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Marks and Spencer Simply Food: Difference between revisions

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|colour = #014B3E
|colour = #014B3E
|name = M&S Simply Food
|name = M&S Simply Food
|image = CW_MandS.JPG
|image = CW MandS.JPG
|locations = 38 Motorway sites
|locations = msas
|associated = [[BP]], [[WHSmith]]
|usedby = [[Moto]], [[BP]]
|accompaniedby = [[WHSmith]], [[Costa]]
|seealso = [[Waitrose]], [[Spar]]
|introduced = 2004
|introduced = 2004
|openinghours = Motorway sites open daily, 7am - 10pm
|openinghours = Motorway sites open daily, 7am - 10pm
|gallery = M&S Simply Food pictures¦M&S Food pictures¦Marks and Spencer Food
|predecessors = [[EDC]], [[Halfords]], [[Scoop]], [[T2]], [[The Body Shop]], [[The Sock Shop]]
|predecessors = [[EDC]], [[Halfords]], [[Scoop]], [[T2]], [[The Body Shop]], [[The Sock Shop]]
|successors = ''none''
|successors = none
|website = www.marksandspencer.com
|website = www.marksandspencer.com
|facebook = MarksandSpencer
|facebook = MarksandSpencer
Line 16: Line 19:
}}
}}


'''M&S Simply Food''' (originally introduced as '''Marks and Spencer Simply Food''') is an express-format offshoot of Marks and Spencer's foodhall. On the motorways, it can now be found at most [[Moto]] services, including units at [[Extra]] services which Moto run. It also has sites within many [[BP]] petrol stations.
'''M&S Simply Food''' (originally introduced as '''Marks and Spencer Simply Food''') is the express-style offshoot of Marks and Spencer's famous foodhall. On the motorways, it can now be found at most [[Moto]] services, as well as at Moto's units within [[Extra]]'s services.  


The motorway shops were the first of their kind and quickly proved popular and many were extended to form mini-supermarkets, taking up a lot of shopping space and pushing out some smaller stores situated alongside.
M&S Simply Food can also be found at many [[BP]] petrol stations, under a franchise agreement with BP under which BP pays for all the goods.


M&S impressed Holiday Which? Magazine, who said that the stores could be "well worth driving on the motorway for alone".
The motorway shops were the first of their kind and they quickly proved popular. They were extended to become mini-supermarkets, pushing out some of the other shops usually found at service areas.


Moto were also the first to find a loophole in the law which meant that by renaming the operator of some of their services to 'Moto M&S', they could advertise the new shop. Moto services which have an M&S and a [[Costa]] don't actually refer to Moto on their signs, instead they use the name 'Costa M&S'.
Since 2016, smaller M&S Simply Food stores have been branded '''M&S Food to Go''', with fewer items and an experience tailored towards the grab-and-go market. This includes some stores at service areas. The rethink also included introducing a few M&S Coffee To Go machines.


[[Welcome Break]] have partnered up with [[Waitrose]] to rival the Moto-M&S connection, and more recently [[Roadchef]] have started to team up with [[Spar]] to conquer the same sector.
The [[Rugby]] store, opened in 2021, uses the name '''Marks and Spencer Food''', with better quality décor and fewer chillers. This format could be introduced to more motorway sites.


In 2016, M&S introduced their "Food to Go" branding to replace smaller M&S Simply Food stores. These stores have a smaller variety of items than standard M&S Simply Food stores and are more tailored to the grab-and-go customer. As part of this, in 2016, Moto introduced an M&S Coffee To Go machine at [[Cherwell Valley]] and in 2017, M&S Food to Go units were opened within the northbound BP store at [[Michaelwood]].
Following Moto's success working with M&S, Welcome Break teamed up with [[Waitrose]], and Roadchef teamed up with [[Spar]].
__NOTOC__
===Introduction To Motorways===
[[File:Tamworth MandS.jpg|250px|thumb|right|alt=Marks and Spencer Simply Food.|The first generation of Moto stores.]]
The link between Moto and M&S dates back to [[Granada]], who had spent a lot of time developing shopping areas, who noted that they needed something simple to cope with sudden rushes of customers. They said they wanted a retail outlet where the customer could walk in and see high quality food and other products around them. Five services were earmarked to get the new brand but in practice it took them a long time to roll it out.


