Marks & Spencer Group Plc - apparel and textile industry company news 
UK: Tesco to franchise F&F brand in Middle East
17 January 2012
Tesco today (17 January) said it is taking its F&F clothing line to the Middle East through a franchise deal with Fawaz Abdulaziz Al Hokair & Co - kicking off wider moves to turn the fashion label into a major global brand.
UK: Marks & Spencer trials NCR touchscreens
17 January 2012
Marks & Spencer today (17 January) said that it is working with NCR Corporation to trial multimedia zones in its stores that combine digital discovery touch screens, video walls and outfit displays.
Top stories on just-style this week...
13 January 2012
Top stories on just-style this week included forecasts for a recovery in world cotton stocks, falling women's wear sales at Marks & Spencer, the breakdown of talks to sell Jones Group's jeanswear division to Delta Galil, and a rise in retail administrations in England and Wales.
In the money: Marks & Spencer women's wear sales take a hit
10 January 2012
Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland admitted today (10 January) that women's wear sales fell during the third-quarter, even though heavy promotions lifted the retailer's overall clothing sales.
Marks & Spencer trading update: what the analysts say
10 January 2012
As Marks & Spencer recorded a 2.4% increase in third-quarter sales today, the industry's reaction to the results was largely positive, despite seeing margins hit by a highly promotional landscape. Here is a flavour of what leading retail analysts had to say about M&S' recent performance.
UK: Marks & Spencer Q3 clothing sales grow
10 January 2012
Marks & Spencer today (10 January) said that it expects its full-year gross margin to be hit as the company invested in general merchandise promotions over the Christmas period.
Next trading update: what the analysts say
4 January 2012
Next was the first of the major UK clothing retailers to reveal their Christmas trading updates. The retailer deemed its 3.1% sales growth for the period between 1 August and 24 December as "disappointing" given that snow adversely impacted sales in 2010. Here is a flavour of what leading retail analysts had to say about Next's recent performance.
Top ten news stories on just-style in 2011...
23 December 2011
Instead of our regular look at the top stories on just-style during the week, we thought a fitting end to the year would be to take a look at the top stories on just-style in 2011. What made the grade? Not surprisingly, the list includes cotton's ups and downs, the new apparel eco-index scheme...and JC Penney's new logo.
just-style management briefing: Retail winners and losers in 2011
19 December 2011
While some retailers continued to be vulnerable to cost-cutting, swingeing redundancies and store closures in 2011, others acted swiftly to respond to the changing economic circumstances, offering real value to their customers and embarking on ambitious international expansion.
just-style management briefing: The unusual and unpredictable on just-style in 2011
19 December 2011
From fabrics that moisturise and kill bacteria to bizarre weather and media scandals, the global style sector in 2011 certainly had its share of unusual news and unpredictable developments.
Spotlight on...A better way to grow cotton
15 December 2011
Global brands and retailers are working together to source more Better Cotton for their products in the hope that creating demand down the supply chain will eventually see sustainable cotton become the norm. As the first fibres from the initiative start to make their way into clothing, Levi Strauss and Marks & Spencer joined other stakeholders to explain what they hope to achieve.
INDIA: Single-brand FDI legislation still to go ahead - Reports
9 December 2011
The Indian government still plans to relax single-brand foreign direct ownership rules, despite suspending plans to extend FDI rules in multi-brand retail.
NETHERLANDS: Hunkemöller taps Price-smith as head of design
8 December 2011
European lingerie brand Hunkemöller has tapped former Fat Face and Crew Clothing executive Zoë Price-Smith as its new head of design.
Top stories on just-style this week...
2 December 2011
This week's most read stories included details of the soon-to-open Morocco Mall, news that work has begun on an industrial park in Haiti and the announcement of a ban of a Marks and Spencer ad for being too "sexually suggestive".
UK: Marks and Spencer lingerie ad banned
30 November 2011
An ad for Marks & Spencer's lingerie has been banned by UK authorities for being too sexually suggestive.
UK: M&S updates on Plan A progress
30 November 2011
Marks & Spencer today released an update on the progress of its Plan A ethical and sustainability programme.
US: WRAP CEO Steve Jesseph to retire
30 November 2011
Steve Jesseph, the CEO of social and environmental training and certification group Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), is to retire at the end the year.
UK: M&S implements JDA supply chain solutions
30 November 2011
Retailer Marks & Spencer has extended its JDA software investment to include supply chain solutions for allocation and replenishment in its non-food business.
UK: M&S to launch first closed loop recycled coat
28 November 2011
Marks & Spencer is to launch a cashmere coat made from recycled fibres, which it claims is the UK's first closed loop clothing product from a major retailer.
