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M&S reports solid Christmas trading and record customer numbers
Summary
Marks & Spencer reported group sales of £4.99 billion for the 13 weeks to Dec. 27, 2025, with food sales up 6.6% and a record number of store customers; the company maintained its full-year guidance and plans further reshaping in 2026.
Content
Marks & Spencer reported solid trading over the Christmas period, with a record number of customers in its stores and particularly strong food performance. The figures cover the 13 weeks to December 27, 2025 and reflect the consolidation of Ocado Retail from April 6, 2025. Fashion, Home & Beauty sales were weaker over the period, while online sales showed growth that did not fully offset lower in-store sales. The company said it will continue to advance its reshaping strategy in 2026.
Reported results:
- Group sales rose 24.2% to £4.99 billion in the 13 weeks to December 27, 2025; excluding Ocado Retail, group sales increased by 3.3%.
- Food sales grew 6.6% to £2.72 billion, with like-for-like sales up 5.6% and UK volume growth of 2.3%; the company reached a reported market share of 4.0% in November.
- Fashion, Home & Beauty sales decreased 2.5% to £1.27 billion, with like-for-like sales down 2.9%; online growth was offset by lower store sales and lingering effects from a prior stock data incident.
- Ocado Retail sales rose 13.7% to £843 million, driven by volume growth of 10.7% and order growth of 11.0%; M&S sales on Ocado.com increased by 16.3% and accounted for about 30% of Ocado Retail sales.
- The company maintained its full-year guidance and announced plans to accelerate product development, investment in value ranges, store transformation and structural cost reductions in 2026.
Summary:
The article reports that strong food sales and higher in-store customer numbers supported a rise in group revenue during the Christmas period, while Fashion, Home & Beauty sales fell. The company kept its full-year guidance and intends to press ahead with a reshaping strategy in 2026, focusing on product, value, store changes and cost reductions.
