Marks & Spencer is pulling the plug on its Hong Kong & Macau stores
In a bold move to sharpen its focus on the British market, Marks & Spencer (M&S) has sold all its retail outlets in Hong Kong and Macau to franchise partner Al‑Futtaim. The deal was signed early this year and wraps up a larger plan to tighten the company’s international footprint.
The handover in a nutshell
- Al‑Futtaim already runs 72 M&S stores across 11 Asian and Middle‑Eastern markets. Adding the 27 Hong Kong & Macau shops gives them a robust pan‑region presence.
- Deals closed on 30 December, bringing the transaction to a complete finish.
- M&S is effectively “selling the door” to non‑UK markets to concentrate on its core British shelves.
Why are they stepping back?
Back in November 2016, M&S carried out a strategic review that laid out a plan to trim roughly 80+ stores both at home and abroad. The company also flagged its intent to expand through joint ventures and franchise partnerships, hoping to keep the brand alive while streamlining operations.
With this sale, M&S is giving the green light to its franchise partners, letting them run the overseas outlets, while the parent company concentrates on what it does best – bringing quality home groceries and fashion to Brits.
