UK retailer Marks and Spencer has revealed plans to launch a brand of “healthier” milk in October, with 6% less saturated fat due to a diet for cows that removes all palm oil from their feed.M&S said the diet improved cow health and welfare, while also being better for the environment. To support its farmers converting to the new feed, M&S will introduce a new payment contract for farmers who achieve the reduced saturated fat level in their milk. The contract will recognise any... ...Read more »

British department store Marks and Spencer has revealed that it is planning to return to France with a combination of its department stores and its Simply Food convenience outlets. The UK retailer is planning to open its first department store on the Champs-Elysées ahead of the Christmas trading period. It said it was in “advanced talks” with SSP, one of its UK franchise partners, around opening a number of its Simply Food outlets. The retailer said it is considering “strategic... ...Read more »

UK department store Marks and Spencer is introducing packaging for its Swiss chocolate range that can either dissolve or be put on the compost heap. The tray is made out of Plantic, a corn starch-based product that breaks down when it becomes moist. Once outside, the Plantic tray will take around three weeks to totally break down, the UK retailer said. It can also be put under water, where it will dissolve in a matter of minutes. Helene Roberts, head of packaging at M&S, said: “This is... ...Read more »

UK retailer Marks and Spencer is set to review the sale of branded food in the company’s stores, according to reports. The Financial Times reported that M&S chief executive Marc Bolland is examining whether the retailer should continue to sell branded lines. M&S has been selling brands, including Heinz baked beans and Cadbury Dairy Milk, for over two years. In 2008, the retailer, which had traditionally offered only own-label products, opened up a select number of stores to certain... ...Read more »

Marks and Spencer has started selling Fairtrade-certified vegetables, with the launch of green beans from Kenya. The UK retailer will add Fairtrade green beans to its stable of over 300 different Fairtrade food, drink and flowers lines. M&S has reported success with Fairtrade products, reporting a sales rise of 40% last year. The move has been made possible by the extension of Fairtrade standards for vegetables to include small-scale outgrowers who can only access export markets by selling crops... ...Read more »

Marks and Spencer is aiming to become the “world’s most sustainable retailer” by 2015, with the addition of 80 more commitments under the UK retailer’s Plan A ‘eco-plan’.The firm, which first launched its Plan A environmental initiative in 2007, wants all M&S products to become ‘Plan A products’ with “at least” one sustainable or ethical quality. This will involve converting 50% of its 2.7 billion individual M&S food, clothing and... ...Read more »

UK retailer Marks and Spencer is to begin clearly labelling dairy products with their country of origin from January. The retailer claimed that it will become the first major chain in the UK to clearly state the source of all its dairy produce. The company already includes country-of-origin labelling for fresh fish and meat. The policy means that all the fresh dairy products sold in M&S stores including milk, butter, cheese, cream, ice-cream and cream, and crème fraiche will be labelled with... ...Read more »

Marks & Spencer is to sell a selected range of around 400 branded grocery and household products in all of its UK stores. The roll-out follows a 16 month trial in its stores in the North East and South East of England, the UK retailer said. The range of ambient products will be introduced into M&S stores over the next year, starting this month with additional stores in the trial areas, and expanding into other regions from January 2010. Branded grocery products will include Coca-Cola, Marmite,... ...Read more »

UK retailer Marks & Spencer has found life in its food retailing sector, highlighting the benefits of an improved range – including ‘national’ brands for the first time in some of their stores – and targeted promotions. Marks & Spencer (M&S) saw food sales rise 0.4%, with Executive Chairman and CEO Stuart Rose indicating a belief that consumers will still demand quality over price when it comes to food. “Maybe people will want to buy things that have a little... ...Read more »