- Local footballing legend marks official opening of expanded Foodhall
This morning, M&S Craigavon officially opened its newly expanded Foodhall at Marlborough Retail Park, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local footballing legend Gerry Armstrong. The store team welcomed customers into a Foodhall now twice the size of the previous store from 9am.
The completely renewed and significantly expanded 15,300 sq ft Foodhall now boasts a stunning, fresh, market-style layout, bringing the full, exceptional range of M&S Food to Craigavon. This major expansion project has delivered a boost to the local economy, creating over 35 new roles and increasing the dedicated Craigavon team from 63 to a total of up to 100 colleagues.
Customers can expect to be greeted by the mouth-watering aromas of the expanded in-store bakery. This addition offers an extended selection of fresh-from-the-oven breads, artisanal pastries, and sweet treats baked daily. A brand-new takeaway coffee bar is ready to serve up your favourite hot drinks, while wine lovers will be delighted by the refreshed M&S Wine Shop, stocked with exceptional collections perfect for every occasion.
The expanded Foodhall is also fully stocked with much-loved Christmas favourites including party essentials like Snowman Bao Buns and Pigs in Blankets, as well as the headline-hitting Big Mix Tin selection crowned the most delicious and "worth the price" on ITV's This Morning.
Festive spirit was in full swing throughout the morning, with the Just Sing Choir from Portadown performing at the entrance to welcome customers. M&S’s Best Ever Mince Pies from local supplier Genesis Bakery were handed out, and the first 400 customers received special tote bags to mark the occasion.
The excitement on opening morning was further heightened by the presence of the ITV filming crew capturing footage for this year’s Inside M&S documentary, which airs in December on ITVX. Craigavon is the first M&S store outside of England to feature in the programme, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the business prepares for the Christmas season. Viewers will also see the Craigavon team finalising the new Foodhall in the run-up to today’s launch.
Gerry Armstrong – Belfast-born former Northern Ireland Footballer who achieved legendary status after scoring the winning goal against hosts Spain at the 1982 World Cup – officially cut the ribbon to open the store. His attendance underscored M&S’s commitment to the M&S Food and the Irish FA Eat Well, Play Well partnership, which champions the M&S Eat Well initiative: a health seal of approval for thousands of products that meet evidence-based nutritional criteria to help customers make balanced choices.
Reflecting M&S Food's commitment to healthy eating, Gerry commented: “It was a pleasure to open the renewed M&S Foodhall here in Craigavon. The atmosphere this morning shows just how much a transformation like this means to the local community. The creation of new local jobs, along with a better place to shop, is great to see, especially as we come closer to Christmas. I’m particularly delighted to see the store’s focus on the M&S Eat Well, Play Well initiative, promoting delicious and nutritious food — something that is vital for everyone, especially athletes.”
Ashley O’Reilly, Store Manager at M&S Craigavon, said: “Today is a really special milestone for the whole team. We’ve been working away behind the scenes for many months, so it’s wonderful to finally open the doors, just in time for Christmas, and share the completed new Foodhall with our customers. Having Gerry here made the morning even more special for all of us.
“We’re so grateful to our customers for their patience and encouragement throughout the expansion. We can’t wait for them to experience the new space, and we hope they’ll tune into Inside M&S in December to spot a few local faces on screen.”
‘Inside M&S at Christmas’ will air on Tuesday, 16th December 2025, at 9pm on ITVX.
ENDS
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