M&S Sales Surge 24% in Q3 Despite Fashion, Home & Beauty Setbacks

Marks&Spencer reports an upward third quarter, with sales boosted by the Christmas campaign. The department store group posted sales of 4,993 million pounds ($6.7 billion) in the three months to December 27th, up 24.2% on the same period last year.

However, the fashion, home and beauty category posted sales of 1,273 million pounds ($1.71 billion), a decline of 2.5% in total sales and 2.9% in comparable sales.

M&S CEO Stuart Machin said the fashion, home and beauty category is “getting back to normal” as it “moves into the final phase of recovery.“ He acknowledges that, with sales down, “online performance continues to improve.“ Machin expects 2026 to see sales growth.

M&S CEO expects group sales growth in 2026

International sales, meanwhile, advanced slightly to 158 million pounds ($213 million), up 0.9%.

M&S says it has managed to register a record number of customers, driven by the food category. As for the fall in fashion, the company has argued that it is a reflection of “reduced traffic on the high street” and the “long-term impact on data and inventory management” due to the cyber-attack it suffered early last year.

In this regard, early last year the British operator announced the appointment of John Lyttle, former CEO of Boohoo, as the new CEO of the group’s clothing, home and beauty division with the aim of strengthening it.

Looking ahead to 2026, M&S plans to accelerate its “reshaping strategy” against a backdrop of “uncertainty” in terms of consumer behavior.

Marks&Spencer closed the 2024 financial year with 3.5% growth, exceeding €5 million in turnover.