Marks & Spencer
British supermarket history
The story of Marks & Spencer
Michael Marks began trading in Leeds in 1884; Thomas Spencer joined in 1894. Penny bazaars evolved into a national clothing, homeware and food retailer. Food departments expanded during the 1930s.
Ownership and development
Marks & Spencer Group plc. Michael Marks began trading in Leeds in 1884; Thomas Spencer joined in 1894. Penny bazaars evolved into a national clothing, homeware and food retailer. Food departments expanded during the 1930s.
Branding through the years
Penny Bazaar gold shop lettering; St Michael trademark registered 1928 and phased out in 2000; later M&S identity and sub-brands including Autograph.
Historical milestones
- 1884 | Michael Marks begins trading
- 1894 | Marks and Spencer partnership
- 1928 | St Michael trademark registered
- 1931 | Food department introduced
- 2000 | St Michael phased out
Archive and image rights
Consult the linked historical source for further research. Archive images, logos and packaging should only be reproduced with suitable permission or a verified reuse licence.
Branding through the years
Historical images and clearly identified reconstructions.
M&S Simply Food, Earls Court Road, London, 31 January 2012
Archival photograph of the brand at this point in its history.
Image: Dirk Ingo Franke · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original source ↗Marks & Spencer premises on Orchard Street, London, photographed in 2017
Archival photograph of the brand at this point in its history.
Image: Jordiferrer · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original source ↗Historical image archive
Image: Jordiferrer · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original source ↗
Image: Dirk Ingo Franke · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Original source ↗
Brand timeline
Michael Marks begins trading
Marks and Spencer partnership
St Michael trademark registered
Food department introduced
St Michael phased out
Community memories
Personal recollections from visitors. These are not independently verified historical facts.
Be the first to share a memory of this brand.
Help preserve this brand's history
Share a memory or suggest a historical correction. All contributions are reviewed before publication.