Marks & Spencer is to begin selling food in Australia, with the launch a selection of its bestselling products in Coles supermarkets.
M&S products including Percy Pig and Colin the Caterpillar confectionery, British Shortbread and Luxury Gold Tea will be available in Coles stores across Australia from this Wednesday. The range will also be available to order online through Coles’ customer fulfilment centres in Melbourne and Sydney.
It is due to expand to more than 200 products from next year, supporting M&S’s ambitions to expand its global reach, according to the retailer.
It will be the first time M&S has sold food in Australia and follows the launch of a fashion wholesale partnership with department store David Jones in the country earlier this year.
M&S also has a wholesale partnership with Target in the US, where it sells over 50,000 bags of Percy Pigs a week.
It said over half of the Australian population was aware of the M&S brand, and its social media channels had been “bombarded” with comments asking when its food would be sold there.
M&S said Coles welcomed millions of customers each week across its store network and digital platforms, holding close to a third of the food market, while sharing its values around quality, innovation and trust.
Both M&S CEO Stuart Machin and Food MD Alex Freudmann have previously held senior roles at Coles.
“With consistent growth in Food in the UK business and strong brand momentum as the UK’s most trusted retailer there is now so much opportunity for us to grow our business globally,” said Mark Lemming, M&S MD of international.
“Wholesale is a relatively new channel for us, but one that provides lots of opportunity to scale, sell and serve our Food business to even more customers around the world.
“Having taken our first steps in Australia earlier this year in Fashion, we’re delighted to partner with one of Australia’s leading supermarkets, Coles – a partner that shares our values of quality food at a trusted value. When we get the partnership right, everyone wins.”
Coles chief commercial officer Anna Croft said: “We’re excited to join forces with Marks & Spencer to bring their quality food range to Australia, allowing millions of Aussies to savour the very best of British right here at home.
“This partnership is all about delivering quality, innovation, and trusted value – values we share with M&S.
“Launching in Coles supermarkets across Australia just in time for the festive season, our range of M&S Food favourites will give customers even more reasons to choose Coles for their holiday shopping, with delicious treats perfect for gifting, sharing and celebrating.”
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