Top stories on just-style this week...
25 November 2011
Top stories this week included news about Bangladesh withholding permission for a US sponsored survey to check if child and forced labour is being used in the country's apparel sector, Sri Lankan factories calling for retailers to back green garments, and Gap's hopes for a turnaround.
UK: Marks & Spencer denies supplier row
24 November 2011
Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland has denied reports that the retailer is in a row with its suppliers over plans to make them contribute to its store revamp scheme.
UK: Marks & Spencer plays down Bostock departure rumours
24 November 2011
Marks & Spencer has moved to quash rumours today (24 November) that general merchandise executive director Kate Bostock is in advanced talks to move to online fashion retailer Asos or another rival.
INDIA: New Delhi to ease laws on foreign retail ownership
24 November 2011
The Indian government has reportedly approved plans to further open up the country's retail industry, a decision that could see a wave of foreign investment into the sector.
FRANCE: Marks & Spencer creates "fashion riot" with Paris store
24 November 2011
Marks & Spencer has claimed it caused a "fashion riot" in Paris today with the opening of its store on the Champs Elysées.
UK: Suppliers refuse to pay for M&S store revamp - reports
22 November 2011
A row has reportedly broken out between Marks & Spencer and its suppliers over plans to make them contribute towards its GBP600m store refurbishment programme.
FRANCE: M&S sheds light on expansion plans
17 November 2011
Marks and Spencer, which is returning to Paris with the opening of a store before Christmas, plans tM&S chief executive Marc Bolland at store on Champs-Elysées, ParisMarks and Spencer, which is returning to Paris with the opening of a store before Christmas, plans to open a further four outlets in the French capital.o open a further four outlets in the French capital.
ISRAEL: Delta Galil books Q3 gains as Jones talks continue
11 November 2011
Apparel and lingerie maker Delta Galil Industries Ltd yesterday (10 November) said talks to buy Jones Group's jeanswear division are taking longer than the initial one-month timeframe, but the deal is likely to be finalised by the end of this year.
UK: M&S teams up with Savile Row tailor Richard James
9 November 2011
Retailer Marks & Spencer is teaming up with internationally renowned Savile Row tailor Richard James to launch an exclusive men's wear range.
In the money: M&S blames promotions for weaker H1 profits
8 November 2011
Marks & Spencer has blamed the intensifying promotional culture in its UK general merchandising division - which includes clothing and footwear - for weaker first-half profits.
UK: Clothing retailers under pressure in October
8 November 2011
Sales at UK clothing and footwear retailers remained under pressure in October, according to figures released today (8 November), with the unseasonably mild weather hurting demand for warm winter fashions and adding to worries about the economy.
Related research
Marks and Spencer Group plc - Strategy, SWOT, and Corporate Finance Report
Datamonitors' Marks and Spencer Group plc’s SWOT, Strategy and Corporate Finance Report, is a source of comprehensive company data and information. The report covers the company’s structure, operation, SWOT analysis, product and service offerings, detailed financials, and corporate actions, providing a 360° view of the company.
Marks and Spencer Group plc
Datamonitor's Marks and Spencer Group plc - SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. Marks and Spencer Group plc - SWOT Analysis examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy.Marks and Spencer Group (M&S) is a leading retailer of clothing, foods and home ware in the UK. The company operates in about 41 countries worldwide with UK as its primary market. It is headquartered in London, UK and employs about 75,000 people. The company recorded revenues of £9,022 million (approximately $18,113 million) during the financial year (FY) ended March 2008, an increase of 5.1% over 2007. The operating profit of the company was £1,211.3 million (approximately $2,431.9 million) during FY2008, an increase of 15.8% over 2007. The net profit was £821.7 million (approximately $1,649.7 million) in FY2008, an increase of 24.5% over 2007.
Marks and Spencer Group plc - SWOT Analysis
Datamonitor's Marks and Spencer Group plc - SWOT Analysis company profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. Marks and Spencer Group plc - SWOT Analysis examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy.Marks and Spencer Group (M&S or “the company”) is one of the leading retailers of clothing, foods and home ware in the UK. The company operates in about 41 countries worldwide with UK as its primary market. It is headquartered in London, UK and employs about 76,000 people. The company recorded revenues of £9,536.6 million ($15,272.9 million) during the financial year ended April 2010 (FY2010), an increase of 5.2% over 2009. The operating profit of the company was £852 million ($1,364.5 million) in FY2010, a decrease of 2.1% compared to 2009. The net profit was £526.3 million ($842.9 million) in FY2010, an increase of 3.6% over 2009.
