Marks & Spencer has secured 12 former Homebase sites to open new food stores across England.
The new stores, some of which have more than 20,000 sq ft of trading space, are expected to create 550 new jobs and will be some of the retailer’s largest standalone food stores in the UK.
Eight of the new stores are set to open by July 2026, while the first stores in Abingdon and Cannock are anticipated to open this year.
Other confirmed locations include stores in both Farnham and Godalming, Surrey, as well as a store in Northampton, but all stores remain subject to planning permission.
M&S said the acquisitions mark a “significant step forward” in its store rotation and renewal programme as it continues to seek out “the right stores in the right place with the right space”.
The full store rotation and renewal programme aims to create a total of 420 larger food stores and a “more productive group” of 180 full-line stores.
Half of the M&S store estate is expected to be in the renewed format by 2027/28, the retailer said.
M&S chief executive Stuart Machin added: “Investing in new and renewed stores is one of our key transformation priorities. Securing these highly desirable sites in priority locations will accelerate this strategy, drive further growth in our M&S Food business and most importantly give our customers the best possible M&S shopping experience.”
The retailer confirmed in its most recent trading update for the 52 weeks to March 29, 2025, that it would lose an estimated £300m as a result of the recent cyber attack on the business, which forced it to halt online orders and caused availability issues on shelves in-store.
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