Marks and Spencer 
Best Bits: Carrefour swings back into profit
31 August 2010
Carrefour's reinvention attempts took on new vigour as it launched two Carrefour 'Planet' stores in France last week. The company said the test stores have been redesigned and adapted to customers' needs in a bid to deliver "a new experience of shopping comfort, ease and pleasure".
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
27 August 2010
Canadian convenience operator Couche-Tard posted record net earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 this week, up 42% against the same period of the previous year. But its efforts to acquire Casey’s General Stores were dealt a heavy blow when the US company completed its latest round of defences in the from of its modified “Dutch auction” self tender offer.
UK: M&S appoints Robert Swannell as chairman
23 August 2010
Marks and Spencer Group (M&S) has announced that Robert Swannell will replace Sir Stuart Rose as the retailer's chairman next year.
In the spotlight - A new chairman for Marks and Spencer
23 August 2010
Marks and Spencer’s shares climbed 6.1 pence, or 1.8%, to GBP339 pence in London trading today (23 August) on the announcement that the retailer has appointed Robert Swannell to replace Sir Stuart Rose as chairman next year.
UK: Marks & Spencer to build warehouse near Derby
19 August 2010
Marks and Spencer has revealed plans to build a 900,000 square foot distribution centre near Derby.
The just-food management briefing - convenience stores - part III
18 August 2010
Every country had its own take on convenience stores. These retail traditions tend to be rooted in local cultures, making a certain combination of goods acceptable in one country, but not another.
The just-food management briefing - convenience stores - part I
18 August 2010
Convenience stores are a dynamic part of the food retail sector worldwide. As consumers gain wealth, they lose time – making convenience retail increasingly attractive. The US has blazed the trail for c-stores and any examination of convenience store retail needs to begin there.
UK: Vion investment programme creates 250 jobs
6 August 2010
Dutch-owned food group Vion is to create 250 jobs within its Scottish operations.
UK: Marks and Spencer names AWAS's Stewart as CFO
3 August 2010
UK retailer Marks and Spencer has named Alan Stewart, finance chief at aircraft leasing company AWAS, as its new CFO.
The just-food interview - Geoff Eaton, Uniq
26 July 2010
For a company called Uniq, it is perhaps pretty apt that things are rarely conventional at the business.
UK: M&S to close four "unviable" stores
23 July 2010
Marks and Spencer has today (23 July) announced plans to close four stores in eastern England.
Talking shop: Barclaycard seeks “domino effect” with contactless payments
23 July 2010
The use of contactless payment in UK retail has grabbed the headlines in recent days with The Co-operative Group set to become the first major grocery retailer to use the technology on a major scale.
Update 2: UK: Ocado share slump "no surprise" - analysts
21 July 2010
Ocado today (21 July) faced renewed criticism from parts of the investment community that its IPO had been overvalued despite the UK online retailer cutting the offer price for its shares.
UK: M&S opens new distribution centre in Bradford
20 July 2010
Marks and Spencer is officially opening its new 1.1 million sq ft distribution centre in Prologis Park, Bradford today (20 July).
UK: Uniq pensions blow hits shares
19 July 2010
Shares in UK convenience food group Uniq tumbled this morning (19 July) after the company's proposals to pay off its pension deficit was rejected by the country's pensions regulator.
Best bits: Food firms to shine spotlight on consumer confidence
19 July 2010
"We are in a very competitive environment," General Mills CFO Don Mulligan warned just over two weeks ago as the US food giant issued its annual results.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
16 July 2010
The future of the Food Standards Agency, the UK food watchdog, dominated the headlines in the early part of the week and again brought to the fore the UK coalition's emerging policy on food and health. The interplay between food and regulation was also brought into sharp relief with the latest proposals from the EU on GM food. Some light relief, however, came with the high-spirited AGMs held by UK retailers Sainsbury's and Marks and Spencer.
UK: Sainsbury's considers international expansion
14 July 2010
Sainsbury's, the UK retailer, today (14 July) reaffirmed plans to study possible overseas expansion.
