M&S to introduce LED lighting to all food stores within two years

All M&S Food Halls will have LED lighting within two years, the retailer pledged this week. 

LED lighting will be rolled out to 100 Simply Food stores and refrigeration unit LED lighting will be added at further 300 Food Halls and Simply Food stores. 

LED lights are “better for customers” as they create a direct focus on shelves and products, giving a better “visual experience” of stores, the retailer said.

Cost cutting also incentivised M&S to switch its lights, with energy reductions of around 20% in 12 trial stores “proving the business case for a roll out”, the retailer announced.

M&S is one of many companies supporting The Grocer’s Switch the Lights LED campaign, saying LED is central to achieving its Plan A sustainable business goals.

“LED lighting is one of the most important sustainability innovations in recent times,” said M&S head of Plan A & facilities management Munish Datta.

“We at M&S have some bold energy commitments in our Plan A programme, and LED lighting will play a key role towards fulfilling these.

“Lighting is one of the biggest contributors to any retailer’s energy output, so ensuring the environmental impact is minimised as much as possible is crucial. It is great to see The Grocer’s campaign showcasing the sustainability and business benefits LED can bring.”

The retailer is also smashing its other Plan A 2020 targets, which it set out in June.

Almost two-thirds (63%) of M&S products now have a Plan A attribute - an eco or ethical quality above the market average – the equates to two billion products sold annually and is ahead of its target of 50% of products by 2015.

“It’s been an exciting first six months for Plan A 2020,” said M&S director of Plan A Mike Barry.

“It is helping us stand up and take action on the sustainable retail challenges of today and tomorrow. Our products are becoming more sustainable, we’re testing new technology that could transform our future operations and we’re supporting causes that make a real difference to the future for our customers and the local communities we operate in.”