Marks & Spencer breaks 85-year habit
Following a successful trial in 54 stores in the north-east and south-east of England, Marks & Spencer is to stock branded products – bringing an end to its 85-year own brand rule.
Items from brands including Heinz, Fairy, Persil, Coca-Cola and Kellogg’s will now sit alongside M&S’s own products on its shelves.
No M&S products are to be dropped as a result of the move, which will focus on lines where it has a lower share of the market such as soft drinks, beer, laundry and confectionery.“We are focused on delivering the best that M&S Food can offer, says M&S executive director of food John Dixon.“But there are some products that we could simply never compete with, like Marmite and Kit Kat, and other areas where, while we have a great M&S equivalent, the leading brand dominates the market.
