Marks and Spencer plans to open two pilot Simply Food outlets at Moto’s Reading and Heston service areas on the M4.

The sites have not yet been secured, but talks with Compass, which operates the service areas, are in an advanced stage. One industry source said: “The Reading and Heston outlets would operate within existing Moto units.”

The launch of the test sites is believed to be scheduled for late Spring.

Compass is already M&S’s partner for Simply Food stores at four railway stations. The development comes as Marks and Spencer revealed it would extend the reach of Simply Food outside the London suburbs in the next three months.

It is to open new stores in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stowbridge, as part of a tranche of 14 sites which will bring its total Simply Food portfolio to 26.

Eleven of the new sites will be on the high street, the majority in the commuter belt of south-west London. Locations will include Fulham and Whitton.

Marks and Spencer also intends to open station outlets in Brighton, Watford and Glasgow, in partnership with Compass, by the end of March. This would bring its concourse estate to seven sites. It has also shortlisted 10 sites in Northern Ireland.