The retail group Marks & Spencer (M&S) is undergoing a major reshaping of its UK store estate. As part of a long-term transformation plan, the company has closed dozens of traditional department-style stores and in-store cafés, while shifting focus to food-only and “Simply Food” stores. The closures reflect changing consumer habits, rising costs, and the need to allocate floor space more efficiently. For shoppers, this means fewer full-line stores, more modern food halls — but also potential gaps in local availability, especially in town centres.
What does “M&S store closures” refer to — definitions and scope
When we talk about M&S store closures, the phrase covers several overlapping but distinct changes the company is making:
Full-line store closures
These are larger M&S outlets selling clothing, homewares, and food. Over the past few years, M&S committed to reducing the number of full-line stores as part of a “turnaround” strategy. The goal is to shrink from a higher baseline (e.g. 247 stores) to around 180 full-line shops by 2028.
Conversion to food-only or “Simply Food” stores
Rather than simply shuttering, many full-line stores have been—or will be—converted into smaller-format food stores (“Simply Food” or food halls). This reflects a strategic pivot: M&S is betting on its food business as the main growth engine.
Café closures inside M&S food stores
In 2025, M&S announced it would close 11 in-store cafés within its smaller food shops. The rationale: café space is being repurposed to expand grocery offerings. Affected cafés represent fewer than 4 per cent of M&S’s roughly 316 food outlets. The company says no job losses will occur, as staff are being redeployed within stores.
Wider rationalisation of underperforming stores
As part of a broader structural overhaul, M&S has identified lower-productivity outlets to close, reducing the overall floor space devoted to clothing and homewares by about a fifth.
The bigger strategy: store rotation and re-investment
The closure programme is not just about shutting shops. M&S has committed to a multi-year plan that involves closing underperforming stores, converting some to food-format outlets, and investing in refurbishments. The goal is to have a leaner, more efficient portfolio that better matches shifting shopper preferences toward groceries, convenience, and food-to-go.
Why is M&S closing and reshaping stores — underlying factors and business logic
Changing shopping habits and consumer demand
In recent years, grocery and convenience shopping have grown relative to spending on clothing and homewares. Many customers now prefer quick trips for food, ready meals, and essentials rather than browsing clothing racks. For M&S, this shift means that the traditional full-line department store model is less sustainable in many locations. Converting stores to focus on food aligns with where demand lies.
Underperforming stores and efficiency pressures
Some full-line shops — often older, large, or in town centres with high rents — have been underperforming against productivity benchmarks. Maintaining large floor space across clothing, homewares, and food became financially inefficient, especially where footfall declined. Closing or repurposing these stores allows M&S to reduce costs and improve overall performance.
Strategic refocus on food business
M&S’s leadership has explicitly pivoted toward growing its food business as a core area of strength. After periods of weak performance in clothing and homeware categories, the company aims to use its strong brand equity and loyalty to build a robust grocery-first retail chain. The closure and conversion programme is central to that strategy.
External pressures: economic, regulatory, market environment
Retailers across the UK face rising costs: rent, energy bills, business rates, wages, and security losses (shoplifting, etc.). These cost pressures make large store formats tougher to sustain. According to recent wider retail-sector data, many chains are downsizing or reshaping portfolios.
Recovery and resilience after crises (e.g. cyber-attack)
In 2025, M&S experienced a major cyber-attack that disrupted online operations, deliveries, and supply chains, underscoring the importance of a resilient business model. The store-estate transformation is one way to lean on physical stores and reduce reliance on vulnerable distribution channels.
What does this mean for consumers — practical implications and how to adapt
For shoppers, M&S’s store closures and transformations bring a mix of challenges and opportunities.
Reduced access to full-line stores in some towns
In areas where a full-line M&S has shut down — especially town-centre locations — shoppers may lose easy access to clothing and homeware offerings. This may require travelling further or switching to online shopping or competing retailers.
Greater availability of M&S food halls / grocery-first stores
If your main use of M&S is for food and groceries, the shift likely means more convenience: smaller, more focused food halls, fresher shelves, and a store layout optimised for weekly food shopping.
Café closures — fewer dine-in or coffee-to-go options inside M&S
With 11 cafés closing in 2025 within smaller food shops, shoppers who enjoyed in-store coffee or quick bites may find fewer options — though in busier stores, M&S plans to open modern coffee-to-go sites.
Possible disruption during transition periods
As stores close or convert, there may be temporary instability — shelf-stocking delays, relocation of departments, or unfamiliar format layouts. Customers may need to check before visiting to avoid disappointment.
Opportunity for value-conscious shoppers
Store closures often lead to “closing down” sales or clearance offers. This can be a chance to grab discounts on clothing, homewares, or sale items. But it also means timing matters — once stock clears, availability may fall.
