Heathfield named as target location in Marks & Spencer expansion drive

Heathfield may see the opening of a new Marks and Spencer

Heathfield has been highlighted as a potential new location as Marks and Spencer presses ahead with one of the largest expansion programmes in its recent history. The retailer has drawn up a “wish list” of 500 locations across Britain as it looks to significantly grow its food business and attract more shoppers away from traditional supermarkets.

The inclusion of Heathfield places the East Sussex town firmly on M&S’s radar as it searches for areas that either lack an existing store or could support a larger, modern food hall. Any new site would likely feature the retailer’s latest store format, with wider aisles, bigger trolleys, improved layouts and enhanced parking aimed at families doing a full weekly shop.

M&S plans to increase the average size of its food stores to around 18,000 sq ft and hopes to open hundreds of new food halls in the coming years, creating thousands of jobs nationwide. More than half of its existing stores are also set to be upgraded to the new format within the next two years.

While no opening date has been confirmed for Heathfield, its appearance on the expansion list signals clear confidence in the town’s potential and could bring a major retail boost to the local area.