M&S Cafés: Big Changes Ahead Marks & Spencer is shaking up its café business. It will close 11 cafés in its smaller food shops as part of a sweeping transformation of its food estate.
Why the Shift?
The move reflects changing customer habits. People want more choices when they visit. They want more food options, not just sit-down cafés.
The company plans to repurpose café space in these small stores. The freed areas will be used for more grocery and food hall offerings.
M&S is also investing heavily. The makeover is part of a £300 million programme. the plan is to have ~420 food stores.
Impact on Jobs
One question on many people’s minds: will employees lose their jobs? M&S says no. It promises to redeploy affected café staff to other roles inside the same stores.
So far, there is no plan for redundancies tied to this café closure wave.
What Happens Next
While some cafés close, not all change is contraction. M&S will open new coffee shops in strategic locations. These will feature barista-made, Fairtrade coffee and better food selections.
The food halls get upgraded. Customer flow, product ranges, store layout all get attention. Expect more ready-to-eat meals, fresh produce, and faster service.
Green Moves & Sustainable Steps
M&S isn’t just changing space. It is changing packaging too. Cafés will switch to easier-to-recycle paper packaging for sandwiches and toasties. This cut in plastic saves millions of units annually. sustainable swaps will help.
What This Means for Customers
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Some local cafés will vanish. Be aware: your nearby M&S café might close.
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But you might get more variety. Grocery and food hall sections will expand.
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Better quality, more premium offerings in remaining cafés and new shops.
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More sustainable packaging and ethical sourcing in food and drink.
M&S Cafés
M&S is adapting. The company sees that customers have changed. They shop differently, eat differently, expect more. The café closures are painful for some, but the overall strategy feels like survival plus growth.
This isn’t just cutting café tables. It is reshaping how M&S serves food and snacks. It aims to stay relevant. And for many customers, that could bring welcome upgrades.