M&S on the road

Marks & Spencer is considering opening food stores in motorway service stations.

The store, which is keen to expand on its Simply Food format, is set to trial a store on the M1 this summer. The move is seen as part of an extension of the group's relationship with Compass, the catering group with which it runs a series of food stores in railway stations.

Head of foods for the store, Justin King, said the group would tread carefully as selling food on the UK's motorways is an untried formula, but he is confident it can be as successful as their efforts at railway stations.

The first motorway store will open at the Moto service area in Toddington, Bedfordshire. The site will measure 2,100 square feet and plans to create 20 new jobs.