Marks & Spencer has unveiled a suite of flagship store openings in city centres as part of its store renewal and rotation programme.
Chief executive Stuart Machin revealed the new locations in response to a question at the retailer’s AGM asking Marks & Spencer had lost interest in high streets as it increasingly focuses on locations such as retail parks.
Machin said flagships would open in Bath and Bristol, the latter marking Marks & Spencer’s return to the city centre.
In Bath, M&S is relocating to an 83,000 sq ft store in the SouthGate Shopping Centre. The move represents a £17m investment and “guarantees” a future for M&S in Bath. Staff who work at present at the Stall Street branch – which will continue to trade until SouthGate is ready to open – will have the opportunity to move to the new shop.
The Bristol store will open in Cabot Circus. Measuring 80,000 sq ft, it represents an investment of £21m and will create around 150 jobs.
Machin said: “We want to offer the best possible shopping experience for customers every single time they shop with us. Our store rotation strategy is all about making sure we can showcase the very best of M&S – and that touch of M&S magic – from stores which excite and inspire.
“We’ve seen great results so far where we have relocated stores, in city centres like Liverpool and Birmingham, helping us to attract new customers and giving us the confidence to go faster with the strategy.”
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