North Yorkshire Towns Could Get New M&S Food Halls

Imagine doing your weekly shop without the usual hassle. No more awkward trolley jams or searching for a parking spot for ages. Well, for shoppers in three North Yorkshire towns, that dream could be getting a little closer. M&S has just dropped a hint that it’s looking to open brand-new, massive food halls, and Scarborough, Knaresborough, and Thirsk are all on the list of potential locations. This isn't just a rumour; it's part of a huge UK-wide plan for the famous retailer, showing a big commitment to bringing better food shopping to more people.

A new M&S on your doorstep?

Everyone loves a bit of good news, and for fans of Percy Pig and that famous M&S food quality, this is a big one. On 19 January 2026, the retailer announced a 'wish list' of around 500 areas across the country where it wants to open new stores. And right there on that list are three key spots in North Yorkshire. It seems that Knaresborough, Scarborough, and the market town of Thirsk are all on the company's radar.

But what does this actually mean? It’s not a final promise just yet, but it’s a very strong signal. M&S has a clear target, and it's actively looking for the right sites in these locations. If they find the perfect spot, residents could soon be enjoying a brand-new M&S Food Hall. This is part of a broader strategy to expand their food business, focusing on bringing their popular products to more customers in convenient spots. For these North Yorkshire towns, it could mean more jobs and a fantastic new option for grocery shopping.

Bigger and better shopping trips

These won't just be your average corner-shop-style M&S food outlets. The plan is to go big. M&S is specifically on the hunt for sites that can house a much larger format of store, aiming for an average size of 18,000sqft. To put that into perspective, an 18,000sqft space is about the size of seven tennis courts. That's a lot of room for delicious food!

This new format is all about improving the experience for customers. Here’s what shoppers can expect:

• Wider aisles: Plenty of room to navigate a big trolley without bumping into anyone. The days of tight squeezes down the frozen food aisle could be over.

• The full range: These larger stores will have space to stock the complete M&S food and drink selection, meaning better choice and availability.

• Larger car parks: The plans include bigger and more convenient car parks, making it easier for families to do their big weekly shop without the stress of finding a space.

Essentially, the new stores are designed from the ground up to make food shopping a breeze. This modernised format is all about creating a better environment for customers, with more space, more choice, and less hassle from the moment they arrive.

This isn't just a random idea

This ambitious plan is built on proven success. M&S has been testing this larger store format, and it's clearly working. Last summer, the company announced it had bought 12 former Homebase sites across the UK. The goal is to transform these large, well-located retail spaces into some of the biggest standalone M&S Food stores in the country. The first of these opened before Christmas in Cannock, giving a glimpse of what could be coming to North Yorkshire.

The company is moving at pace, with plans for more than 20 stores to be either opened or modernised before the end of the current financial year. Closer to home, people can look at the M&S that opened in Selby back in 2024. That store, at 16,000 sq ft, created 79 local jobs and gives a real taste of the modern, spacious food-focused shopping experience that M&S wants to roll out everywhere.

What the boss has to say

The person leading this charge is Alex Freudmann, the Managing Director for M&S Food. He's clearly confident about the expansion plans. In a recent statement, Alex Freudmann explained the thinking behind the move.

He said: “The strong performance of our new M&S food stores gives us the confidence to explore even more locations across the UK. With more than 20 stores opening or modernised before the end of the financial year, we are moving faster. Our team want new sites where we could open a large M&S Food store as we deliver on our strategy to bring the right stores to the right places and offer the best shopping experience, range and availability for our customers.”

Breaking that down, it’s simple: the new stores are popular, they're making money, and M&S wants to build more of them. The focus for the managing director and his team is on finding the right spots to offer customers the best possible range of products, great availability, and an enjoyable shopping trip. It’s all about putting the customer first.

Good news for Yorkshire farmers?

An M&S expansion in Yorkshire isn't just good news for shoppers; it could also be a boost for local farmers and food producers. The retailer has strong ties with British agriculture, working with over 8,000 'Select Farmers' across the UK. More than 800 of these are based right here in Yorkshire and the Humber region.

More food halls in the area would likely mean a higher demand for local produce to fill the shelves. This supports the regional economy and strengthens the connection between the food on the shelves and the fields where it was grown. For a county with such a rich farming heritage as North Yorkshire, having a major retailer like M&S increase its presence can only be a positive thing for the local supply chain, from the farm gate to the customer's basket.

So, what happens next?

While the news is exciting for people in Scarborough, Knaresborough, and Thirsk, it's important to remember this is a wish list. M&S has made its target clear, but the next step involves finding suitable sites that are big enough and in the right locations. This can take time. But with the company actively looking, there's a real possibility that these towns will be welcoming a new, modernised M&S Food Hall in the near future, bringing a new format and a better shopping experience with it.