# MARKS & SPENCER GRP

Summary updated: 2026-03-20T02:58:19.910471Z
Canonical: https://finbar.com/research/companies/marks-spencer-grp

## Overview

Marks & Spencer Group plc, founded in 1884, is a British omnichannel retailer whose core businesses are Food and Fashion, Home & Beauty, serving customers through stores and digital channels.[1](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-f32b9947867c4a6ab0a25b6c2bad0dbf)[2](https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/about-us/our-businesses) The group describes its purpose as bringing the “magic of M&S” through exceptional quality, value, service and innovation to every customer, and its vision is to be the most trusted retailer.[3](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-7c51861bb0e048de8a84fc9a3e76ba9a) Its operating model combines a large UK store estate with online shopping, and it also holds a 50% investment in Ocado Retail alongside an international presence.[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-16b08bdad8ba4b2c8896ed41c84199c8)

The company is defined primarily by its UK retail operations, supported by 1,053 UK-owned and franchise stores and digital channels, with operations extending into 32 international markets.[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-16b08bdad8ba4b2c8896ed41c84199c8) Marks & Spencer reported group statutory revenue of £13.8 billion and employs about 63,000 colleagues, indicating a large-scale retail platform.[5](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-eda4ab2850394588b46e9954b944db87)[6](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-0682a401ad1f4f8d80ce5ae5a3f88695) The business is positioned around quality-led retailing across food, clothing, homeware and beauty, with the UK remaining its core market and international operations providing additional reach.[7](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-d28a772707c14a0783e02c8b0ffda47d)[8](https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/about-us)
[1](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-f32b9947867c4a6ab0a25b6c2bad0dbf)[3](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-7c51861bb0e048de8a84fc9a3e76ba9a)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-16b08bdad8ba4b2c8896ed41c84199c8)[5](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-eda4ab2850394588b46e9954b944db87)[6](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-0682a401ad1f4f8d80ce5ae5a3f88695)[7](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-d28a772707c14a0783e02c8b0ffda47d)[2](https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/about-us/our-businesses)[8](https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/about-us)

## Products & services

Marks & Spencer’s product mix is led by Food, which includes meat, fish, protein deli and dairy, produce and horticulture, meals and frozen ranges, “food on the move,” core-basket grocery lines, impulse and event products, beers, wines and spirits, hospitality, and direct sales to Ocado Retail Limited. In FY2025, Food generated £9,021.0 million, equal to 64.8% of group sales. [9](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-73284762d3994317b454db9983e973d4)[10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T-ebcbe94f873d4e298c26990c4764bfeb)

Fashion, Home & Beauty includes womenswear, menswear, lingerie, kidswear, beauty and home products sold through stores and online, and generated £4,235.3 million in FY2025, or 30.4% of group sales. Disclosed product examples include M&S Collection Tailored Fit Italian Linen Miracle suit jackets and trousers, Pure Linen short-sleeve herringbone shirts, Autograph linen-blend double-breasted blazers and wide-leg trousers, the BODY BY M&S Flexifit wired full-cup T-shirt bra in A-E cup sizes, and kidswear such as cotton-rich sweatshirts, 2-piece pure-cotton shirt-and-T-shirt sets for ages 6-16, and frill sparkle swimsuits for ages 2-8. Beauty examples include M&S Apothecary Sleep Mini Scenting Set and Calm Boxed Scented Candle Gift, while the home assortment is focused on categories such as bed, bath and kitchen. [11](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-d4b66a493042472fbf4155abe7e5fb9c)[10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T-ebcbe94f873d4e298c26990c4764bfeb)[12](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-cebeed7448074fc2a8669138bc368abf)[13](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-48f09abc8812497aaf539cd670bf8932)[14](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-169b6628eeaa4f2da6c70827cf13517c)[15](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-8665e1d3c9a6440c918ae35484582814)[16](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-7eecd7b90a99452e8d098b93361f5aaa)[17](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-51e2425b24984fce9d904987ca8203af)[18](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-7742d3ff5651445c852f1cd8cca78300)

