The campaign will run throughout the summer across TV, OOH, social media & video channels.

M&S Irish berries, Mushrooms, Sourdough bread, Lamb and its 100% traceable Irish beef among products to be featured.

M&S has launched its 2024 ‘Farm to Foodhall’ campaign, fronted by chef and M&S Food Ambassador Mark Moriarty. The campaign is the second iteration of Farm to Foodhall following its success in 2023.

The campaign will run across Irish broadcast, digital and OOH channels from April to September and will feature five Irish suppliers as Mark visits them to explore the lengths they go to, to deliver the highest quality M&S Irish produce, all the way from farm to Foodhall.

The campaign aims to highlight what makes M&S produce special in terms of quality and value, offering the very best of Irish food to customers.

Throughout the multimedia campaign, TV, digital and OOH ads will showcase Mark meeting with the M&S Irish producers behind the retailer’s top quality, 100% traceable Irish beef and Lamb, delicious fresh strawberries, instore freshly baked San Francisco Sourdough and enriched vitamin D and B6 Chestnut mushrooms.

The campaign kicks off the first phase today with Mark visiting M&S’ Irish berries supplier to learn how that great quality, fresh strawberries are specially picked using a specific technique that involves twisting them from the stem. The team on the farm look at the deep red colour and size before deciding whether or not the produce is M&S ready. The farm encourages a natural eco system in their greenhouses and use bees to pollinate the fruit for extra freshness and great taste.

This campaign further showcases M&S’ commitment to using Irish suppliers and expanding upon its existing range of products sourced from Ireland. Whether it’s top-quality premium meats from Irish farms, dairy products like artisan cheeses, or fresh fruits and vegetables grown on Irish soil customers can enjoy the best of what Ireland has to offer sourced to highest quality standards of M&S.

Customers will see the Farm to Foodhall campaign across TV, social, OOH, emails and in store.

Laura Harper, Trading Director at M&S Ireland, said: “I am delighted to introduce our second Farm to Foodhall campaign, which continues to champion the brilliant work of our Irish suppliers. At M&S, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional quality and value to our customers and for years, we’ve worked with a diverse family of outstanding farmers and producers across Ireland, with shared values of quality, sustainability, and community.”

Mark Moriarty added: “I am delighted to be partnering with Marks & Spencer for their Farm to Foodhall campaign again this year and to have another opportunity to visit producers across Ireland and find out about how ensure they highest quality of their produce. By prioritising sustainability and responsible sourcing, we can make a positive impact on our communities and the environment. I look forward to working with Marks & Spencer to promote these values and inspire customers to embrace high-quality Irish ingredients.”

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Working with Harper Adams University’s School of Sustainable Food and Farming, Farm of the Future will seek ways to rapidly decarbonise and maximise wildlife and habitat creation and will also provide the opportunity to identify where system change may be required, all within the context of continuing to produce the high-quality food for which M&S is known.

Linden Foods has been supplying M&S with beef and lamb since 1997, sourced from 1,200 farms across Northern Ireland and recently developed a unique integrated Wagyu offering for the M&S supply chain.

Trevor, whose 300 acre mixed farm supplies Linden Food and M&S, sees joining the Farm of the Future Programme as a great opportunity to make changes on his farm and get ahead of the some of the challenges the industry is currently facing.

“This is something the whole supply chain has to embrace, and I’m looking forward to working with M&S and receiving their direct support,” he comments. “Schemes and policies here in Northern Ireland are taking a while to get off the ground, so through this programme, I hope we can take the initiative and get a head start in transforming our farm into something that is better for the environment.”

Family-owned Skea Egg Farms, based in Dungannon, started to supply M&S in 1997 in just seven stores. Today, the business supplies M&S stores across the UK and Ireland.

As a Skea supplier, Kingsley’s Egg enterprise, which spans 16,000 free range hens and 17,000 organic hens across eight barns, felt the effects of the climate crisis. So as the Country Tyrone farmer explained, he feels taking steps to be more sustainable is more important than ever:  “I have always had a keen interest in looking into innovative ways to reduce my carbon footprint.”

“I feel that every year reducing my carbon footprint is vital no matter how big or small the changes I make; it can have a massive impact on the environment both locally and globally.

Head of Agriculture & Fisheries at M&S Food, Steve McLean, said: “As part of our sustainability action plan ‘Plan A’, we have committed to reducing our carbon footprint to net zero by 2040. Over 70% of the emissions of our food business come from primary agriculture, particularly the livestock and ruminant sectors, so it is clear this needs real focus.

“We recognise the challenges this brings on farm, and the need to continue to produce affordable, high-quality food from sustainable supply chain relationships. We are committed to helping our M&S Select Farmers navigate these challenges, and this new initiative will enable us to support innovative approaches on seven of our M&S Select Farms, with the findings being shared across our whole supply base and the wider industry to help drive real change.

“We are committed to collaborating with our M&S Select Farmers, our suppliers and with Harper Adams’ School of Sustainable Food and Farming and look forward to working with Trevor and Kingsley to deliver this exciting project. We are confident that this collaborative approach will deliver a step-change in the industry’s approach to decarbonising food production.”

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Applegreen, one of Ireland’s leading roadside retailers, is creating more than 80 new jobs with an investment of €10 million in a new service area at the Clondrinagh Roundabout in Limerick.

