Marks & Spencer unveils new look M&S Café
Marks & Spencer has opened its first new look M&S Café at its new Solihull Sears store as part of its transformative store renewal programme.
Situated at Sears Retail Park, the café is operating as a “test and learn renewal concept” in hospitality for the retailer.
M&S said the new format is designed to deliver a complete step-change for customers with an operating model focused on a digital customer experience with on-screen and on-phone ordering.
Caroline Cromar, head of hospitality at M&S, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have opened our first café transformation in Solihull this week. The café has been developed to create a warm and inviting space for our customers to relax as part of their shopping experience. The new operating model allows for a seamless ordering process and improved speed, whilst delivering exceptional M&S quality food and drink that our customers know and trust.”
Solihull Sears is M&S’s 16th store operating under its “renewal” concept following recent refurbishments at stores in Stratford City, Wolstanton, Gyle and Lisburn and new store openings at Paisley, Staines and Straiton. A further 24 renewal stores are planned for the retailer’s 21/22 financial year, taking the total to 40.
Stuart Machin, chief operating officer and managing director of M&S Food, said: “We’ve seen our renewal store concepts deliver a bigger, better and fresher experience for customers across food and we’re excited to expand the programme further this year. With hospitality being a key part of the M&S shopping experience for many of our customers, by testing our café renewal format in Solihull, we hope to cement our reputation as a great destination for families.”