===Introduction===
Granada became Moto, a Compass Group company. Fellow Compass Group company SSP had recently been opening M&S Simply Food Stores at railway stations, so Moto were easily able to access the brand.
The link between Moto and M&S was made after [[Granada]] (who spent a lot of time developing shopping areas) noted that they needed something simple to cope with sudden rushes of customers. They said they wanted a retail outlet where you can walk in and see high-quality food and other products around you. Five services were earmarked to get the new brand but in practice it took them five years to roll it out.


By now M&S Simply Food had set up railway station stores operated by SSP, who were [[Moto]]'s sister company at the time, so the partnership was natural.
The new M&S stores impressed [[Which%3F Magazine|Holiday Which?]], who said in 2006 that the stores could be "well worth driving on the motorway for alone".


[[Fortes|Trusthouse Forte]] had a grocery shop called 'Piknics' in the late 1980s, but this mostly sold sandwiches.
Moto were the first operator to find a loophole in the law whereby they could create their own subsidiary called 'Moto M&S', which would then allow them to use that name to promote their M&S offer without actually putting up any advertising. Moto then began a policy of dropping their own name from motorway road signs, and using the name '[[Costa]] M&S' instead. This was partly a protest against the government's strict ban on advertising at the time.
 
Long before M&S grocery stores were brought to the motorway, [[Fortes|Trusthouse Forte]] had a grocery shop called 'Piknics' in the late 1980s. This mostly just sold sandwiches.


==Locations==
==Locations==
M&S Simply Food operate at many Moto and Extra services. They are: {{viewonamap|search=M&S Simply Food}}
M&S Simply Food (and similar brands) operate at most Moto and Extra services. These are: {{viewonamap|search=M&S Simply Food}}


* [[Baldock]] (A1(M)/A1)
* [[Baldock]] (A1(M)/A1)

Revision as of 20:49, 30 April 2021

M&S Simply Food
M&S Simply Food
Camera icon
Camera icon
Many more photos in the gallery
Locations:48 MSAs
Often accompanied by:WHSmith, Costa
Used by:Moto, BP
Introduced:2004
Predecessors:EDC, Halfords, Scoop, T2, The Body Shop, The Sock Shop
Successors:none
Typical opening hours:Motorway sites open daily, 7am - 10pm
See also:Waitrose, Spar
Official Website:
www.marksandspencer.com

M&S Simply Food (originally introduced as Marks and Spencer Simply Food) is the express-style offshoot of Marks and Spencer's famous foodhall. On the motorways, it can now be found at most Moto services, as well as at Moto's units within Extra's services.

M&S Simply Food can also be found at many BP petrol stations, under a franchise agreement with BP under which BP pays for all the goods.

The motorway shops were the first of their kind and they quickly proved popular. They were extended to become mini-supermarkets, pushing out some of the other shops usually found at service areas.

Since 2016, smaller M&S Simply Food stores have been branded M&S Food to Go, with fewer items and an experience tailored towards the grab-and-go market. This includes some stores at service areas. The rethink also included introducing a few M&S Coffee To Go machines.

The Rugby store, opened in 2021, uses the name Marks and Spencer Food, with better quality décor and fewer chillers. This format could be introduced to more motorway sites.

Following Moto's success working with M&S, Welcome Break teamed up with Waitrose, and Roadchef teamed up with Spar.

Introduction To Motorways

Marks and Spencer Simply Food.
The first generation of Moto stores.

The link between Moto and M&S dates back to Granada, who had spent a lot of time developing shopping areas, who noted that they needed something simple to cope with sudden rushes of customers. They said they wanted a retail outlet where the customer could walk in and see high quality food and other products around them. Five services were earmarked to get the new brand but in practice it took them a long time to roll it out.

Granada became Moto, a Compass Group company. Fellow Compass Group company SSP had recently been opening M&S Simply Food Stores at railway stations, so Moto were easily able to access the brand.

The new M&S stores impressed Holiday Which?, who said in 2006 that the stores could be "well worth driving on the motorway for alone".

Moto were the first operator to find a loophole in the law whereby they could create their own subsidiary called 'Moto M&S', which would then allow them to use that name to promote their M&S offer without actually putting up any advertising. Moto then began a policy of dropping their own name from motorway road signs, and using the name 'Costa M&S' instead. This was partly a protest against the government's strict ban on advertising at the time.

Long before M&S grocery stores were brought to the motorway, Trusthouse Forte had a grocery shop called 'Piknics' in the late 1980s. This mostly just sold sandwiches.

Locations

M&S Simply Food (and similar brands) operate at most Moto and Extra services. These are: [view on a map - Download KML]

Forecourts

Beckington forecourt.
An M&S-branded forecourt shop.

M&S Simply Food have a few branded stores at BP forecourts:

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