UK retailer Marks and Spencer today (2 October) opened its first outlet in mainland China in Shanghai.
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The 40,000 square foot outlet is arranged over four floors and offers the widest food range of any M&S international store, with 1,000 lines including grocery and frozen products.
Also on offer are apparel and homeware.
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Announcing the opening, M&S emphasised the potential of the Chinese market and hinted that further openings could be on the cards.
“We see China as an exciting long-term opportunity and the Shanghai store is our first step into a market that has real potential. China has a fast-growing economy and around 30% of customers in some of our Hong Kong stores are from mainland China,” Richard Sweet, MD of Marks & Spencer China, said. “They love our good quality, value products, so we believe there is a demand for M&S in China.”
However, a spokesperson for the group told just-food that the company is not currently planning further store openings.
“We are planning nothing further at moment. Expansion in China will take place on a store by store basis,” the spokesperson said.
