A brand new M&S foodhall will soon open its doors in West Lothian bringing 70 jobs with it.
The green light has been given to create the outlet at Stockbridge Retail Park in Linlithgow.
West Lothian Council approved the plans for the foodhall which will create 70 full and part time positions.
The outlet will be created at the Falkirk Road retail park where the Argos and Peacocks units used to be.
The company stressed that the proposal will not adversely affect the “vitality and viability” of the town centre. Rather the
majority of trade will be drawn from existing out-of-centre food stores.
M&S said it was shifting to focus on larger food-only outlets due to struggling over the years with its traditional store, not helped by the impact of the pandemic.
It said their foodhalls “provide a unique retail offer in UK retailing in that it provides a standard supermarket format but specialises in M&S own-branded goods aimed at the mid-upper grocery market.”
Adding: “The format has proved very successful to the extent that M&S has increasingly developed standalone foodstores previously branded as Simply Food to complement foodhalls in M&S general merchandising stores.”
Agents Ryden for M&S said in a supporting statement to planners: “The proposed M&S Foodhall will address a gap in provision in the Linlithgow area and will bring quality M&S food products closer to people living and/or working in and around the town.”
The Linlithgow store will also sell a limited range of non-food goods such as flowers, plants, stationery, and cards.
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