For customers loyal to M&S, it helps to stay informed via store locator tools, updated opening-hours information, and announcements to track which stores remain and which have closed or changed format.
Real-life examples of closures and changes in 2024–2025
One concrete example is the closure of the M&S store on Dudley Street, Wolverhampton, which shut down permanently in September 2025.
In contrast, M&S has opened or transformed multiple food halls in 2025: a brand-new food hall in Cheltenham Centrum (opened April 9), a food hall in Covent Garden (opened mid-October), and a new store under the Bristol Cabot Circus name that includes a modern coffee shop.
In many smaller “Simply Food” shops, M&S has closed in-store cafés — reprioritising floor space for grocery and convenience items rather than dine-in hospitality.
These changes are part of a larger restructuring programme that reportedly involves up to 215 stores under review, of which many have already closed. Future closures or format changes could affect additional outlets under consideration.
At the same time, M&S leadership has admitted that despite a strong recent year — growth in food and clothing market share and a 40% rise in share price — the company sees the need for continued transformation to stay competitive.
Broader retail-sector context and trends (2025)
The challenges M&S faces are not unique. Across the UK, the retail sector has seen a dramatic wave of store closures in recent years. According to industry-wide research, many chains are shrinking operations due to inflation, changing consumer habits, rising business rates, labour costs, and increasing energy expenses.
High-street decline has been real: especially shopping centres and towns have seen reduced footfall, making large-format department stores less viable. Retailers are rethinking their physical footprint, often favouring smaller, convenience- or food-focused formats, or enhancing their online and delivery services.
M&S’s pivot toward food-only formats echoes a broader shift in UK retail — supermarkets, convenience stores, and food halls are becoming more central to how people shop. Hospitality sections (like cafés inside shops) are being trimmed where demand falls, and space is refashioned for products consumers still buy.
This structural shift is aided by broader economic pressures: cost of living concerns, tighter consumer budgets, and changing working patterns — all influencing people to prioritize essentials and convenience over luxury spending.
What to Watch Next — M&S’s strategy going forward
The store-estate changes are not a one-off. M&S plans to continue shrinking its full-line store footprint while expanding its network of food-only stores. The target of roughly 180 full-line stores by early 2028 remains.
At the same time, M&S seems committed to ongoing re-investment: opening new food halls, launching refreshed stores, and modernising layouts to improve customer experience.
Customers should expect the following: fewer traditional department-style M&S stores, more compact food halls, reduced in-store hospitality (cafés), and a sharper focus on groceries, convenience items, and essential goods.
Online presence and digital services may also continue to play a critical role, especially given recent disruptions (e.g. a cyber-attack in 2025 that disrupted M&S’s online operations and supply chains, highlighting the importance of a robust omnichannel approach).
For towns where M&S closes a store, the impact may be significant — not just for shoppers but for local high streets, which may lose foot traffic that anchors like M&S used to drive.
FAQs
What kinds of M&S stores are being closed?
M&S is primarily closing underperforming “full-line” stores that sell clothing, homewares, and food. In addition, 11 cafés in smaller food shops have been closed in 2025 as part of a food-hall reorganisation.
Is M&S disappearing from the high street entirely?
No. M&S is not disappearing but reshaping. Many full-line stores are being converted into food-only formats or “Simply Food” shops. The company’s strategy is to shift focus from clothing and homewares toward its growing food business.
Will store closures mean job losses?
In the case of café closures, M&S has stated that affected staff will be redeployed within the stores, meaning no immediate job losses are expected. For full-line store closures, the company typically offers redundancies or redeployments depending on location and circumstances.
What does this mean for regular M&S customers?
Customers may find fewer full-line stores selling clothes and homewares, especially in town centres. But if you use M&S for groceries and food shopping, you may benefit from new, modern food halls, expanded grocery ranges, and possibly better convenience than before.
Why is M&S doing this now?
M&S is adapting to changing consumer behaviour, increased costs (rent, wages, energy), and a retail environment where grocery and convenience shopping are more stable categories than clothing and homewares. The shift is part of a multi-year plan to make the company more efficient and profitable amid a tough commercial landscape.
To Conclude
The wave of M&S store closures and conversions is part of a deliberate, strategic pivot rather than a retreat. By downsizing traditional full-line stores, closing underperforming outlets, and repurposing space for food halls and grocery retail, M&S is adapting to evolving consumer habits and economic pressures. For shoppers, this means a transformed M&S: fewer clothing and homeware destinations, but potentially better grocery options and streamlined food shopping. For communities and local high streets, the change may bring challenges — but for M&S as a business, this reshaping could secure long-term relevance in a shifting retail landscape.
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