M&S makes major change to food ranges in bid to take on rival supermarkets

Scottish Sun

14 hours ago

Plus, the latest update on online orders as the fallout from the cyber attack on the supermarket continues
TROLLEY DASH M&S makes major change to food ranges in bid to take on rival supermarkets
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M&S is introducing major changes to its food ranges as it aims to take on rival supermarkets.
The high street retailer is increasing the number of products sold in larger family packs, as it tries to encourage more people to do their weekly shop at the supermarket.
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M&S wants to become a 'shopping list retailer' to take on rival supermarkets
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A family-pack of avocados is part of the expansion of the M&S 'Bigger Pack, Better Value' range
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The retailer has also launched own-brand medicines such as ibuprofen
Its "Bigger Pack, Better Value" range is being expanded by a third to more than 100 lines.
Items now available in bigger sizes include a four-pack of Eat Now Eat Later Hass Avocados for £3.50, 12 Free Range British Eggs for £3.20, and a larger size Double Cream (600ml) for £2.65.
M&S is also expanding its household essentials range, including the launch of its first own-brand medicines.
Shoppers can now pick up M&S-label medication including paracetamol, ibuprofen, allergy tablets and children's liquid paracetamol in stores.
Eight new baby food lines, including baby milk, have also hit shelves, as well as new five-in-one washing pods available in both bio and non-bio.
It's the latest attempt by the supermarket to rival competitors such as Sainsbury's and Tesco by becoming a "shopping list retailer" - a move away from its long-standing reputation as a luxury food store.
Earlier this year, the retailer launched family-sized pasta sauces and toiletries such as shampoo and conditioner.
It also upgraded its own-brand washing up liquid to double the number of plates per wash.
M&S Food managing director Alex Freudmann said: 'When we talk about being a shopping list retailer, it means that customers can trust us to have what they need when they come shopping, in the right size and at the right price.
"As we always say at M&S, there's still lots of opportunity to go further and really cement M&S as the destination for families to get everything they need, at the quality you can only get from M&S.'
It comes after the business was hit by one of the worst high street cyber attacks in years in April, forcing it to suspend online orders and leading to major issues with Click and Collect, gift vouchers and its supply chain.
I tried the new picnic range from M&S - the £3.50 dip everyone needs to try
Meal deals were unavailable in some stores and others were out of staples such as bananas.
Its chief executive Stuart Machin last week confirmed that half of the retailer's online services had been restored, but some services like click and collect and next-day delivery are still unavailable.
Some products, such as Colin the Caterpillar cakes, are also not available online.
"Within the next four weeks we are hoping for the whole of online to be fully on," he said at the company's annual general meeting.
M&S previously said it expected the disruption to continue into July.
However, shoppers were informed on June 10 that the retailer was bringing back its online shopping, starting with its fashion ranges.
Later in June, it reintroduced orders from some of its third-party brands including Asics, New Balance and Adidas.
It also reduced its standard home delivery wait times from 10 days to five for customers in England, Scotland and Wales.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury's said it had seen a boost in sales partly thanks to the M&S cyber attack, with the supermarket reporting that grocery sales had jumped by 5% in the 16 weeks to June 21.
'If a store is low on stock, customers will go somewhere nearby. We've had a little bit of benefit," Sainsbury's boss Simon Roberts said.
Hacking group DragonForce is believed to have been behind the crippling cyber attack, and is said to have emailed several key M&S executives calling for ransom money.
The attack is thought to have cost the business £300million, but M&S has said the "gross costs" will likely be less because of insurance and the retailer's own savings.
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