M&S supply chain transformation supported by consultants from TMX
Marks & Spencer is launching plans for an overhauled £340 million food supply chain. Supply chain consultancy TMX Transform is partnering with the retailer on the project.
Major British multinational retailer Marks & Spencer specialises in selling clothing, home products and food products, mostly of its own label. It has also often stood out for its customer service and offering of premium products – even in the lockdown period.
Amid sustained supply chain challenges, and mounting geopolitical tension in 2025, however, the historic store has decided to reinforce its services by further modernising its supply chain. This will include the development of one of the UK’s largest automated National Distribution Centre’s (NDC).
The 1.3 million square-foot NDC at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) is the largest ever investment in M&S supply chain to support growth ambitions. The £340 million facility will serve as M&S’s primary food distribution hub, directly supplying over 200 stores and two additional regional distribution centres (RDCs), covering even more stores across the UK. A state-of-the-art tri-temperature facility will meanwhile handle thousands of live SKUs and products, managing frozen, ambient and chilled food products through fully automated case and tray picking solutions.
To undertake such a landmark transformation, M&S sought additional external expertise. Global supply chain consultancy TMX Transform has partnered with Marks & Spencer (M&S) on the project, leveraging TMX Transform’s experience in large-scale automated distribution solutions, building on successful implementations for other global retailers.
The project with the TMX team has included a number of key achievements, according to a release from the firm. TMX said it has driven “an industry-leading automation solution benchmarking and vendor selection process, setting a new standard in operational innovation,” while also positioning M&S for “operational safety and efficiency, driving store-friendly delivery and enhanced supply chain performance.”
During the process, M&S also achieved BREEAM "Excellent" status. This was realised at the hub by powering sustainability through solar, electric fleet readiness, hydrogen fuel capability, and direct rail freight access, placing the facility in the top 1% globally for environmental building innovation.
"We’re proud to have supported M&S throughout this transformational journey," said Alvin Fernandes, global director, programme and transformation management at TMX Transform. "We’ve partnered with M&S from the initial network strategy development to detailed design assurance and contract execution. When you’re making investments of this magnitude, our role is to provide the confidence and risk mitigation that comes from extensive global experience across complex supply chain transformations. This facility will enable M&S to enhance safety for their workforce, improve efficiency across their distribution network, and deliver better service to their stores and customers."
