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M&S Opens Its Biggest Standalone Food Store in Godalming, Surrey

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M&S Godalming Food Store Opens: UK's Largest Standalone Foodhall Welcomes First Shoppers

Marks & Spencer today threw open the doors of its biggest ever standalone Food store in Godalming, Surrey, marking a significant milestone in the retailer’s ongoing investment in larger, family-focused supermarkets. The 22,000 sq ft Foodhall at The Wharf Retail Park on Woolsack Way opened at 8 am on July 16, 2026, drawing queues that snaked around the car park from as early as 7:45 am.

The new store, built on the site of a former Homebase, represents M&S’s largest dedicated food retail space and is designed to help families complete more of their weekly shopping in a single trip. First-day celebrations included a giant inflatable Percy Pig, limited-edition Percy Pig tote bags for early customers, and giveaway vouchers that kept the excitement buzzing well past 9 am.

What’s Inside the Godalming Foodhall?

The Godalming Foodhall showcases the next generation of M&S Food store design. Key features include:

The store also features improved customer flow, wider aisles, upgraded tills, and clearer signage with artistic product renderings instead of neon signs. Fresh, frozen, organic, and pet food sections are all designed to be easier to navigate.

The Bigger Picture: M&S’s Strategy of Bigger, Better Stores

The Godalming opening is part of a wider M&S strategy to modernise its estate and double the size of its food business. Alex Freudmann, Managing Director of M&S Food, stated: “We’re doubling our Food business with investment where family customers are asking for it most: bigger, better stores and more trusted value on the products families buy every week.”

The retailer has been renewing and expanding its Foodhall network across the UK. This week alone, M&S opened new stores in Guildford and Farnham, and further openings are planned — including a 21,500 sq ft Foodhall in Cleveleys, Lancashire, expected to open in early spring 2027.

Remarksable Value Range Expansion

A core part of M&S’s appeal is its Remarksable Value range, which has doubled in size since 2023 and now includes 175 everyday staples. Unlike traditional budget lines, M&S insists these products maintain the same quality, sourcing, and welfare standards as the rest of its range. New additions launched alongside the Godalming store include Fruit & Fibre Cereal Flakes, White Bread Finger Rolls, Pork Shoulder Steaks, and Microwavable Rice.

This focus on value comes as UK households continue to grapple with cost-of-living pressures. By offering competitive pricing on essentials without compromising on quality, M&S aims to attract more weekly shoppers who might previously have visited discount supermarkets. The retailer benchmarks Remarksable Value products against competitor prices to ensure they remain affordable.

Local and National Trends: What the Godalming Opening Means for Retail

The Godalming store’s debut highlights a broader shift in UK grocery retail: the rise of the “destination foodhall” that combines supermarket staples with experiential touches like in-store bakeries, sushi counters, and coffee shops. M&S is betting that larger, better-designed stores will draw customers away from both traditional supermarkets and fast-food outlets for their weekly shop.

Mixed Reactions in Other Towns

While Godalming celebrated its new M&S, similar plans elsewhere have sparked debate. In Cleveleys, Lancashire, the announcement of a new M&S Foodhall at Norcross — along with the planned closure of the existing Victoria Road West store — has led to protests. Residents argue the new location is inaccessible for older people without cars and could harm the town centre’s footfall. M&S has said the existing store will close only when the new one opens, but campaigners are pushing for both to remain.

This tension between modernisation and community access is a recurring challenge for big retailers. M&S’s investment in larger out-of-town stores may improve choice and convenience for car-owning families but risks leaving behind older or less mobile shoppers. The company has not announced any shuttle services or community transport initiatives for affected towns.

Economic and Employment Impact

The Godalming Foodhall has created dozens of new jobs, though exact figures were not disclosed. At the Cleveleys site, M&S expects to create around 50 roles. The retailer’s broader expansion programme is part of a £400 million investment in stores, technology, and supply chain improvements announced last year.

Supply Chain and Sustainability

M&S has also emphasised the environmental credentials of its new stores. The Godalming Foodhall includes energy-efficient lighting and refrigeration, though the company has not published a specific carbon footprint for this location. The use of a former Homebase site — a brownfield redevelopment — avoids building on greenfield land, a plus for local sustainability goals.

What’s Next for M&S Food?

With the Godalming store now open, M&S is eyeing further expansions. The company has confirmed it will open additional Foodhalls in the South East and elsewhere, including the Cleveleys site and potential locations in the Midlands and North West. The retailer is also testing smaller urban formats in London and other cities.

The Future of the Weekly Shop

M&S’s strategy reflects a broader industry trend: supermarkets are moving away from one-size-fits-all stores toward tailored formats. Larger Foodhalls like Godalming are designed for the full weekly shop, while smaller “Local” stores focus on convenience and lunchtime trade. This dual approach allows M&S to compete with both discounters like Aldi and Lidl and premium grocers like Waitrose.

Consumer behaviour is also shifting. Post-pandemic, more shoppers are consolidating their weekly shop into fewer trips, seeking one-stop destinations that offer quality, variety, and value. M&S’s investment in Remarksable Value and family-friendly features positions it to capture this demand.

Perspective: A New Benchmark for UK Grocery Retail

The opening of the UK’s largest standalone M&S Foodhall in Godalming is more than a local event — it signals a new phase in the battle for the British weekly shop. By blending premium touches (cheese barge, sushi, rotisserie chicken) with value pricing (Remarksable range) and family amenities (mini trolleys), M&S is attempting to bridge the gap between discount and luxury retail.

Lessons for Competitors

Other grocers are watching closely. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose have all invested in larger store formats and enhanced in-store experiences. But M&S’s focus on design — from market-style produce displays to artistic signage — sets a new standard for aesthetic appeal in supermarket shopping.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the fanfare, challenges remain. The cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, and while M&S’s value range is growing, it is still smaller than those of discounters. The retailer also faces rising energy costs and supply chain inflation, which could pressure margins.

Moreover, the environmental impact of larger stores — more energy use, more car travel for shoppers — may draw scrutiny as sustainability regulations tighten. M&S has committed to net-zero emissions by 2040, but building and operating super-sized Foodhalls will require significant green investment.

Community Engagement

In Godalming, the opening was a community affair. Local residents and shoppers praised the store’s layout, product range, and the £4 coffee-and-muffin deal. One Surrey Live journalist noted: “Both were delicious, and very quickly dispatched despite the fact the shop was very busy.” Such positive early reviews could help M&S build loyalty in a town where it previously had only a smaller presence.

The store is also within walking distance of Godalming town centre and train station, making it accessible without a car — a factor that may ease concerns similar to those raised in Cleveleys.

Conclusion: Godalming as a Blueprint

The Godalming Foodhall is likely to serve as a blueprint for future M&S Food stores across the UK. If successful, it could accelerate the retailer’s shift away from smaller high-street units and toward large-format food destinations. For shoppers in Surrey — and eventually elsewhere — that means more space, more choice, and more reasons to make M&S their weekly shopping stop.

As M&S Managing Director Alex Freudmann put it, the goal is to “double the size of the business” by giving families exactly what they want. In Godalming, that vision has taken its biggest physical form yet.

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