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Retail has taken a hit in recent years, first due to the pandemic and second, the cost of living crisis.
Both major events have caused consumer shopping and spending habits to change.
Back in August, Retail Gazette reported: “According to the British Retail Consortium, 6,000 shops have closed down in the UK in the last five years as a result of crippling business rates, a wave of administrations during the pandemic, and hesitancy around new openings.”
However, Britons need not fear, as several popular retailers have also announced ambitious new store launches.
Marks and Spencer announced it will be opening a total of nine stores in November 2023, spending £80million in total. This will support over 2,200 local jobs across the UK.
These include six new stores in prime locations such as Birmingham’s Bullring, Manchester’s Trafford Centre and the Lakeside shopping centre in Essex. These three new full line stores are all store relocations – part of M&S’ investment to regenerate vacant sites.
The other three stores opening this month will be three existing stores that have been refurbished.
Six of the stores being opened are its larger format shops. Here, customers will be able to purchase food, clothing and homeware. The other three stores are set to be standalone food halls.
Sacha Berendji, M&S operations director, said that having the right shops in the optimum locations is crucial for the retailer. These store openings come at a perfect time, as the country prepares for the festive season.
Sacha said: “Stores are key to our business, and we see them as part of our competitive advantage. Increasing numbers of customers are heading back in to stores to experience the best of M&S all under one roof, supported by outstanding service from our colleagues, and we expect this to continue as we head into Christmas.
“To deliver our biggest ever store opening month which supports thousands of jobs is an outstanding effort from the team and shows just how serious we are about accelerating our rotation plans so we are in the right locations for our customers.”
According to The Telegraph, M&S is in the process of revamping its stores against a “difficult economic backdrop”. The aim is to go from 247 to 180 higher quality, higher productivity stores.
Good news for shoppers who get their groceries from M&S, the retailer also plans to open more than 100 food halls. According to the retailer, the changes could save it more than £300million in rent.
But as nine M&S stores open this month, one store is set to shut its doors. The retailer confirmed the Wrexham store will permanently close on November 30.
However, the supermarket will be opening a new Foodhall in Wrexham, located in Plas Coch Retail Park, on December 1. The new 15,000 sq ft store will offer local shoppers a fresh market-style Foodhall with an in-store bakery.
New M&S stores to open in 2023
New Full Line stores
- Birmingham Bullring – November 7
- Lakeside – November 15
- Trafford Centre – November 30
New Foodhalls
- Uckfield – November 8
- Earlsfield – November 16
- Barnsley – November 28
Store renewals
- Camberley – November 20
- Handforth – November 23
- Newcastle (FH only) – November 29
