Marks and Spencer 1998 Annual Report Download - page 15

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the UK food retail market is more competitive than ever, Marks &
Spencer stays strongly focused on maintaining the ‘special’ in our speciality food
and wines – to sustain our dominance of this sector by delivering the innovation and
quality that customers want.
Our product range is stronger than ever, with 800 new products added in the
past year alone. We protect our majority share of the market for ready meals with
constant innovation. This included a 95% fat-free Chicken Kiev and other “ Healthy
Choice” meals, which also widened our appeal to younger consumers. Our
technical expertise led to the Q uick to Cook range of meals which adds convenience
while maintaining excellent flavour and authenticity.
Close partnerships with suppliers ensure our produce remains the finest. O ur
meat, reared to our own specifications with both taste and safety in mind, is ever
more popular among our seven million weekly food customers. More than 70 food
technologists oversee quality throughout supply and distribution to maintain the
standards on which our success is built.
As food shopping habits change, M arks & Spencer stays ahead. Taking
advantage of the strategy plan for expanding footage, we are
introducing a range of initiatives to enhance food shopping for our
customers. Following the success of butchers’ shops, now in some
60 stores, we plan to add a further 35 during 1998/99 and introduce delicatessens,
hot food counters and in-store bakeries in over 30 stores. These will provide greater
personal service to match our outstanding product quality. We are opening more
food-only neighbourhood stores with adjacent parking in suburban areas, while
existing high street stores will benefit from improved Collect by Car facilities and,
where suitable, services for home delivery. Such initiatives make M arks & Spencer
an even more attractive destination for food shopping.
W hile
Consumers today have strong concerns about
what they eat. So does Marks & Spencer. This
is why we obsessively pursue the highest
standards in food safety, working with our
suppliers to set new industrial standards for
purchasing raw materials and processing in
factories. We also meet wider environmental
concerns. A ll the eggs we sell are now free
range, while we constantly work to minimise
packaging and max imise our use of recyclable
materials.
GIVING OUR CUSTOMERS CONFIDENCE DONATING UNSOLD FOOD ESTABLISHING OUR BRAND OVERSEAS
Each day, Marks & Spencer distributes food
products which have passed their shelf ex pir y
date but are still fine to eat. Since this scheme
started 20 years ago, individual stores have
formed partnerships with local organisations
who can make best use of these goods. Such a
policy helps both by reducing waste and by
suppor ting those in need.
Food is a good way to introduce the Marks &
Spencer brand to new markets abroad. It brings
customers regularly into stores, particularly for
highly popular novelties such as the traditional
British three-corner sandwich or our ethnic
meals. Food also establishes our standards of
quality firmly from the star t. While a sweater
continues to show its quality after several
washes, our produce shows its ex cellence from
the first bite.
Food
MA RKS A ND SPENCER p.l.c. 13