M&S has unveiled plans to open two new flagship stores in Bath and Bristol as it continues to invest in strengthening its bricks-and-mortar offer.
The new stores total an investment of £38m, which the high street retailer said will offer customers “the very best of M&S Food, Clothing and Beauty”.
M&S will relocate its central Bath location to open an 83,000sq ft store in SouthGate Shopping Centre, which will see staff at its current Stall Street store given the opportunity to transfer across.
The retailer said it was also returning to Bristol city centre with an 80,000sq ft store in Cabot Circus, creating an estimated 150 new jobs.
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M&S CEO Stuart Machin said: “We want to offer the best possible shopping experience for customers every single time they shop with us. This new £17m investment in a flagship Bath store means we can deliver on that promise and secure M&S’ future in the city.
“We’ve seen great results so far where we have relocated stores, in city centres like Liverpool and Birmingham, helping us to attract new customers and giving us the confidence to go faster with the strategy.”
Machin added: “It’s brilliant to be announcing our return to Bristol city centre today. At Cabot Circus, we’re able to create a flagship store which delivers the best possible shopping experience for customers and showcases the very best of M&S.
“Our store rotation programme is all about ensuring we have the right stores in the right place and with the right space to excite and inspire our customers, including in city centres. This £21m investment [into Bristol] will allow us to do just that while expanding our footprint across the South West.”
At its recent full-year results, the retailer unveiled plans to open up to four new full-line stores and nine new foodhalls across the UK in the current financial year.
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