Its service offer around these products includes home delivery, click & collect and returns, alongside the Sparks loyalty platform and related digital payment and credit functionality. The Sparks in-app offer is described as allowing customers to shop, pay, earn and redeem rewards in one place. [19](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-20010bd9ac2a4f59ab609b44c9f69d0a)[20](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-d165dd1ef26a497995ebb9d5a92aa9d2)
[9](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-73284762d3994317b454db9983e973d4)[10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T-ebcbe94f873d4e298c26990c4764bfeb)[11](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-d4b66a493042472fbf4155abe7e5fb9c)[12](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-cebeed7448074fc2a8669138bc368abf)[13](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-48f09abc8812497aaf539cd670bf8932)[14](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-169b6628eeaa4f2da6c70827cf13517c)[15](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-8665e1d3c9a6440c918ae35484582814)[16](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-7eecd7b90a99452e8d098b93361f5aaa)[17](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-51e2425b24984fce9d904987ca8203af)[18](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-7742d3ff5651445c852f1cd8cca78300)[19](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-20010bd9ac2a4f59ab609b44c9f69d0a)[20](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-d165dd1ef26a497995ebb9d5a92aa9d2)

## Geographic presence

Marks & Spencer’s business is geographically centered on the UK and Republic of Ireland, with the group reporting UK & ROI Food revenue of £9,021.0 million and UK & ROI Fashion, Home & Beauty revenue of £4,137.8 million in 2025, versus £658.0 million from International, on total group revenue of £13,816.8 million; this implies that roughly 95% of revenue came from the UK and ROI categories and about 5% from International. [21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T-aead7c926fd647648f339199092228e9) The company states that its International segment consists of Marks & Spencer-owned businesses in Europe and Asia together with international franchise operations. [22](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-16f5ba6821124ab3b1547a49227d5226) It reports 1,053 UK-owned and franchise stores and a presence in 32 international markets, and says 96% of the UK population lives within 25 minutes of an M&S store. [23](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-3c7522d180244f48ac9e623122cc4238)[24](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-6aa391c8e95b4c48ba0fdf18b48a1351)

Its employee base is also predominantly UK-based: average monthly headcount in 2025 was 56,367 in UK stores, 4,623 in the UK support centre, 7,303 in UK operations, and 5,040 overseas, for a total of 73,333 employees. [25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T-aed32073e16c49e1b5dd7931bc52166b) The group’s registered office and London support centre are at Waterside House, 35 North Wharf Road, London W2 1NW, United Kingdom. [26](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-9dbde31060444da596241f3b91098bad)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-db7feda7d2d74d36976b694eb0baca61) For reporting purposes, the Republic of Ireland is no longer included within the International segment and is instead reported within the UK & ROI Food and Fashion, Home & Beauty businesses. [28](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-97bf54e0f20b482ebab273e310c18d36)[29](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-2dc5a6dc8c084257814295c355999480)
[21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T-aead7c926fd647648f339199092228e9)[22](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-16f5ba6821124ab3b1547a49227d5226)[23](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-3c7522d180244f48ac9e623122cc4238)[24](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-6aa391c8e95b4c48ba0fdf18b48a1351)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T-aed32073e16c49e1b5dd7931bc52166b)[26](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-9dbde31060444da596241f3b91098bad)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-db7feda7d2d74d36976b694eb0baca61)[28](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-97bf54e0f20b482ebab273e310c18d36)[29](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-2dc5a6dc8c084257814295c355999480)

## Business segments

Marks & Spencer Group’s current reportable segments are UK & ROI Fashion, Home & Beauty, UK & ROI Food, International, Ocado, and All other segments. UK & ROI Fashion, Home & Beauty covers womenswear, menswear, lingerie, kidswear, beauty, and home products sold through UK and Republic of Ireland stores and online. UK & ROI Food covers the retail food business in the UK and Republic of Ireland, UK Food franchise operations, UK supply chain services, and direct sales to Ocado Retail Limited; its main categories include fresh food, produce, meals, frozen, core grocery, impulse/events, drinks, and hospitality. International comprises M&S-owned businesses in Europe excluding Ireland and in Asia, plus international franchise operations. Ocado represents the group’s share of profits or losses from its investment in Ocado Retail Limited, while All other segments groups smaller activities including M&S Bank and centrally managed finance items. [30](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-3a0605f268ea46bc84baaa74236c0f54)[31](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-0695edf2a0ac4cfba4dc5b9c3dd136fc)[9](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-73284762d3994317b454db9983e973d4)[32](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-76a3182679dd4a9cad41706665bbc167)[33](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-84ca9951bc8746b48adb56a92aed8069)

On the latest reported basis, the revenue mix is weighted heavily toward Food: UK & ROI Food generated about £9.0bn of revenue, or roughly 65% of group revenue; UK & ROI Fashion, Home & Beauty generated about £4.1bn, or roughly 30%; and International generated about £0.7bn, or roughly 5%. Ocado and All other segments do not contribute reported revenue in the segment note, because Ocado is presented through share of profit or loss and the remaining activities are grouped outside the main revenue lines. The company also notes a reporting change in which the Republic of Ireland is now included within Fashion, Home & Beauty and Food rather than International, and the former UK and ROI Clothing & Home segment has been renamed UK and ROI Fashion, Home & Beauty. [10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T-ebcbe94f873d4e298c26990c4764bfeb)[34](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-f7a4ff229ac64511acae28532819e841)
[30](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-3a0605f268ea46bc84baaa74236c0f54)[31](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-0695edf2a0ac4cfba4dc5b9c3dd136fc)[9](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-73284762d3994317b454db9983e973d4)[32](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-76a3182679dd4a9cad41706665bbc167)[33](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-84ca9951bc8746b48adb56a92aed8069)[10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T-ebcbe94f873d4e298c26990c4764bfeb)[34](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-f7a4ff229ac64511acae28532819e841)

## Company history

Marks & Spencer traces its origins to 1884, when Michael Marks opened a stall at Kirkgate Market in Leeds; in 1894 he entered into partnership with Tom Spencer, creating Marks & Spencer and its early Penny Bazaar stores [35](https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/about-us/our-history). The business became more formally established over the following decades, and in 1926 Marks & Spencer Ltd became a public company [36](https://archive.marksandspencer.com/timeline/the-ms-story/). That same year it began selling clothing, which became one of the company’s core activities [37](https://archive.marksandspencer.com/timeline/clothing-design/).

M&S broadened beyond apparel in 1931, when it introduced its first food department, marking the beginning of its food retail business [38](https://www.reuters.com/article/business/chronology-highs-and-lows-of-retailer-marks-and-spencer-idUSL08104327/)[39](https://archive.marksandspencer.com/timeline/food/). It later expanded internationally and, in 1988, made two notable U.S. acquisitions: Brooks Brothers and Kings Super Markets [40](https://www.reuters.com/article/ms-timeline/timeline-highs-and-lows-of-marks-and-spencer-idUKZWE02401720080710/). In the 21st century, one of its more significant strategic moves was the 2019 acquisition of 50% of Ocado Retail, extending the group into online grocery through a joint venture structure [41](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-8c82681e4a104266b34db58039be6a7c)[42](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-2c19f203df5549ac8a118fc17e7e6f1a).
[41](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-8c82681e4a104266b34db58039be6a7c)[42](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P-2c19f203df5549ac8a118fc17e7e6f1a)[35](https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/about-us/our-history)[36](https://archive.marksandspencer.com/timeline/the-ms-story/)[37](https://archive.marksandspencer.com/timeline/clothing-design/)[38](https://www.reuters.com/article/business/chronology-highs-and-lows-of-retailer-marks-and-spencer-idUSL08104327/)[39](https://archive.marksandspencer.com/timeline/food/)[40](https://www.reuters.com/article/ms-timeline/timeline-highs-and-lows-of-marks-and-spencer-idUKZWE02401720080710/)

## Sources

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35. [corporate.marksandspencer.com](https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/about-us/our-history)
36. [archive.marksandspencer.com](https://archive.marksandspencer.com/timeline/the-ms-story/)
37. [archive.marksandspencer.com](https://archive.marksandspencer.com/timeline/clothing-design/)
38. [www.reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/article/business/chronology-highs-and-lows-of-retailer-marks-and-spencer-idUSL08104327/)
39. [archive.marksandspencer.com](https://archive.marksandspencer.com/timeline/food/)
40. [www.reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/article/ms-timeline/timeline-highs-and-lows-of-marks-and-spencer-idUKZWE02401720080710/)
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