M&S to sell branded groceries

Marks & Spencer has announced it is introducing branded food, household and toiletry products to its stores for the first time, for a trial period.

Up to 350 products, including Coca-Cola, Marmite and Persil, will appear on shelves in 19 stores in the North East from next month, in an attempt to make shopping easier for customers.

‘We will stock branded products in sectors in which we have a very low market share, such as cereals and colas, as well as venturing into a couple of new categories like pharmacy with products such as Tampax,’ an M&S spokeswoman tells Design Week.

‘We will also introduce classic products like Marmite and Tabasco, where there is no point in developing our own versions,’ she continues.

The retailer insists that the move will not affect the development of its own-brand products.

‘We have no intention of delisting any of our products to make room for these brands, nor will we stop developing our own-branded products. This is about enhancing, not crippling, our own-brand offer,’ says the spokeswoman.

The trial begins in June and will run for up to four months.

M&S last sold branded products side-by-side with its own in the late 1950s, before becoming exclusively own-brand in 1960.