What: M&S accelerates store rotation strategy with 37 new and renewed locations, while working to restore full online operations following April's cyber breach.

Why it is important: This dual focus on physical expansion and digital recovery demonstrates M&S's resilience and commitment to omnichannel retail, despite facing one of the UK's largest cyber security incidents.

Marks & Spencer has unveiled an ambitious £300 million investment plan to accelerate its store rotation programme, encompassing 16 new store openings, nine branch extensions, and 12 store renewals this financial year. This expansion forms part of a broader strategy to achieve 180 full-line branches and 420 food halls by 2028, enabling M/amp]S to showcase its clothing, home, and beauty ranges more effectively while expanding its food offering. The announcement coincides with the retailer's recovery from an April cyber attack that disrupted online operations and is estimated to cost £300 million in lost profits. Chief Executive Stuart Machin expects full online functionality to resume within weeks, with current operations at 50% capacity. The company's ability to maintain its transformation agenda while managing this crisis demonstrates its operational resilience and commitment to long-term growth.

IADS Notes: The April 2025 cyber attack wiped £700 million off M&S's market value and disrupted £3.5 million in daily digital sales. While customer recommendation rates dropped from 87% to 73%, the retailer maintained underlying trust at 82% through transparent crisis management. Similar attacks on Harrods and Co-op in May 2025 have driven a fundamental shift in how retailers balance expansion with security measures.

Marks & Spencer ramps up store rotation programme and aims to put cyber attack behind it