Marks & Spencer returning to Germany (maybe)

Marks & Spencer held a large meeting today in London, nominally to elect a new boss and was known as Investors Day, but one of the topics that came up was returning to Europe which they are going to look at closely.

So they may be back in Germany at some time in the not too distant future. More info here: M&S Investor Day

Some history from Wikipedia: M&S opened stores in continental Europe in 1975. Although the Paris stores remained popular and profitable, the whole of the Western European operation did not fare as well and 18 stores were sold in 2001.

Who cares? I know I dont!! Give us Tescos and Morrisons anyday
Stu

Waitrose.

Or, whist I'm at it, Whole Foods.

I knew the UK wasn't in Europe.

Hooray for underwear in 5-packs!

Enough said.

It will never happen in Germany. Marksies, Top Shop (Kaufhof Concession), HMV, Planet Hollywood, TGI Fridays, Schlotzkys have all been to Germany and gone. They thought all they could do was "plonk" a store there and it would work, without putting much thought into shopping habbits of the German masses. They all failed miserably and have never returned.

Only place a Marksies might survive is back on Paris Rue de Rivoli - and even that would be pushing it. There's not even any prime real estate on the german high streets for an M&S store in any case.

Germany has high streets?

Marks & Spencer are actually registered on this forum (profile: MarksandSpencer).

They were posting earlier this year to promote their international delivery services.

Germany was a land of small shops and cook your own food. I would say in the last decade there was been a definate shift towards more pre-packaged foods and larger supermarkets. Slow but steady as there is much protection of the old system.

Maybe the time could be right for a return for the food? Maybe Germany is ready for good quality pre-packaged food now?

I dont think there is any chance of them making a successful return to Germany given their current product range. I was in an M&S in London recently and was taken aback by how bland and dowdy their clothes are. Apart from socks and underwear there was practically nothing else Id want to buy. I was also surprised at how few customers there were in the store, and those I did see seemed to be overwhelmingly old people. Clothes for pensioners.

Germany has Peek and Kloppenberg who are well established. Much more colour, good quality without for the most part being too bland or dowdy. They already occupy the market position that M&S would have to try and win over.

The one thing I would like to see open on the continent are the M&S Simply Food outlets. I think they might have a little more chance of success than their clothes stores.

Don't even dare to dangle that suggestion in front of me.

Ric de is spot on...but yay for push up bras

I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill here...

Please, please, please let this be true - but with UK-style prices, not the nonsensical prices that German clothes shops seem to be able to get away with...(even €-adjusted)

K