M&S seeking new suppliers to ramp up frozen food offer

M&S is looking to work with new suppliers to ramp up its frozen food offer.

The retailer is working closely with the British Frozen Food Federation on the project.

It ran a virtual ‘meet the buyer’ event in conjunction with the BFFF in May, aimed at helping M&S build new relationships with suppliers.

The plans are part of M&S’s wider strategy to encourage more families to do their weekly shop there by offering a greater variety of food products.

M&S said frozen is one of its key transformation categories and its latest investments in store estate redevelopment create “a strong pipeline for growth”.

The group is currently amidst a store renewal expansion programme, which will see it redevelop its estate to focus on full-line stores and make more room for its food division.

“Working with the BFFF and its members has helped us find new suppliers for our frozen range expansion, broadening choice for customers whilst still offering the M&S great quality and trusted value they know and love,” said M&S senior buyer Steven Brookes.

BFFF CEO Richard Harrow said the event was also beneficial for the organisation as it helped them understand how M&S conducts its selection process.

“M&S has a clear ambition to grow its range of frozen food with additional space in-store – even before the pandemic hit, it identified frozen as one of the top 10 trends of 2020,” Harrow added.