Marks & Spencer returns to France

RNS Number : 1007E

Marks & Spencer Group PLC

01 April 2011

 



1 April 2011

MARKS & SPENCER RETURNs TO FRANCE WITH

new 'Bricks & Clicks' strategy

Marks & Spencer today announces that it will return to France towards the end of this year with a combined e-commerce and retail 'bricks & clicks' strategy in line with its business plans announced in November.

The move will see Marks & Spencer launch a new retail website, in French and trading in Euros, providing opportunities to serve customers throughout France. The company will also open a new store in the heart of Paris on the Champs-Elysées towards the end of this year offering a selection of both womenswear and food.

Marks & Spencer is also in advanced talks with SSP, an established UK franchise partner,  regarding opening a number of Marks & Spencer Simply Food stores at strategic locations in and around Paris and is now looking for suitable sites. The retailer is also looking for a limited number of locations from which to sell a larger clothing and food offer.

Speaking from Paris, Marc Bolland, Marks & Spencer's Chief Executive, said:

"Marks & Spencer has great brand awareness here in France and a place in customers' hearts. We're very excited to be returning with an e-commerce and retail offer to delight customers with our full range of clothing and home products, and the exceptional food from our Paris store."

Both the new French website and Parisian store are scheduled to launch prior to this year's peak Christmas trading period to capitalise on the strong consumer awareness of the

Marks & Spencer brand[1].

French Website

Marks & Spencer's full range of high quality, stylish fashions for all the family and a selection of homeware products will be available to customers across the country via its brand new French website.

www.marksandspencer.fr will be the retailer's first international transactional website. The new French language website will offer a full range of womenswear and lingerie; menswear; kidswear and homeware - all priced in Euros and with local delivery prices.

Retail

Marks & Spencer is returning to Paris with an aspirational store located at 100 Avenue des Champs-Elysées. This 1,400 square metre (15,000 sq ft) store will trade over three floors in a unique location and showcase the very best of Marks & Spencer's stylish womenswear and lingerie alongside a convenience offer of high quality, innovative food.

Marks & Spencer will retain all 30 of the store's current employees - including the Store Manager - all of whom will take part in comprehensive training programmes over the coming months. 

Marks & Spencer is also looking to open a number of Marks & Spencer Simply Food stores at strategic locations in and around Paris. The retailer is in advanced talks with SSP and together they are now looking for suitable sites.

[1] Independent Research November 2010. Prompted responses of 750 surveyed consumers revealed that over 70% of French consumers are aware of the Marks & Spencer brand.

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For further information, please contact:

M&S Corporate Press Office              [phone]

Notes to Editors:

·     The lease acquisition of the Champs-Elysées store was facilitated by Cushman & Wakefield.           

·     The property belongs to Generali, the Italian insurer. Generali has a portfolio of nearly Euro25 billion of real estate assets in prime locations mainly in Europe.                    

 

About Marks & Spencer

·     Marks & Spencer is one of the UK's leading retailers with over 21 million customers visiting its stores every week. Marks & Spencer sells high quality, great value clothing and home products and outstanding quality food.

·     The retailer sources its products responsibly from 2,000 suppliers around the world. Over 76,000 people work for Marks & Spencer both in the UK and in 42 territories overseas, where Marks & Spencer has a growing international business.

·     There are currently 697 UK Marks & Spencer stores and 358 international stores in 42 territories.

·     For more information please visit http://corporate.marksandspencer.com 

About Marks & Spencer & SSP

·     Marks & Spencer and SSP have been working together for the last ten years to deliver high quality M&S Food, supported by excellent customer service, in transport hubs across the UK.

·     There are now 39 M&S Simply Food stores operated by SSP in UK railway stations and airports, as well as five stores located in UK hospitals.

About SSP

·     SSP is the leading dedicated operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations, operating restaurants, bars, cafés, food courts, lounges and convenience stores in airports, train stations, motorway service areas, conference centres and other leisure locations.

·     With a heritage stretching back over 60 years, today SSP has more than 30,000 employees, serving over five million customers every week. It has business at over 140 airports and over 250 rail stations, and operates more than 2,150 units in over 30 countries, including France, around the world.

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