Beloved British chain Marks & Spencer is looking to expand – and is eyeing up nine new locations in Kent.
The retail company – which sells clothes, home, beauty and food – is aiming to double the size of its food business, with new modern, bigger standalone stores.
M&S bosses have announced a list of potential sites that could soon be home to new or refurbished store. Picture: Google
As such, 500 areas across the UK are on the new ‘potential location list’ where larger units could offer the expanded range.
In Kent, these include Ashford, Borough Green, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone, Herne Bay, Strood, Tonbridge and Whitstable.
While M&S already exists in some of these towns, such as Ashford and Canterbury, it could mean a larger full-size food hall could be opened in a new location.
It is not known if the existing stores would then close.
The M&S at Maidstone Eclipse Park is an example of the larger modern food halls the retailer wants to replicate in other locations. Picture: Google.
The company has been working hard to expand its food range and says its current, bigger food stores have delivered exceptional results, giving belief to accelerate expansion into new markets.
Alex Freudmann, manager director of 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.
“With more than 20 stores opening or modernised before the end of the financial year, we are moving faster.”
He added the company is seeking new sites where it can open in large units to bring “the right stores to the right places” for customers.
Many of the new food stores are designed with wider aisles, bigger trolleys, and improved parking to make shopping easier for families.
M&S is aiming to “double the size” of its food business. Picture: Marks & Spencer
Requirements have been laid out on what the company is looking for in a potential new location.
Some of the things they are looking for include a two plus-acre site, dedicated car parking (150+ spaces), on the edge of centre or out of town, and on major roads with easy access.
Of the nine Kent locations named, six already have M&S food halls, while Borough Green, Folkestone and Herne Bay have been highlighted as new areas the retailer hopes to enter.
Stores similar to those at Bluewater Shopping Centre and Maidstone Eclipse Park are examples of the bigger food halls the retailer is looking to move into other locations.
These modern stores typically offer a fuller product range, a fresh market-style layout and facilities designed to support a complete weekly shop rather than a smaller top-up visit.
The retail giant also recently acquired 12 former Homebase sites across the UK, several of which will become some of the biggest standalone food stores in the country.
Nationally, 20 new or renewed M&S stores will open between November and March – creating a total of 800 jobs.
Eventually, the chain wants an estate footprint of 180 full line stores and 420 food halls.
