Marks & Spencer news

M&S has reintroduced ‘this is not just food…’ marketing campaign as it looks to transform its food business. This is not just food… After twelve years, M&S has brought back its ‘this is not just…’ campaign for its food business. The relaunch has been marked with a new 60 second advert, created by Grey London, and showcases a selection of products including cauliflower cheese, salmon and ...

With this year's official Fairtrade Fortnight running from 25th February-10 th March, we take a look at how retailers are supporting the event, and driving an ethical agenda in the face of a highly value orientated market. This year’s Fairtrade Fortnight focuses on campaigning for a living income to become a reality for cocoa farmers in West Africa, with a particular focus on women. The found...

Ahead of our next London safari on April 9, we share some of the reasons why we believe London stands out as a source of food-to-go innovation. 1. Health and wellness We don’t mean to say that London’s food-to-go scene is all about health and wellness, but we see a strong health and wellness positioning running through the proposition at a number of key players. Perhaps among the most obvio...

The overall growth of the UK grocery market was 1.9% in the 12 weeks up to February 24th, according to the latest data from the Kantar Worldpanel. This was a slight increase of +0.2 percentage points on January, reflecting a nudge upwards in both inflation and volume.  Brexit: despite growing concern shoppers are not stockpiling Brexit remains a key issue. Shoppers are worried about its imp...

M&S will acquire a 50% share in Ocado's UK retail business for £750m. Ocado's commercial agreement with Waitrose will come to an end in 2020. Details of the deal M&S will pay up to £750m for its stake: £562.5m on completion and up to £187.5m plus interest after five years This will be funded by selling £600m shares and cutting dividends to shareholders The transaction is expected t...

M&S is trialling in-store meal kits, ‘In the Bag’, in six of its stores. ‘In the Bag’: expanding the food-for-tonight offer M&S is trialling a new food-for-tonight meal kit offer, ‘In the Bag’, in six of its stores. Branches involved in the trial include Tolworth, Marble Arch, Braehead, Lisburn, Camberley, and Handforth Dean. The offer will appeal to a wide range of busy shoppers, wit...

M&S has appointed Andrew Mann as its new head of insight & loyalty, and Samantha Hornsby as head of food online. Samantha Hornsby: head of food online Earlier this month, Samantha Hornsby joined M&S taking up the role of head of food online. Hornsby joins the business having spent the past nine years with Tesco where she carried out several roles, acting most recently as head of online r...

The retailers take different, innovative approaches to long-term reduction of plastic waste. M&S supporting circular economy with plastic take-back initiative New recycling bins in store will allow shoppers to return plastic packaging which they can't recycle at home. This includes items such as black ready meal trays and cosmetics containers. Packaging collected will be used to create stor...

M&S announces a new plastic-free produce trial and proposes 17 more store closures as it progresses its transformation strategy. M&S plastic-free produce aisles trial M&S has launched over 90 lines of loose fruit and vegetables completely free of plastic packaging across two aisles in a new three month trial at the Tolworth store. The range includes harder products such as potatoes, as w...

The retailer cited difficult market conditions as it reported continued sales decline in the 13 weeks to 29 December 2018. However, chief executive Steve Rowe emphasised " the transformation programme remains on track...with some encouraging early signs ". Headlines Group sales declined -3.9% to £3.044bn in the 13 weeks to 29 December 2018 Food sales declined -1.2% to £1.679bn, with l...