Overview

• The Homebase takeover will create more than 550 jobs as part of a £500m effort to expand M&S’s Food division to 420 larger shops by 2027/28.
• Planned outlets will feature market-style produce sections, in-store bakeries, coffee counters, expanded frozen aisles and Click & Collect services.
• Abingdon, Farnham, Godalming and Northampton are among the first confirmed conversions, with eight stores due to open by July 2026.
• The Godalming food hall will span 22,000 sq ft, making it the largest standalone M&S Food store upon its summer 2026 opening.
• M&S warned that an Easter weekend ransomware breach linked to teenager-led group Scattered Spider could disrupt online orders until July and cost around £300m.