Strategic Expansion into Large-Format Retail
Marks & Spencer (M&S) has officially opened its largest standalone Foodhall to date in Godalming, Surrey. Located at The Wharf Retail Park, the 22,000 sq ft facility occupies a former Homebase site, reflecting the company’s ongoing strategy to repurpose large retail units to house its expanded grocery operations.
The store, which opened on July 16, 2026, is designed to accommodate the “weekly shop” mission for families. According to M&S, the layout features wider aisles, improved navigation, and specialized product zones, including a cheese barge, sushi station, and an expanded in-store bakery. This pivot toward larger-format stores is part of a broader corporate objective to modernize the retailer’s estate and increase its share of the family grocery market.
Competitive Positioning and Value
A central pillar of the new store’s offering is the inclusion of the full “Remarksable Value” range. The line, which has been expanded to 175 products, is benchmarked against competitor pricing to attract budget-conscious shoppers without sacrificing the brand’s quality standards.
Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, emphasized that the investment is a direct response to consumer demand for more comprehensive grocery experiences. “Godalming is our biggest ever standalone Food store and an example of the kind of modern, full-range Foodhall we’re investing in as we double the size of the business,” Freudmann stated.
The store is staffed by 80 new employees and aims to provide a destination-shopping experience. By integrating family-friendly features such as mini-trolleys and enhanced fresh produce sections, M&S is positioning itself as a viable alternative for customers who previously treated the retailer as a destination for specialty items rather than full grocery hauls.