The store opened at 8am on Thursday, 16 July, at The Wharf Retail Park. Its arrival forms part of Marks & Spencer’s wider plan to invest in larger food stores designed to accommodate a full weekly shop, rather than smaller convenience-led visits.
The new branch has been laid out with wider fresh produce areas and sections operating at different temperatures for herbs, organic produce and fruit. It also includes a bakery, a cheese counter, a dedicated chicken shop, an upgraded beers, wines and spirits area, and a Mai Sushi kiosk preparing sushi, sashimi and hand-rolled dishes.
According to reports, the store has been designed with improved customer flow and more space across its main departments. The layout is intended to make the range easier to navigate while allowing the branch to carry more household staples alongside Marks & Spencer’s established food lines.
A Broader Offer for the Weekly Shop
The Godalming Foodhall stocks the full M&S Food range as well as all 175 products in the retailer’s expanded Remarksable Value selection. The range includes everyday items such as cereal, bread rolls, pork shoulder steaks and microwaveable rice.
The Sun reported that 29 additional products had been added to the value range before the store opened. These products are available alongside fresh food, frozen goods, bakery lines, pet food, flowers and horticultural items. The branch also contains a kitchen shop selling cookware, utensils, pots and pans. Children can use mini trolleys while accompanying adults around the store, a feature included as part of the branch’s family-focused design.
A coffee offer is available near the expanded bakery, while the dedicated hot chicken counter serves rotisserie products. The cheese area is presented on a central display, and fresh fruit and vegetables are arranged in a market-style section.
Alex Freudmann, managing director of M&S Food, said the Godalming site was an example of the modern, full-range Foodhalls the company plans to develop as it works towards doubling the size of its food business. He said the branch combined more space for a weekly shop with the retailer’s latest store design, allowing customers to buy a wider range of products in a single visit.
New Staff and Recent Store Investment
The opening has created a team of 80 employees at the Godalming branch. Store manager Amelia Holiwell said customers had responded positively on the first morning and that staff had worked to prepare the Foodhall for launch. She said the store brought together fresh produce, bakery products, family favourites, value lines and everyday essentials under one roof.
The Godalming opening followed other recent investment by Marks & Spencer. Earlier in the same week, the retailer reopened its refurbished flagship store on Oxford Street, where two floors were upgraded and new clothing services introduced.
According to The Sun, a 41,000 sq ft store in Weymouth, Dorset, also opened shortly before the Godalming launch. That branch includes a larger fashion department and an in-store bakery. The Godalming Foodhall is open from 8am until 9pm from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, it operates between 10am and 4pm.
