M&S arm Kings know how to tug at the hearts of New Jersey's affluent commuters with a pastoral appeal as Clive Beddall reports Take the Lincoln Tunnel from midtown Manhattan, go north into New Jersey's Bergen County, and amid the tranquil avenues of Midland Park township (population 2,500) you'll find an outpost of the Marks & Spencer empire. A 30,000 sq ft supermarket which last year became the 25th in the Kings Super Markets chain, at first glance only the discreet presence of St Michael teabags gives the shopper a hint of its Baker Street parentage. Yet it has become a retailing Mecca as UK executives make unscheduled stops before flying home from the Big Apple. Dominant fresh food sections, with their subtle colours and farm shop' pine barrelled merchandising reflect a classic US country convenience offering but which is probably more Waitrose than M&S as we know it. Gleaming station wagons filled with a mum, 2.3 children, two labradors and a granny pull up alongside more genteel convertibles containing affluent native New Yorkers who have migrated there to live out their years. Store manager Donna Goldstein proudly reveals the store was in profit in its first year, despite its proximity to a brasher A&P superstore. Last September, M&S put Kings up for sale. In the event, there were no takers, despite rumours that Tesco was among the first to show an interest. In its last annual review, M&S said Kings had performed well, with operating profits up 5% on a 52 week basis and the result ahead of plan. But the company was unable to obtain a price for the sale of the chain which reflected this performance, so it is retaining it and will continue its organic growth. Meanwhile, curious UK grocery executives continue to rub shoulders with the locals. {{FEATURES }}