Abstract
Marks and Spencer, a partnership formed in the late 1800s, is today one of the UK's leading retailers of clothing, food, home products and financial services. Employing 65,000 people, the company has 448 stores located throughout the UK, as well as a further 202 stores managed under franchise in 30 countries throughout the world (Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Far East). (Marks and Spencer, 2006). This report will be focused on Marks and Spencer and will try to analyze its success as well as its business environment, its strategy and its resources and capabilities.
On the one hand, this part will analyze the different factors which illustrate the achievement of M&S. The success of M&S can be exposed by several points: Firstly displayed by the fact that this company has existed since the end of 19th century; that shows the sustainability of this company. Nowadays, it can be considered among the biggest companies of the world.
Secondly, the number of stores opened since 1894 (the first) has considerably increased to reach almost 450 stores situated in UK and 202 stores worldwide (2007), including over 130 franchise businesses, operating in 30 countries. The UK market is the primary market of M&S, that is why this is where M&S is the most efficient. From the 1970s, M&S has adopted a market development strategy that includes open new stores all around the world., in beginning by
Europe.
Thirdly,by 1998, some companies had been suppliers to M&S for more than 100 years, and it is important to note than theses relations were based on trust and not on contracts. This shows the success of M&S with its suppliers.
