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

 

1935 - Marks & Spencer Cafe Bars open in a selection of stores

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