M&S news and archive

M&S receives first-ever award from PETA for vegan retail

Marks and Spencer has been recognized for its vegan efforts. PETA awarded the British retailer with its first ever “Vegan-Friendly High Street Retailer” recognition. M&S has broadened its product offerings across both fashion and food to allow vegan-friendly options for customers who follow the lifestyle. The retailer's Plant Kitchen range...

Report

M&S to close another 17 stores putting over 1000 jobs at risk

Marks and Spencer Plc (M&S) has revealed locations of 17 further stores, which it plans to close as a part of its previously announced five-year plan to shutter over 100 stores by 2022, reports BBC. The store closures are expected to impact 1,045 staff members, who, the company said, will now be a part of consultation process. The 17 proposed...

Report

M&S Christmas quarter sales drop amid 'difficult market'

For its third quarter to December 29, 2018, Marks and Spencer Plc (M&S) reported 4.8 percent decline in UK Clothing & Home sales to 1,103 million pounds (1,407 million dollars) with like-for-like sales down 2.4 percent. International sales were 15.1 percent to 262 million pounds (334 million dollars), while group sales declined 3.9 percent to...

Management

M&S continues to report sales decline in the first half

Marks and Spencer Plc (M&S) group revenue decreased by 3 percent at constant currency to 4,967 million pounds (5,689 million dollars) in the first half of this fiscal year, which the company said was adversely impacted by Easter timing by an estimated 0.8 percent in Food and 0.2 percent in Clothing & Home and the group’s accelerated UK store...

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M&S announces changes to its board of directors

Marks and Spencer Group plc (M&S) has announced changes to its board and committee membership. The company said, having served on the board since September 2011, and having led the succession process for the new chairman in 2017, Vindi Banga, senior independent director and chairman of the remuneration committee decided to step down and retired...

Management

Jeremy Pee to join M&S as chief digital & data officer

Marks & Spencer Plc (M&S) has announced that Jeremy Pee, who is currently senior vice president of Loblaw Companies Limited, has been appointed to the new role of Chief Digital & Data Officer. The company said, Pee will join M&S on the 3rd December and lead the business strategy to transform M&S’ digital capabilities and drive the digital...

Business

Marks & Spencer automates customer service, moves switchboard employees to stores

After partnering up with Microsoft to incorporate artificial intelligence in its business and setting up a retail data academy to step up its employees’ “data literacy”, Marks & Spencer has taken one more step towards becoming a more digital-savvy retailer. This time, it has joined forces with cloud communications platform Twilio to adopt a...

News

Marks and Spencer partners with True to drive “digital innovation”

Marks and Spencer is pushing forward with its strategy of becoming a ‘digital-first’ retailer by partnering with True, Europe’s only specialist retail and consumer investment firm to access the latest retail-specific innovations and technologies to advance its “digital innovation”. In a press release, Marks and Spencer stated that the move mean...

Report

Marks and Spencer expands partnership with First Insight

Marks and Spencer has confirmed that it is expanding its partnership with predictive analysis firm First Insight, which helps retailers make product investment and pricing decisions. The British retailer has been using First Insight’s consumer-driven predictive analytics, which uses online social engagement tools to gather real-time preference,...

Schools

Marks and Spencer creates Retail Data Academy

Marks and Spencer has partnered with Decoded to create the world’s first Data Academy in retail, which is part of the retailer’s ongoing transformation to a digital-first organisation. The Marks and Spencer Data Academy will take staff members from every function in the business, from store managers, visual merchandisers, finance and buying, the...

Report

M&S partners with Founders Factory to invest in startups

Marks & Spencer and startup accelerator Founders Factory have joined forces to launch Founders Factory Retail, a joint venture that will invest and grow technology startups focusing on retail. “Partnering with Founders Factory as their exclusive retail partner gives M&S access to a global network of start-ups and entrepreneurs which will provide...

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M&S to cut 351 store management roles

British retailer Marks & Spencer Plc (M&S) would be cutting 351 jobs across its stores in the country, reports the Guardian. The retailer has decided to lay off 115 positions across store, commercial and operations segments and 182 section managers in the same sectors of the business. According to consultation documents accessed by the Guardian,...