At M&S Food, we believe in the power of suppliers, and proudly work in partnership with suppliers of the future on our innovation pipeline. By working with innovative suppliers through our M&S Food of the Future programme, we can bring exciting new products to our customers, test emerging trends and forge relationships for the future.
As a predominantly own label retailer, the main objective of the M&S Food of the Future programme is to develop exciting and unique own label products outside of our existing supply chain, whilst giving new, innovative suppliers the opportunity to be discovered by our customers and gain insights.
How it works
- Brand Identified via M&S Food dedicated team.
- Our dedicated internal team will reach out to discuss how we can introduce the brand in a 12-week fixed term period.
- Launch products in up to 50 of our stores.
- Receive weekly sales updates and have a 6-weekly person to person check-in at M&S Support Centre or via Teams.
- If the trial has been successful and the product meets our required technical standards, we will explore collaborative own label development for M&S.
*The 12-week trial period is not a guarantee of an ongoing listing with M&S. The product(s) may be delisted for commercial reasons at the end of the trial. Suppliers of trial products should not make any investments or business decisions connected with the trial without written agreement from M&S.
What we offer
- 12-week fixed term period in store.
- Listing in up to 50 of our top performing M&S stores nationwide.
- On shelf marketing created in conjunction with our marketing teams.
- There may be the opportunity to be considered for Own Label supply and create unique and exclusive products for M&S *(Subject to supplier meeting M&S technical standards).
- 6-week check-in at M&S Support Centre or via Teams. An opportunity for 360Ëšfeedback.
- Weekly sales updates and at the end of the 12-week trial customer insights will be provided
Why Partner with M&S?
1. Our vision & purpose
It is important for us to be the most trusted retailer, doing the right thing for customers, with quality products at the heart of everything we do. We bring the magic of M&S to life through exceptional quality, value, service and innovation, to every customer.
2. Engineering in incredible quality for the past 140 years and counting!
M&S is seen as no. 1 for quality by customers. With exposure to millions of customers visiting us every day, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your products to an audience that values quality and innovation.
3. Opportunity to Scale
Through engineering in own label development with us, we can achieve scale across the business and potentially distribute products to hundreds of stores across the country.
Hear from Our Suppliers
"Quality is at the heart of M&S, so having Hidden Fruits on the shelves has been a significant milestone for us. The small brands initiative has given us the opportunity to prove our strong rate of sale, which has exceeded initial forecasts, and showcase our reliability within their supply chain. The response from M&S customers has been really rewarding and shows that our focus on quality and provenance is resonating."
Fiona & Manuel - Founders, Hidden Fruits Limited
"Being part of this initiative has been an incredible opportunity for our business. The support and exposure we received have helped us reach new customers and grow our brand in ways we couldn’t have achieved alone, ultimately leading to permanent listings in selected stores. The programme truly champions small businesses, providing invaluable guidance and a platform to succeed."
Zsolt & Andrea - Founders, Green Fingers Family Limited