbledon after both stores received major transformations.
November will see two more brand new Foodhalls open at Clapham Common and Fulham Broadway, and then their store in Chiswick is the sixth one part of the retailer’s plan, and is due to re-open in December following a transformation.
The openings are part of a huge £90 million investment in London that was announced earlier this year, spanning six new foodhall openings and 11 renewals this financial year. The retailer revealed that the six new openings and renewals launched have resulted in the creation of over 200 new jobs.
Shoppers can enjoy new features, such as an in-store bakery and coffee counters, a market-style produce offer with fresh fruit and vegetables sourced from M&S Selected Farms, and a dedicated flower and wine shop.
Thinus Keeve, retailer director at M&S, said: “We want to be proud of every store we have across the capital and as we reshape growth, our focus is opening new stores to grow our footprint but also renewing those stores where we can deliver a better shopping experience for our customers.
“It’s brilliant to have such a strong property pipeline across London in the months ahead. We want to bring more of that M&S magic to the communities and on the commute, and we’re doing just that, just in time for the festive season.”
M&S has already opened up its Christmas Food to Order Service, allowing customers to reserve and pay for their Christmas dinner dishes, and then collect them between December 22 and 24 just in time for the holidays.
The service requires shoppers to pay a £50 deposit for the food, and then pay the outstanding balance upon collection.
Full List of Marks and Spencer’s new or transformed stores:
Wimbledon (transformed) – reopened October 13
Southampton, Covent Garden (new) – opened October 15
Temple Fortune (transformed) – reopened October 15
Clapham Common (new) – opening November
Fulham Broadway (new) – opening November
Chiswick (transformed) – reopening December