Irish fuel and forecourts operator Applegreen is set to make a multi-million-euro investment to open 20 new M&S Food stores this year.

It marks a “major expansion” of Applegreen’s partnership with the upmarket retailer, and will see each of the new “shop-in-shop” locations undergoing bespoke upgrades to introduce the M&S brand.

The expansion will see Applegreen almost double its existing network of M&S Food stores, and will see it operating 41 stores across the island of Ireland as part of the partnership by year-end. It plans to expand the network to 60 outlets in the medium term.

Each branch will feature a range of more than 400 M&S Food products, which the operator said would “complement the existing Applegreen business” and offer customers additional choice and convenience.

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The products include ready meal options for lunch and dinner, sandwiches, fresh fruit and salads, and fresh flowers. Popular favourites such as Percy Pig sweets, M&S cookies, and Colin the Caterpillar cakes will also be present.

All of the new outlets will also offer Click & Collect for M&S Clothing and selected Home product ranges.

M&S at Applegreen head Mark Ryan said: “The expansion of our M&S Food partnership is one of the key elements of our growth plans in the Irish market, alongside further investment in our Braeburn Coffee brand, and significant investment in new and upgraded sites.

“We have a hugely dedicated Applegreen team working on our plans to deliver another 20 new M&S stores this year and we also have significant support from our partners in M&S.”