Three new foodhalls across the UK

In March of 2026, M&S have opened three brand new food stores across the UK in Hatfield, Luton, and Farnham ranging from 15,000 to 18,600 sq ft. These large format sites form part of an ongoing expansion, having opened 20 new or renewed stores in the financial year. Collectively, these new openings have created 200 new jobs, improving the communities they have moved into. Placing the new stores in locations such as Hatfield Oldings Corner and Luton Bramingham has allowed M&S to take advantage of the commuter basis of these two areas, giving families the opportunity to use M&S as a basis for the weekly shop.

Broadening the shopper base

The openings allow for a wider customer base across different higher traffic areas across the UK, while also providing price initiatives to encourage families to shop there. M&S aims to win family shoppers through an emphasis on quality of products, convenience and size of new locations in higher traffic areas, and the continued promotion of value-led price initiatives such as Remarksable Value, everyday essentials price benchmarked against competitors, and Bigger Pack, Better Value, bulk SKUs aimed at families. All three new stores, and the renewed stores are suggested by M&S to be stocking the full, or at least a majority of the, M&S Food range, providing a comprehensive selection of products to all the shoppers in the areas where the new and renewed stores are.

Store features and highlights

Bakery and coffee counter

The new M&S stores highlight the implementation of the bakery and coffee counter, offering barista made coffee and baked goods. This counter includes an offer of any drink with either a pastry or muffin for £4, offering a stop for shoppers to refuel, although there is not place in the stores for shoppers to take a seat. The bakery counter gives M&S the opportunity to highlight some of its new and viral baked goods, such as the “Chunked N’ Loaded” cookies, and the new doughnut flavours called “Dunked N’ Loaded”. The bakery and coffee counter has been seen in stores previously such as in the Bath Southgate flagship store and appears to be a consistent feature of new M&S Food stores.

Hot chicken counter

Found in the new stores in Hatfield and Luton is a hot chicken counter offering different flavours of rotisserie chicken and cross merchandised with baguettes and sauces. An open window can be seen from the counter showing the rotisserie oven cooking the full chickens, giving shoppers transparency from oven to packaging. A board behind the counter signals the price of either a large (full chicken) or a half chicken, with a large chicken for £10 and a half chicken for £6, making the large chicken a better deal encourages a larger spend and basket size. The cross-merchandising of the different sauces and baguettes to compliment the chicken also encourages some impulse spend and an increased basket size.

Cheese and deli sections

M&S Luton includes a new feature that is not included in either of the other new stores, a cheese barge next to a deli section. The cheese barge is outlined by wood panelling and baskets full of straw containing condiments. The cheese is stored in a chilled fixture along the barge and is cross-merchandised with wine, baguettes, crackers, and condiments. A blackboard at the front displays the different types of cheeses that can be found in the range. The deli section is very similar, with the similar products cross merchandised across the range but also including jars of olives, and a chilled fixture along the barge, but instead containing cheese the fixture contains deli meats.

Creating the in-store experience

A major characteristic of the new and renewed stores is the creation of an experience. Instead of a traditional supermarket layout, M&S has introduced touchpoints that encourage exploration and make the shopper journey more memorable. Specialist counters add a sense of theatre, allowing shoppers to watch food being prepared, speak with M&S colleagues, and pick up freshly made items as they move through the stores. These areas also offer tailored recommendations, specifically in the cheese, deli, and wine sections, helping shoppers discover new products.

Another key part of the experience is the fresh market feel all new and renewed M&S stores are attempting to create. Warm wood tones, market-style fixtures, and even the chalkboard signage create a welcoming atmosphere, providing shoppers with a more comfortable and easy going shopping experience.

Moving towards M&S’ goals

Earlier this year, M&S outlined an ambitious expansion strategy, scouting 500 potential sites across the UK as it works to reach its target of 180 full-line stores and 420 food halls by 2028. The latest openings and renewals highlight progress on these goals, with a lot of the progress seen in the past financial year, as the retailer opened six new food halls and one new full-line store in Bath. Alongside new openings, M&S are showing an ongoing commitment to evolving its existing real-estate, by renewing stores into its new formatting, with further renewals already planned. Overall, M&S’ expansion plans are on track, and the retailer shows no signs of slowing down.