Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced plans to open a new 390,000 square foot distribution centre at Avonmouth in Bristol as part of its plan to develop a modern logistics network.

The retailer said the site will be its most sustainable food depot in the UK with solar panels, ducting in the yard for electric vehicles, and electric charging points.

The new depot, which will open in 2026, will process stock and serve stores in the Midlands, South-west England and South Wales.

M&S said it has taken a number of steps to improve its supply chain, including the implementation of the One Best Way retail operations programme. The retailer said this initiative is improving productivity and contributing to structural cost reductions.

Additionally, it has rolled out a new forecasting and ordering system to help better match supply to market conditions to improve availability, which M&S said is critical to continue targeting volume growth.

M&S has made other investments in the South-west, including opening a renewed and expanded food hall at Cribbs Causeway in December.

“Modernising our supply chain is key to increasing the capacity in our network and will help us get ahead of the volume curve we are driving in M&S Food to meet our ambition of becoming a shopping list retailer,” said M&S Food managing director Alex Freudmann. “This new site will ensure that we’re getting the right products to the right stores at the right time for our customers as well as creating a great working environment for our colleagues.”

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