Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer Group · United Kingdom
Marks & Spencer is the British retailer founded in Leeds in 1884 by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer, selling clothing, home and beauty products alongside food. Listed in London and led by chief executive Stuart Machin since 2022, it is one of the UK's largest clothing retailers and operates more than 380 international stores and dozens of websites through M&S International.
| Founded | 1884, Leeds |
|---|---|
| Founders | Michael Marks, Thomas Spencer |
| Owner | Marks and Spencer Group plc (FTSE 100) |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| CEO | Stuart Machin (since 2022) |
| Chairman | Archie Norman (since 2017) |
| Website | marksandspencer.com |
What is Marks & Spencer?
Marks & Spencer (M&S) is a UK retailer with two main businesses: Fashion, Home & Beauty and Food. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a FTSE 100 company. Stuart Machin has been chief executive since May 2022, and Archie Norman has chaired the company since 2017. The clothing business is led by John Lyttle, managing director of Fashion, Home & Beauty since March 2025.
History
Michael Marks opened a market stall in Leeds and in 1884 went into partnership with Thomas Spencer, starting with penny bazaars. M&S grew into a national institution, known for selling own-label products, and in 1980 it became the first British supermarket chain to sell packaged sandwiches. It began opening dedicated home furnishings stores in 2007 and acquired the Jaeger brand in 2021. In 2019 it bought 50 percent of Ocado Retail, which now handles its online grocery and some clothing orders.
Products and positioning
M&S sells womenswear, menswear, kidswear, lingerie, homeware and beauty under its own name and sub-brands such as Autograph and Per Una. It aims to offer contemporary, wearable style at good value, with a reputation for quality basics and underwear.
Business model and distribution
M&S runs a large UK store network that it has been reshaping, closing older full-line stores while opening new ones, with a target of around 180 full-line UK stores. M&S International operates more than 380 stores and 46 websites, largely through franchise partners. In April 2025 a cyberattack, which the company said originated at a third-party provider, forced it to suspend online orders; online ordering resumed in June and click and collect in August 2025.
Why it matters
M&S remains a bellwether for British clothing retail and for the recovery of the high street. Its turnaround under Machin and Norman, its rebuilt online clothing business and the operational impact of the 2025 cyber incident make it a key case study in retail transformation and in the risks of digital dependency.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Marks & Spencer?
Marks & Spencer is owned by Marks and Spencer Group plc, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is led by chief executive Stuart Machin and chaired by Archie Norman.
What happened to M&S online in 2025?
In April 2025 M&S was hit by a cyberattack that the company said originated at a third-party provider. It halted online orders on 25 April, resumed them on 10 June and restored click and collect on 11 August 2025.
