Marks & Spencer news and archive

M&S increases pay for its retail staff by 6.4 percent

British retailer Marks & Spencer is making a “significant investment” in its retail staff with an inflation-beating 6.4 percent pay rise. From April 1, M&S will invest more than 70 million pounds to increase pay for its UK retail staff by at least 6.4 percent, a rise of more than double the current rate of inflation. M&S’s hourly pay for retail...

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Business

M&S strengthens ties to motorsport with Silverstone deal

British retailer Marks & Spencer is becoming an official partner of Silverstone Circuit, the world-renowned motorsport venue in England, which hosts the Formula 1 British Grand Prix. In a statement, M&S said the partnership spans year-round activity at the circuit, including track days, hospitality, fan zones, music, and entertainment, as well...

Fashion

M&S to sell stoma underwear for children

Marks & Spencer has become the first UK high street retailer to launch dedicated stoma underwear for children, extending its existing stoma range for women and men, as it looks “to normalise inclusive design while breaking down barriers to access and affordability”. A stoma is a surgically created opening on the abdomen that allows waste to...

Fashion

Marks & Spencer launches cotton programme in bid to strengthen biodiverse farming practices

British department store Marks & Spencer has established a new partnership with sustainability innovator Pilio to launch the Affordable Clean Environment (ACE) cotton programme. The initiative intends to broaden access to clean energy and strengthen biodiverse farming practices within Indian cotton-growing communities. Developed as part of Marks...

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Fashion|Interview

Marks & Spencer accelerates into Formula 1 with Williams Racing partnership

Marks & Spencer has signed a multiyear deal with Atlassian Williams F1 team, marking the British department store’s first move into Formula 1. From the 2026 season, the retailer will become the team’s official travel kit partner, dressing the Williams team as they compete across 24 races in 21 countries on the Formula 1 calendar. The partnership...

Fashion

Marks & Spencer doubles down on denim amid category growth

British department store Marks & Spencer is accelerating its denim focus with the launch of a dedicated campaign and new items that respond to growth of the category. The company said that with its “leading position in women’s denim and a growing market share in men’s denim”, it wished to build on its leadership in one of its key growth...

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The evolution of fashion's mid-market: a blueprint for premium

Fashion’s mid-market, once considered the industry’s stable centre, has undergone a decade of disruption that is reshaping the wider apparel landscape. According to a new white paper by independent think tank FashionSights, the drivers that have “hollowed out” the middle are no longer contained there and are increasingly moving upmarket. “...

People

Marks & Spencer technology chief exits months after cyber attack

A new report has suggested that Josie Smith, Marks & Spencer’s chief technology officer, has exited the British retailer. Her departure comes months after the company faced a cyber attack that impacted operations businesswide. A memo seen and reported on by Sky News said Smith had “decided to leave M&S”, a statement that was then confirmed to...

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Business

M&S fashion division navigates 'tail end of recovery' with sales down 2.5 percent

While Marks and Spencer Group PLC (M&S) celebrated a record-breaking Christmas in its Food division, the Fashion, Home & Beauty (FHB) segment faced a more complex trading environment during the 13 weeks ending December 27, 2025. The company said that the FHB segment at M&S is currently navigating the "tail end of recovery" as part of the...

Retail

TikTok Shop records its highest sales day in the UK for Black Friday

On Black Friday, November 28, TikTok Shop sold 27 items every second and recorded its highest sales on the platform in the UK to date, surpassing last year’s record-breaking performance by 50 percent across the full Black Friday/Cyber Monday period, from Friday, November 21, to Monday, December 1. The peak of the activity was Black Friday...

People

Marks & Spencer taps New Look veteran for store director role

Marks & Spencer has named Elaine Cartwright as its new store director for innovation and implementation. The appointment comes as the British department store continues on its 300 million pound store rotation programme, which has focused on new openings and retail renewals. Cartwright most recently served as retail director UK & ROI at New Look,...

Retail|In Pictures

M&S opens “renewal” flagship store at Merry Hill

British retailer Marks & Spencer has opened its latest “renewel” store concept at Merry Hill, one of the top 10 retail and leisure destinations in the UK, located in the West Midlands. The 100,000 square foot flagship marks one of M&S’s major investments in its retail network this year, and has brought together two existing units into one...