Editor's choice: the best of just-food this week
9 July 2010
Raised eyebrows met Carrefour's insistence that it will keep its stores in Malaysia and Singapore despite reports the retailer was looking to leave the markets and a third country in Asia, Thailand. Of greater surprise this week was Amazon's move to sell groceries in the UK, although just-food thinks Ocado should not fret just yet. These were the highlights on just-food this week.
On the money: "Quality, innovation" drives M&S basket size - Bolland
7 July 2010
Marks and Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland today (7 July) insisted "quality and innovation" had helped drive rising food sales at the UK retailer.
UK: M&S shares fall despite Q1 sales rise
7 July 2010
Shares in Marks and Spencer were down this morning (7 July) despite the UK retailer posting a 3.6% rise in first-quarter like-for-like sales.
The just-food management briefing - private label - part III
7 July 2010
Own-label lines are a key tool in building a retailer's reputation in areas from healthy eating to product safety. Grocers from the UK to Japan have developed strategies to ensure the suppliers they use and the products they sell support their corporate image.
UK: Shareholders urged to oppose M&S pay report
7 July 2010
Marks and Spencer investors have been urged to oppose the UK retailer's remuneration report at its annual shareholder meeting next week by governance body Pirc.
UK: Marks & Spencer reaffirms India growth commitments
25 June 2010
UK retailer Marks and Spencer has reaffirmed its commitment to double its retail presence in India through its joint venture in the emerging market.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
25 June 2010
The emergency budget this week, outlining plans for an increase in business VAT to 20% from January 2011, prompted a response from Tesco chief Sir Terry Leahy, who warned that the rise will hit consumer spending.
The just-food interview - Peter McPhillips, Hain Celestial
24 June 2010
The US can be regarded as a graveyard for UK businesses but, often, a journey in the opposite direction can prove just as challenging.
UK: Sir Ken takes aim at former Morrisons boss Bolland
4 June 2010
Sir Ken Morrison, the former chairman of UK retailer Morrisons, has criticised former chief executive Marc Bolland who left the business this year to join Marks and Spencer.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
28 May 2010
Here is the best of who said what about the week's burning issues.
Top stories on just-food this week
28 May 2010
The launch of the just-food Promo Tracker proved popular with our readers this week as we sought to give an insight into the promotional habits of the UK's leading grocery brands and retailers.
UPDATE: UK: Ocado-Waitrose deal puts paid to M&S speculation
26 May 2010
The announcement that Waitrose and Ocado have extended their supply and branding arrangement will silence speculation that Marks and Spencer should pursue a relationship with the online retailer.
Related research
Marks and Spencer Group plc
Datamonitor's Marks and Spencer Group plc - SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. Marks and Spencer Group plc - SWOT Analysis examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy.Marks and Spencer Group (M&S) is a leading retailer of clothing, foods and home ware in the UK. The company operates in about 41 countries worldwide with UK as its primary market. It is headquartered in London, UK and employs about 75,000 people. The company recorded revenues of £9,022 million (approximately $18,113 million) during the financial year (FY) ended March 2008, an increase of 5.1% over 2007. The operating profit of the company was £1,211.3 million (approximately $2,431.9 million) during FY2008, an increase of 15.8% over 2007. The net profit was £821.7 million (approximately $1,649.7 million) in FY2008, an increase of 24.5% over 2007.
Marks and Spencer Group plc - SWOT Analysis
Datamonitor's Marks and Spencer Group plc Company Profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. The report examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy.Marks and Spencer Group (M&S) is a leading retailer of clothing, foods and home ware in the UK. The company operates in about 41 countries worldwide with UK as its primary market. It is headquartered in London, UK and employs about 75,000 people. The company recorded revenues of £9,022 million (approximately $18,113 million) during the financial year (FY) ended March 2008, an increase of 5.1% over 2007. The operating profit of the company was £1,211.3 million (approximately $2,431.9 million) during FY2008, an increase of 15.8% over 2007. The net profit was £821.7 million (approximately $1,649.7 million) in FY2008, an increase of 24.5% over 2007.
Company Financials: Marks and Spencer Group plc
The Company Financials offers insights into the financial performance of the company over last five years for about 1000 leading global companies. The datapack covers wealth of financial information relating to income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.
