Marks & Spencer appoints AF Blakemore & Son as wholesale partner

(Sharecast News) - Marks & Spencer said on Tuesday that it has appointed AF Blakemore & Son, one of the UK's largest family-owned businesses, as its new primary wholesale partner for third party branded products. The new strategic partnership, which is part of the retailer's 'Reshape for Growth' strategy, will help deliver "a more consistent and reliable shopping experience for customers as M&S continues its journey to become a shopping list retailer," it said.

Blakemore will deliver directly to M&S' regional distribution network with a new seven day a week service "ensuring freshness and exceptional quality".

Alex Freudmann, managing director at M&S Food, said: "We are thrilled to be backing another British family business, working with A.F Blakemore & Son as our new, trusted wholesale partner. Blakemore will be providing an improved wholesale solution with a full seven days a week service that will increase availability for our stores and customers.

"As we reshape our business for growth and focus on improving availability and efficiency, choosing the right, trusted partners who can deliver on that is key."

The new deal brings to an end Marks & Spencer's 15-year partnership with Booker.