A new 12,000 sq ft Marks & Spencer food store in High Road, Leytonstone welcomed its first customers on Thursday (July 17).
More than 50 new staff members – plus the M&S mascot Percy Pig – gathered outside the foodhall at 9am to make the launch official with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The store is market style (Image: M&S)
Photos taken inside show the market style of the store, with open-plan sections such as the flower shop and bakery.
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Alongside the bakery is a coffee counter, offering a range of hot drinks, as well as iced mochas and lattes.
Elsewhere in the new M&S, there is a dedicated aisle for wine and chilled drinks, and a fruit and veg section stocking seasonal produce.
The store is one of 12 new M&S Foodhalls opening across the UK this financial year as part of the retailer’s £300 million store rotation programme.
Store manager at M&S Leytonstone Chelsea Themistokleous, who leads the 67-strong team, said the welcome from the community so far has been “brilliant”.
She previously said: “It’s been fantastic to have so many new joiners in the team and we cannot wait to start serving the local community here – the welcome has been brilliant.”
The new Leytonstone location arrives just as more than 450 new summer products are launching in stores.
Cllr Ahsan Khan, deputy leader and cabinet member for housing and regeneration at Waltham Forest Council, said: “Residents of Leytonstone will be delighted to see their brand-new M&S store open its doors.
“We’re working hard with businesses like M&S to bring more shopping choices for local people alongside new employment and professional development opportunities to help them thrive.
“This is a huge show of confidence in Leytonstone and the local community, and we’re very excited to be helping make it such a great place to live.”
