As part of efforts to revamp its stores, Marks & Spencer has announced that 3,400 new jobs will be created across Britain.
It intends to open eight “full-line” stores in the next year in locations like Liverpool, Birmingham, and Leeds. These stores carry clothing, food, and home goods.
Seven of the eight stores will be relocations, five of which will be at former Debenhams locations.
As part of the company’s shop overhaul, 12 food halls will be opened.
Once implemented, the modifications will result in fewer M&S traditional stores overall as the company aims to grow its food business.
In cities including Stockport, Barnsley, and Largs in North Ayrshire, Scotland, new Simply Food locations will open.
The former Debenhams locations in the shopping malls of Leeds White Rose, Liverpool ONE, Birmingham Bullring, Manchester Trafford, and Lakeside Thurrock will house five of the eight new “full-line” stores.
A new store will also open in Croydon’s Purley Way. The locations of the other two stores will be revealed later.
Marks & Spencer reported investing £480 million in its “store rotation programme,” which will result in the creation of 3,400 employment over the next three to five years.
It confirmed that the roles were new ones in addition to any that might be associated with stores moving to new locations.
Stuart Machin, chief executive officer of M&S, stated that the program’s goal was to “making sure we have the right stores, in the right place, with the right space”.
“The out-performance of our recently relocated and renewed stores give us the confidence to go faster in our plan,” he added.
M&S announced plans to decrease the number of its “full-line” stores from 247 to 180 by 2028 last year.
Given that consumers are spending more money online, the company wants fewer, better main storefronts.