The new location will provide a fully operational service-station forecourt and bring several exciting brands to Clondrinagh, including M&S Food, Braeburn Coffee, Subway and a Bakewell deli. It will also boast a stand-alone Burger King Drive Thru restaurant.

The new service area at Clondrinagh will be Applegreen’s fourth location in Co Limerick and its thirtieth in Munster. The Clondrinagh service area will be open 24/7, 7 days a week, with the onsite restaurants open from 11am-11pm.

Through Applegreen’s partnership with M&S Food, the new Applegreen at Clondrinagh will feature Irish customers’ favourite M&S Food ranges, including fresh fruit, salads, Irish sandwiches, great quality fresh flowers, and convenient lunch and dinner options. M&S treats, such as Percy Pig sweets, M&S cookies, and Colin the Caterpillar cakes, will also be available, and the new store will also feature a Click & Collect service for selected M&S Clothing and Home product ranges.

Clondrinagh is Applegreen’s eighth location for its highly successful partnership with M&S Food. Up to 15 additional M&S Food at Applegreen “shop-in-shop” stores are planned the open by the end of this year, rising to 60 over the next decade.

Applegreen’s exclusive partnership with M&S Food complements the company’s leading roadside proposition in the Irish market and brings the M&S Food range to a much wider Irish customer base.

Applegreen Ireland Managing Director Fiona Matthews said: “The opening of the new Applegreen Clondrinagh service area is a landmark occasion for us and we are excited to bring Applegreen and our retail partners to the local area, thus creating over 80 new jobs. The award-winning M&S Food range is now available in Limerick for the first time, thanks to our innovative partnership and we know already that customers are very keen to sample the extensive range of M&S Food products available. This is really exciting for local customers and since we began our roll-out of partnership stores with M&S last year, we have seen a very positive customer reaction to the new range.

The new service area will also offer the local community a new stand-alone Burger King Drive Thru & Subway restaurant, Braeburn Coffee and Bakewell deli. On top of all this, there will be ample space for customers on site, including the very popular children’s play area and we really look forward to welcoming people from today.”

Applegreen is one of Ireland’s leading retail brands. It opened its first service station in Ballyfermot in 1992, and now operates almost 200 locations in the Irish market. Applegreen also has a significant business overseas, with operations in Britain and the United States, and a total of 620 locations and more than 700 branded food offers across its global network.

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Set to open its doors to the public at 9am on Tuesday 30 January 2024, the state-of-the-art renewal store will see M&S become a flagship retailer in Coleraine’s Riverside Retail Park.

The store represents a significant investment by M&S and will create 30 new jobs in the area.

The new foodhall will span more than 11,500 sq ft and offer a fresh ‘market-feel’ shopping experience as well as thousands of new product lines. Customers will be able to take advantage of the store’s Scan and Shop facilities, have the chance to ‘pick their own eggs’, check out the in- store cheese barge and wine shop with tasting station, and head to the in-store bakery for a selection of fresh breads and pastries baked throughout the day. For the first time, the Coleraine store will also feature a full beers, wine and spirits department.

For junior shoppers, the new store will also offer the new popular ‘Colin World’ feature where they can discover the latest range based on everyone’s favourite cake.

M&S Coleraine will also offer the full range of M&S Clothing and Home products via its Collect in Store service where customers can order online at M&S.com and enjoy quick collections and hassle-free returns seven days a week.

Kieran McCauley, M&S Coleraine Store Manager, has worked at M&S for nearly 29 years in various senior roles. He said: “We are delighted to be bringing a brand-new M&S shopping experience to Coleraine. The store is an exciting investment in the future of M&S in in the area and I can’t wait for our customers to explore all the new features that the store has to offer.”

“I know how much our colleagues are looking forward to launching the new foodhall and serving our customers and the wider local community in our brand-new store. The launch promises to be a great day and we’re encouraging everyone to pop down and join in the fun.”

The store, located at Units 12 and 13, Riverside Retail Park, Coleraine, BT51 3QQ will be open:

• Monday-Friday: 0800 – 2100
• Saturday:  0800 – 2000
• Sunday: 1300 – 1800

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A particular Christmas hotspot in the region is the Lisburn store at Sprucefield Shopping Complex as it is looking to fill 82 vacancies. The retailer is looking for new Customer Assistants to support the store teams as they look to deliver a great shopping experience for customers and ensure millions of people get their all-important festive essentials and treats on time.

The roles are part of a UK-wide recruitment drive targeting 10,000 people and a great opportunity for those who are looking for flexible work in the lead up to Christmas. As well as temporary positions, there are a number of permanent roles available too.

Phil Wiltshire, Store Manager at M&S Lisburn, said: “Our fantastic store colleagues play a vital part in making the customer experience magical across all M&S stores and this year is no different. We are recruiting more colleagues to ensure there is always someone on hand to offer support and recommendations.

“It’s always exciting to add new faces to our family and we are delighted to get the recruitment process underway for this year’s festive season. We have many members of our team who started on a Christmas contract and have built a career at M&S, which demonstrates the opportunities working for M&S can bring.

“With a range of roles and flexible working patterns available, anyone who is interested in being part of something special this Christmas should visit our careers website to apply.”

To apply, applicants should visit M&S Christmas: M&S Careers (marksandspencer.com) where roles are now live and new vacancies being added all the time.

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