Marks & Spencer is set to refresh its energy offering in an ambitious bid to challenge the UK’s Big 6 gas and electricity providers.
From September 29, the retail giant’s new strategic partnership with Octopus Energy will see it supply energy to households under the M&S brand.
The launch of M&S Energy comes just a week after the retailer split with SSE, its previous partner of nine years.
READ MORE:
Customers who had M&S Energy through SSE will be offered the choice to stick with the energy giant or move over to a new Octopus tariff.
M&S said the new offering aims to “challenge the Big 6” – which consist of British Gas, SSE, EDF, Npower, E.On and ScottishPower.
The retailer also wants to disrupt the traditional energy market, starting with a rejection of the “punitive tease-and-squeeze pricing” model, which sees longer term consumers subsidising cheaper rates for new customers.
In its place, M&S and Octopus intend to use a transparent price model and a digitally-focused service.
Launched in 2016, Octopus Energy has more than 200,000 customers and is backed by private equity firm Octopus Capital.
M&S Energy boss Jonathan Hazeldine said: “As we continue to transform M&S, we have chosen Octopus as a new strategic partner for M&S Energy.
“Octopus’ values of responsible and transparent pricing and digital-first customer service mirror our ambitions for the business.
“Together, we can challenge the traditional energy market and bring green energy to millions of households at a competitive and fair price.”
The new partnership forms part of M&S’s radical five-year turnaround scheme, which aims to reduce costs by £350 million.
The scheme, launched in November 2016, has so far been painful thanks to an acceleration of store closures, job cuts and a deceleration of its Simply Food expansion.
At the M&S AGM last week, chairman Archie Normal and chief executive Steve Rowe hinted that there could be further store closures and job cuts.
Meanwhile earlier this week, it was revealed that M&S was planning to axe 351 manager roles.
Click here to sign up to Retail Gazette‘s free daily email newsletter
