Marks & Spencer news and archive

M&S announces 1-million-pound investment for net zero goals

British retailer Marks & Spencer has launched a 1-million-pound Plan A Accelerator Fund to invest in projects to help it achieve its net zero goals by 2040. M&S said it was turning its “market-leading approach to innovation to tackle climate change,” to reduce scope 3 emissions and become a net zero business across all its operations and entire...

People

Marks & Spencer appoints Hugo Boss’ head of design to head menswear

British department store Marks & Spencer has announced the appointment of Callum Briggs as its new head of menswear design, a role he will take up from June. Briggs joins the company from Hugo Boss, where he had been for over three years, first as senior menswear designer for Boss Outerwear and Leather, then most recently as head of design....

Retail

LK Bennett launches on M&S.com

British retailer Marks & Spencer has added premium womenswear brand LK Bennett to its roster on its ‘Brands at M&S’ online platform. LK Bennett launches at M&S with its spring/summer 2024 collection, including some of the brand’s bestselling items, from casual daywear to eventwear, such as jumpsuits, dresses, trousers and blazers, as well as...

People

Marks & Spencer appoints former Hunkemöller exec as lingerie director

British department store giant Marks & Spencer has announced the appointment of Charlotte Davies as its new lingerie director. Davies will succeed Laura Charles, who is retiring from the position after 10 years of driving the company’s “market-leading lingerie category”, as noted in an official announcement of the retailer’s LinkedIn. The...

Business

Marks & Spencer co-CEO to step down

Katie Bickerstaffe, the joint chief executive officer of Marks & Spencer, is understood to be stepping down from the role after just two years. Bickerstaffe will reportedly be handing over half of the position to her peer Stuart Machin, who will now become the retailer’s full CEO. This is according to Sky News, which cited a source stating that...

Business

Puma and Reebok join Marks & Spencer’s sports platform

British department store retailer Marks & Spencer has announced that Puma and Reebok will be joining ‘The Sports Edit on M&S’ platform as part of efforts to bolster the category. Over 140 products from the two brands will be added to the retailer’s e-commerce site throughout February and March, including both performance wear, lifestyle apparel...

People

M&S announces two senior executive appointments

M&S has announced the appointment of Rachel Higham as its new chief digital and technology officer and Mark Lemming as managing director of international. Both will also join the executive committee. Welcoming the appointments, M&S CEO Stuart Machin, said: “These two new leadership appointments reflect the importance of digital and technology...

Retail

Marks & Spencer to invest 30 million pounds into Scottish stores

Building on its string of investments into its retail network, British retailer Marks & Spencer has now said it is planning to invest 30 million pounds into bricks and mortar stores across Scotland. Among the plans, spanning the next 18 months, will be the opening of over five new locations, supporting over 6,500 jobs throughout the country, the...

Business

Marks & Spencer to undergo digital transformation for clothing and home

British department store retailer Marks & Spencer is set to undergo a digital transformation of its Clothing & Home business, in bid to create a more agile platform that responds better to consumer needs and trends. The process will be carried out with the company’s newest partner, o9 Solutions, a software platform provider that said it would be...

BusinessFeatured

M&S reports strong Christmas trading, home & clothing sales improve 4.8 percent

Clothing & home sales at Marks and Spencer Group (M&S) increased 4.8 percent over the Christmas trading period, with LFL sales also up 4.8 percent driven by growth in average selling price, partly a result of reduced promotions year-on-year. The company's total UK sales including food and home & clothing increased 8.5 percent to 3,568 million...

Business

Marks & Spencer eyeing international expansion, according to chairman

British department store chain Marks & Spencer is said to be on the path to become a “global brand”, according to its chairman, who added that the company was planning a further international expansion. In conversation with The Times, Marks & Spencer’s Archie Norman said: “We would like Marks & Spencer to be here for another 100 years, but to do...

Business

UK government puts end to ‘period pants tax’

As part of the government’s Autumn Statement, the chancellor has announced that period pants will be free of value added tax (VAT) from January onwards, a move that was met with celebration from retailers, women’s organisations and customers alike. Earlier this year, such groups rallied together on a campaign that called on the government to...