Marks & Spencer food stores to be rebranded

Marks & Spencer is rebranding the bulk of its “neighbourhood” stores as Food, creating a second food-focused standalone format to add to its Simply Food branded outlets.

The chain has 25 stores which it classifies internally as “neighbourhood” stores. It plans to rebrand these as either Food or Simply Food, depending on their size and other criteria.

An M&S spokeswoman says: “It is really to give clarification to consumers of our offer in these stores and to bring the brand up to date with the Simply Food branding.”

Food outlets will range between 8,000 and 15,000 sq ft, have dedicated parking and carry an average of 2,500 food lines as well as selected clothing items. This compares with Simply Food formats, which are between 1,500 and 7,000 sq ft and carry an average of 1,300 food lines.

M&S already has 27 Simply Food outlets, including seven at railway stations. It plans to open another 150 by the end of March 2006, including 40 stores through a franchise with Compass subsidiary SSP at travel locations, including railway stations and possibly motorway service stations – if a trial at Toddington service station on the M1 is successful.