The planned revamp of Marks and Spencer’s food halls will highlight the UK retailer’s aim to offer consumers more “speciality”, its chief executive said today (13 September).

Marc Bolland told just-food that the changes would help M&S differentiate itself from its competitors in the UK grocery sector after internal concerns that its food departments were resembling supermarkets.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

“We were going into that direction by bringing in hundreds of brands. We’re moving into another territory – speciality for a very good price,” Bolland said.

After joining from Morrisons last year, Bolland said he wanted M&S’s food halls to be “more inspired” and, after months of work, the retailer has spent the last two days showcasing its changes at its stores at Westfield and at High Street Kensington.

Aside from moves to cut the number of branded SKUs on sale, more major initiatives have included deli counters, a new-look bakery department and the introduction of 100 “exclusive” international ambient brands.

Bolland said the decision to list the 100 international brands, which will be marketed as “Flavours of the World”, was to help position M&S as a “speciality” retailer througout the year, rather than just at occasions like Christmas.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

“We sell around Christmas a lot of speciality [products] and everybody loves us for it. Why wouldn’t we offer that in June?,” he said.

The changes, part of a GBP600m (US$947m) upgrade of M&S’s food and clothing departments, are to be piloted at 14 stores across the UK next month. The retailer plans to convert 80 to 100 outlets by March.