Petrol stations look likely to be next on the agenda for Marks & Spencer as a growth avenue for its Simply Food fascia.
M&S has already disclosed plans for 150 Simply Food stores by the end of March 2006 and has 40 at present.
Chief executive Roger Holmes said M&S would learn from its experience in other locations before committing to other variations.
He explained: 'We are opening a store in Manchester airport and service stations and we will learn from those.' There are no specific plans to open forecourt stores at the moment, but Holmes added: 'I wouldn't preclude anything.'
One source close to M&S said: 'The grocers do not have exclusive rights with the oil companies. There is an option there for (M&S) to open a few hundred if they want.'
On Tuesday, M&S reported interim profits before tax and exceptionals up 7.4 per cent to£311.5 million on sales of£3.3 billion.
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