For those ex-pats in Algorfa, who may be going back to the UK for a visit, you will notice something new at M&S stores. After years of selling own labelled goods, M&S food departments will be selling branded goods as from today. Up to 400 brands will be sold alongside the M&S own label food, such as breakfast cereals, canned drinks etc. You will be able to buy Dove Soap products, Marmite, Fosters Lager and a host more.

It is an attempt to take a bigger market share in food sales, and will perhaps encourage people to buy things they would normally get at Asda, Sainsbury, Tesco and Morrisons etc, at the same time they get their usual M&S food stuffs.

There will be a mixed reaction in some stores, where the more elderly customers will think that this is sacrilege. Having said that many of those would have thrown their hands in the air, when M&S started accepting other banks’ credit and debit cards., but many have now got the &more card.

It can only be a positive move and shows M&S realise a business cannot stand still, however well known and reputable.