Marks & Spencer (M&S) has struck a major new partnership with Australian supermarket giant Coles, marking the first time M&S Food products have been sold in bricks-and-mortar stores in the country.

The tie-up revealed today (17 November) forms part of M&S’s strategy to build a global omnichannel business, using franchise and wholesale partners in established international markets.

From Wednesday (19 November), Coles stores nationwide will stock a selection of M&S Food favourites, including Percy Pig and Colin the Caterpillar confectionery, Scottish shortbread and Luxury Gold Tea.

A broader assortment will be available via Coles’ online channels and its Melbourne and Sydney Customer Fulfilment Centres.

Meanwhile, the high street retailer said the range will scale to more than 200 SKUs next year, including seasonal products such as the viral Original Very Moreish Munch Tin, expected to sell more than one million units in the UK this Christmas.

The move follows the rollout of M&S Fashion in Australia earlier this year through department store chain David Jones, and the rapid growth of M&S Food in the US, where Target now sells more than 50,000 bags of Percy Pigs each week.

According to M&S, brand awareness already reaches more than half of the Australian population, with the retailer inundated with social media requests to bring its best-known lines, in particular Percy Pig, to the market.

M&S international marketing director Mark Lemming said the move reflected the strong momentum in the core Food business: “With consistent growth in Food in the UK business and strong brand momentum as the UK’s most trusted retailer there is now so much opportunity for us to grow our business globally… we’re delighted to partner with one of Australia’s leading supermarkets, Coles, a partner that shares our values of quality food at a trusted value.”

Coles chief commercial officer Anna Croft said the collaboration would give customers “even more reasons to choose Coles for their holiday shopping”, highlighting strong alignment between the two companies.

Elsewhere, the high street retailer also confirmed today (17 November) that non-executive director Ronan Dunne will leave the Board on 1 December.

According to M&S, Dunne departs after several years of service during which he contributed expertise in people, technology and large-scale transformation.

Chairman Archie Norman said: “Ronan has been a great colleague and member of the M&S Board over the past few years. He has brought professionalism and energy as well as experience of people and technological transformation.

“He has always had a passion for early stage businesses and tells me that is where he wants to spend his time. So he goes with our best wishes and will always remain a member of the M&S family.”

Dunne said the time was right to step back as the company’s “Reshaping for Growth” strategy moves into its next phase.

“It has been a pleasure to be part of the M&S Board and support the Reshaping for Growth strategy,” he said.

“Now, as the strategy enters the next phase, it’s the right time for me to step back. It also means I can devote more time to supporting early stage growth businesses, which I’m passionate about, while continuing to cheer the M&S team on from the sidelines.”

M&S, which last week revealed it had appointed British Airways chairman and chief executive officer Sean Doyle to the board as a non-executive, said no further updates to Board composition were being announced at this stage.

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