The retailer is considering locations across the UK for new and renewed food stores, including areas such as Highgate, Hampstead, Finchley, and Hackney Wick.
This forms part of its wider plan to double the size of its food business and modernise its store estate.
Alex Freudmann, managing director of M&S Food, said: “The strong performance of our new M&S food stores gives us the confidence to explore even more locations across the UK, from Elgin to Exmouth.
“With more than twenty stores opening or modernised before the end of the financial year, we are moving faster.
“Our team want new sites where we could open a large M&S Food store as we deliver on our strategy to bring the right stores to the right places and offer the best shopping experience, range and availability for our customers.”
The company is focusing on larger sites, aiming for an average store size of 18,000sq ft to support a fuller product range and accommodate weekly shopping.
Within the M25, M&S is looking for prominent locations with strong public transport links and steady all-week footfall, capable of supporting food halls between 6,000 and 18,000sq ft of trading space.
All new stores will feature the company’s latest renewal format, which includes wider aisles, more space for larger trolleys, and extended parking for families.
M&S says its food store in Selby, which opened last year, has outperformed expectations, delivering above average food market share growth in the region.
More than half of all M&S stores, including convenience outlets, are expected to be upgraded to the renewal format by April 2028.
Earlier this year, M&S announced its acquisition of 12 Homebase sites, which will be converted into some of the UK’s largest standalone M&S food stores.
The first of these is scheduled to open before Christmas in Cannock.
Between November and March, the company plans to open or refurbish 20 stores, creating 800 new jobs.
The full list of North London locations on the retailer’s “wish list” includes:
- Belsize Park
- Brent Cross Town
- Brondesbury
- Chalk Farm and Primrose Hill
- Childs Hill
- Cricklewood
- East Finchley
- Eastcote
- Edgware
- Finchley
- Finchley Road
- Golders Green
- Hampstead
- Harrow Weald
- Hatch End
- Hendon
- High Barnet
- Kentish Town
- Kenton
- Maida Vale
- Mill Hill East
- Moor Park
- New Barnet
- North Harrow
- Northwood
- Northwood Hills
- Queens Park
- Rayners Lane
- St Johns Wood
- Stanmore
- Wembley Stadium / Wembley Park
- Willesden Green
- Bounds Green
- Cockfosters
- Crouch End
- Enfield Chase
- Hackney Wick
- Harringay
- Highbury
- Highgate
- Hornsey
- Meridian Water
- North Enfield
- Palmers Green
- Shoreditch
- Stoke Newington
- Tufnell Park
- Turnpike Lane
- Winchmore Hill
The company is targeting both existing and new markets, including areas without a current M&S presence such as Hove, Marlborough, and Wallingford.
The expansion is part of a broader strategy to “modernise and rotate” the M&S store estate, targeting a total of 180 full-line stores and 420 food stores nationwide.
Mr Freudmann said the company’s renewed confidence comes from the “strong performance” of its new stores.
He said: “Our team want new sites where we could open a large M&S Food store as we deliver on our strategy to bring the right stores to the right places and offer the best shopping experience, range and availability for our customers.”
