The images in this resource represent a snapshot of how food has been developed at M&S over the years - some of the highlights are listed below and you can download the full timeline (in either PowerPoint or PDF format) from the 'Resources' section.
1884 - Penny Bazaars sell basic food items, such as flour, spices and confectionery
M&S Penny Bazaar pre-1901
M&S Watford Café Bar 1930s
1948 - Self-service food shopping was introduced, and it completely revolutionised food retail spaces, with customers selecting their own food from open shelving
M&S Self-Service Leaflet 1948
1960s/1970s - Technology comes to the forefront, with fresh chilled chicken going on sale in newly installed chilled cabinets, and a range of frozen foods being developed
M&S Convenience Food 1974
1972 - 'Sell-by' dates added to food wrappers. These are adopted by other retailers and eventually become a legal requirement
1974 - Foil-wrapped, boil-in-the-bag, 'convenience foods' such as Ravioli, are introduced - a radical alternative to frozen or canned meals
M&S Ravioli Meal 1973
1993 - Percy Pigs launched (over one billion have now been sold)
M&S Percy Pig Sweets
2004 - The first 'this is not just food' television advert is aired, and one of the most iconic adverts from this campaign featured the Melt in the Middle Chocolate Pudding.
M&S Melting Middle Chocolate Pudding
Glossary
Confectionery - food items such as sweets, cakes and chocolates
Iconic - very famous or popular
Radical - very new and different from what is ordinary
Revolutionised - changed something in a big way
Revolutionised - changed something in a big way