M&S eyes its first foodstore in Thirsk, North Yorkshire

The move comes as the retailer also seeks better sites in places it already serves, as part of a nationwide expansion.

It follows similar calls for sites from discount retailers Aldi and Lidl.

Earlier this week, M&S 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 says it is picking up the pace on renewing in its store estate. 

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

Recent store openings have delivered ‘excellent performance’, M&S says, including the Food store on Three Lakes Retail Park in Selby, which opened last year.

M&S said this store has “outperformed expectations, delivering above average food market share growth in the region. “

In its call for sites, M&S listed Thirsk, which currently not served by an M&S. North Yorkshire targets also included Knaresborough, Northallerton, Knaresborough, and Scarborough, which have existing food or department stores.

Nearby Wetherby in West Yorkshire is also listed, as its Simply Food store is noted for being small in comparison to nearby Knaresborough, and especially the Ripon foodstore, which was significantly expanded earlier this year.

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.”

M&S added it is looking for highly visible and accessible sites across the UK that are capable of delivering trading space of 18,000sqft (25,000sqft gross).

An updated property requirements brochure with full list of locations is now live online here.