Around half of the new stores will be 2,000 sq ft and operated with one of M&S’s existing franchise partners in convenience locations such as motorway service areas, train stations, hospitals, petrol station forecourts  and airports.

The other new stores will be M&S-owned, high street and retail park stores between 10 – 15,000 sq ft in size.

The expansion plan will more than double the number of Simply Food stores M&S currently opens each year.

Steve Rowe, Executive Director of Food said: “Today, we are confirming plans to extend our unique Food offer to even more UK customers by opening c.150 new Simply Food stores in areas where we are currently significantly under represented.

“This franchise and owned expansion offers us an opportunity to continue to grow our customer base and business, building on the progress we have already made.”