M&S launches Innovation Hub

Premium food retailer Marks & Spencer is to launch an Innovation Hub in January 2021, marking a further move in its transformation strategy which saw the successful introduction of its online retail partnership with Ocado in September 2020.

M&S built its reputation on bringing innovation into UK retail, especially in areas like chilled convenience, and in developing meals and accompaniments for specific meal occasions, since emulated by other retailers.  Its partnership with Ocado may help to give it an additional boost in competing against arch rival in the premium quality food arena Waitrose, as it restructures internal teams to focus on developing points of difference.

The new team will focus on innovation in areas like reducing plastic packaging and making use of alternative proteins, ‘The Innovation Hub will enable us to track emerging trends and insights, so we’re one step ahead in responding to our customers’ needs in the future’ says Stuart Machin, MD of M&S Food.

In the 6 months to September 2020 M&S food division increased sales despite a heavy reliance on food to go and many travel and city centre for offices locations.  Simply Food store sales increased +19% over the period.