Marks & Spencer to Close Dozens of Cafes in Major £300m Revamp
Marks & Spencer (M&S) is changing how it runs its stores. On October 7, 2025, the company said it will close 11 cafés in smaller food shops. This is part of a £300 million plan to update food halls and make shopping better. The closures affect less than 4% of M&S’s 316 food stores. The space will be used for more popular products. Shoppers now want convenience and high-quality groceries.
Even with the closures, M&S will keep cafés in bigger stores. A new coffee shop opened recently at Bristol’s Cabot Circus. The company said no jobs will be lost. All staff from closed cafés will move to other roles in the company.
This change shows how M&S is adapting to customer habits. M&S is changing stores and moving resources to stay strong in the busy retail market. Let’s discuss the strategy in detail.
Background on Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has been an important part of British retail since 1884. It began as a small market stall in Leeds and grew into a big high street store. Over time, M&S added food to its clothing business. It became famous for products like Percy Pigs and ready-made meals.
Recently, M&S faced new challenges. More people are shopping online, and discount stores are becoming popular. This made M&S rethink how it does business. The company started a plan to change its stores. It wants to modernize them and improve its food products to meet what customers want today.
Details of the Café Closures
On October 6, 2025, M&S said it will close 11 cafés in smaller food stores. This is part of a plan to make store layouts better and focus on popular products. The closures affect less than 4% of M&S’s 316 food shops. This shows it is a small, targeted change, not a big downsizing.
The cafés are in smaller stores. M&S will use the space to sell more grocery items instead of offering seating and food service. This matches what customers want today. People are buying more ready-to-eat meals and want convenience.
M&S also said no jobs will be lost. Staff from the closed cafés will move to other roles in the company. This keeps jobs safe and reduces disruption. It shows that M&S cares about its employees while changing its stores.
The £300m Revamp Plan
The café closures are part of a £300 million plan to update M&S’s food business. The money will go into fixing up stores, opening new food halls, and making shopping better for customers. The goal is to make stores more efficient and easier to shop in.
M&S also plans to grow its food store network to about 420 locations by the end of 2028. Some full-line stores will change into food-only stores. Existing food shops will be upgraded to meet the higher demand for quality food.
The plan also changes store layouts to focus more on groceries than cafés. The new “Foodhall-first” design gives customers more fresh produce, ready meals, and convenience items. This matches what shoppers want today.
Financial Implications
The £300 million investment is expected to bring good results in the long run. By changing store layouts and adding more food products, M&S wants to attract more customers and increase sales. The updates should also make stores work more efficiently and help cut costs over time.
The plan comes after a big cyberattack in April 2025. The attack stopped M&S’s online operations for several weeks and may have cost about £300 million. Even after this problem, M&S is confident in its plan and is focused on growing its business in the future.
Market and Consumer Trends
Closing cafés and investing in food halls show bigger trends in retail. Shoppers now want convenience and good-quality products. More people are buying groceries online and choosing ready-to-eat meals. This makes stores change what they offer.
M&S is expanding its food halls to match these trends. The goal is to give customers a full shopping experience that fits their needs. M&S can benefit from market changes by focusing on quality, sustainability, and new ideas.
Expert Opinions and Analyst Insights
Retail experts see M&S’s changes as a smart move. Focusing on food halls and changing café spaces helps meet the demand for convenience and good-quality groceries.
Experts also view the investment in modernizing stores positively. It shows that M&S wants to stay strong in the retail market. Experts believe that improving food options and store layouts will help M&S grow and earn more money in the long term.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, M&S plans to keep updating its stores. The focus will be on new ideas and making customers happy. The company wants to grow its food store network, add new products, and improve its digital services to match what shoppers need.
The revamp also aims to be more eco-friendly. M&S plans to cut food waste and use more recyclable packaging. These steps show the company wants to run its business responsibly and succeed in the long term.
Closing 11 cafés is part of the £300 million plan to modernize the food business. The café spaces will now be used to sell more food products. This gives customers a faster and better shopping experience.
M&S is also helping its staff during these changes. Its focus on new ideas, sustainability, and staff support puts the company in a strong position for the future. By updating its stores and food offerings, M&S is showing it can adapt to the changing retail world.
Bottom Line
M&S is closing 11 cafés as part of a £300 million plan to update its food business. The café spaces will now be used to sell more food products. This change gives customers a faster and better shopping experience.
The company is also supporting its staff during these changes. Its focus on new ideas and being eco-friendly puts M&S in a strong position for the future. By improving its stores and food offerings, M&S is showing it can keep up with the changing retail world and meet customer needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Marks & Spencer announced on October 6, 2025, that it will close 11 cafés to update stores and focus on selling more popular food products.
No jobs will be lost. M&S will move all staff from the closed cafés to other roles, keeping their employment safe.
Disclaimer: The above information is based on current market data, which is subject to change, and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your research.
