Marks & Spencer expects to save about£100 million a year following an overhaul of its overseas general merchandise supply chain, which will be completed in four years.
This follows the announcement in March of a streamlining of its UK logistics operations, predicted to bring in annual savings of£20 million.
The changes will help the retailer compete more effectively with high street fashion rivals by offering increased efficiency and appeal to fashion-conscious customers.
M&S general merchandise logistics head Simon Ratcliffe said: 'To get to the younger age group we need a more agile logistics process than we currently have.
'Our new season launches need to be one big bang rather than spread over a few weeks.'
M&S has instructed logistics firm Exel to undertake a 12-month global research project to provide solutions for the overseas supply chain overhaul. This will lead to a reduction in the 100-plus manufacturer-owned general merchandise warehouses that the company uses to hold up to 22 weeks of stock before it hits the stores.
Ratcliffe added that childrenswear would be the first category to benefit from the new supply chain.
Although he said the project had the full backing of M&S chief executive Roger Holmes, Ratcliffe suggested that his main task at the moment is to 'win the hearts and minds of the non-logistics commercial and merchandising people' within the company.
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