Marks & Spencer has announced plans to search for 500 new locations for new and renewed stores as it aims to expand its Food business.

The retailer is set on expanding its M&S Food stores after the strong performance of the locations over the past three years.

Alex Freudmann, managing director, 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, from Elgin to Exmouth. With more than twenty stores opening or being modernised before the end of the financial year, we are moving faster.

“Our team want new sites where we could open a large M&S Food store as we deliver on our strategy to bring the right stores to the right places and offer the best shopping experience, range and availability for our customers.”

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The retailer is now looking for 500 potential locations to introduce its new format stores with an expanded range of M&S Food products and wider aisles and larger car parks.

M&S plans to open 20 new or renewed stores between November and March, which will create around 800 jobs.

As part of its growth and transformation plan, over half of the stores in the M&S estate, including the smaller-format convenience stores, will be in the process of renewal by April 2028.

The news comes after the supermarket retailer has expanded its M&S Food range to Australia in a partnership with Coles.