Marks & Spencer confirmed that the café closures relate solely to smaller food outlets, with the space in those stores being reallocated to boost the food range for customers.
The retailer emphasised that this decision aligns with shifting shopping habits and the increasing demand for more variety and convenience in grocery shopping. As part of the same investment, M&S is also opening new coffee shops at select locations, such as its flagship Bristol Cabot Circus store, promising “delicious food and barista-made fairtrade coffee.”
Importantly, M&S has stressed that there will be no job losses resulting from these closures, as all affected staff will be offered redeployment within their stores. This measure is intended to ensure that employees continue to have roles during the company’s ongoing transformation of its retail offerings.
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The café closures form part of a much larger strategy, with M&S planning to grow its UK food store presence to around 420 locations by 2028. The investment includes refurbishing stores, converting some full-line stores to food-only branches, and modernising existing food halls to better meet customer expectations.
M&S’s decision mirrors broader trends seen across the UK retail sector, with traditional department store cafés and in-store hospitality offerings declining in popularity as shopping habits evolve and online retail becomes ever more dominant. The retailer’s move is seen as a necessary step to futureproof its food business, enhance efficiency, and ensure long-term growth in a highly competitive market
