M&S is growing and renewing its convenience footprint with plans to open 10 new stores and renew up to 50 existing ones this year.
On 10th July, M&S celebrated the reopening of its Liverpool Street Station Mezzanine store, the first-ever M&S convenience store at a mainline railway station, renewed in partnership with SSP.
M&S Store Openings and Renewals
This year, M&S and its franchise partners across the UK will open at least 10 new convenience stores and renew up to 50, contributing further growth to its £1bn convenience business. By the end of this year, M&S will have a presence in more than 40 UK train stations, including new stores at Ealing Broadway, opened last month, and Belfast, opening in October. M&S will also expand its footprint in hospitals and airports across the UK.
Liverpool Street Station Store Renewal
The customer journey at the renewed Liverpool Street Mezzanine store has been completely transformed with an additional entrance into the store. The new-look store includes revamped chilled and floral sections, freshly baked bakery products, and an enhanced Food On the Move range. Customers will also notice three additional self-service tills, improving customer experience and reducing waiting times.
The renewed store focuses on customers shopping for Food for Now, such as sandwiches, salads, bakery items, and drinks. For those looking for Dinner for Tonight and other Food for Later options, such as ready meals and ready-to-cook items, there is a second M&S store at Liverpool Street station in the West Mall.
Originally opened in November 2001 in partnership with SSP, the Liverpool Street Mezzanine store remains a prime example of the retailer’s successful partnership with SSP. SSP currently runs 55 franchised M&S convenience stores across rail and air locations, as well as some hospitals.
Alex Freudmann, M&S Food MD, said: “Our renewal programme is all about making sure we have the right stores in the right place and with the right space and this applies to our convenience stores as well. These stores offer the perfect range for customers on the move looking for sandwiches, salads, and snacks to eat now, as well as meals for dinner, such as our infamous Dine In offers. The convenience channel complements our wider business and provides a halo effect, so it’s important that customers have the same fantastic shopping experience. The new renewal format for our convenience stores maximises these small spaces to deliver the M&S Foodhall experience for the missions our customers are shopping for as they travel. By renewing and growing our convenience estate, we’ll continue to deliver for our customers however, whenever, and wherever they want to shop with us.”
