What's new at M&S?

Trading in the UK retail market is never easy but, with the effects of the pandemic, the past 18 months have been even more challenging than usual. Some high-profile, long-established names (department store Debenhams, for example) have gone to the wall and the venerable Marks & Spencer was felt to be another likely failure, as an old-fashioned company unable to adapt to changes in consumers’ buying habits.

In November 2020, the company announced its first loss since going public 94...