Marks & Spencer is to return to France a decade after shutting its operations in the country.

The retailer will deploy a bricks and clicks strategy with a food and womenswear store on the Champs-Elysees in Paris and a website, trading in euros, to serve consumers across France.

Marks & Spencer intends to launch both businesses towards the end of the year in time for peak Christmas trading.

Marks & Spencer also intends to open Simply Food stores in and around Paris. They are likely to be run by franchise partner SSP and suitable locations are being sought at present.

The retailer is looking for “a limited number of locations from which to sell a larger clothing and food offer.”

Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland said: “Marks & Spencer has great brand awareness here in France and a place in customers’ hearts.

“We’re very excited to be returning with an e-commerce and retail offer to delight customers with our full range of clothing and home products, and the exceptional food from our Paris store.”

The French website will be Marks & Spencer’s first international transactional site, priced in euros and with local delivery prices. It will offer womenswear and lingerie, menswear, childrenswear and homewares.

The Champs-Elysees shop measures 15,000 sq ft over three floors.

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