Acquisition

Marks & Spencer Group PLC
17 January 2006


Issued: Tuesday 17 January 2006


                 MARKS & SPENCER ACQUIRES 28 SIMPLY FOOD STORES


Marks & Spencer has announced today that it will extend its successful Simply
Food format with the acquisition of 28 stores on a leasehold basis from Iceland
Foods Ltd for a consideration of £38m.


The transaction is expected to complete in March, following which the stores
will be refitted and will reopen as Simply Food stores between June and August
this year.


The stores, which average around 5,000 sq.ft., are all in target locations for
the Simply Food brand throughout the UK.  The management and sales staff
currently working in these stores will be transferred to Marks & Spencer through
TUPE.


The new Simply Food stores will offer up to 2,000 Marks & Spencer food lines
including ready meals, fresh produce, sandwiches, wine, flowers and basic
groceries plus a selection of cards and hosiery.


Following the acquisition, Marks & Spencer will have 171 Simply Food stores
throughout the UK.


Ian Dyson, Finance Director, said:'We are delighted to have acquired these sites
which will enable us to accelerate the growth of our very popular and profitable
Simply Food concept.'


For further information, please contact:

Sue Sadler              Corporate Press Office                     020 8718 8642


Notes to Editors

1.      The new Simply Food stores being acquired will be in the following
areas:     Belfast Upper Newtownards Road, Bicester, Biggin Hill, Braintree,
Caversham, Christchurch, Cirencester, Coleraine, Devizes, Durham, Edinburgh,
Hazel Grove, Hertford, Honiton, Market Harborough, Morpeth, Newtownards,
Northallerton, Oadby, Ormskirk, Palmers Green, South Woodford, St Neots,
Sudbury, Tewkesbury, Cleveleys, Torquay and Trowbridge.


2.      There are currently 143 Simply Food stores in the UK, Republic of
Ireland and the Channel Islands. These include 40 franchise stores in railway
stations, Heathrow airport, motorway service areas and petrol station
forecourts.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange