Marks & Spencer

Marks & Spencer has rolled out vertical farm units in seven stores in London. The British department store chain grows fresh herbs in connected mini-greenhouses.

At Marks & Spencer, online customers can now pay in arrears: they have the opportunity to pay interest-free in four instalments. The trend of paying for items in instalments is also gaining momentum elsewhere.

Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize is luring in more up-market customers to its expanded ‘Food of the World’ section, featuring exclusive Marks & Spencer products. Other retailers' private labels are also featured in major Delhaize stores, like those of Spanish El Corte Inglés and Coop Italia.

The deal between Marks & Spencer and online grocery service Ocado will go beyond delivering food at home: apparel and accessories may soon be delivered along with the weekly groceries as well.

The popularity of vegan or plant-based products is growing fast in retail: research from the UK indicates that the number vegan products in webshops increased by more than 75 % last year, while over half of all newly launched cosmetics products are purposefully plant-based and animal-friendly.

British retailer Marks & Spencer wants a strict restructuring: in the next four years, it wants to shut down 100 British stores (instead of 60). “We need to do this to safeguard the future”, it said.

British store chain Marks & Spencer’s turnover grew several percent in the first quarter of its fiscal year 2017/2018. Nevertheless, the chain failed to turn the tide in its clothes division.