Copyright dailyrecord
M&S has announced plans to pull out of Kilmarnock town centre next year. The major retailer is proposing to open a multi-million pound superstore at Queen's Drive Retail Park, presumably at the former B&M unit. The news is a hammer-blow for the town centre which has struggled to retain retailers in a challenging financial climate. M&S bosses say the new store will have a 62.5 per cent bigger food hall and an 'improved shopping environment'. Retail chiefs say that as soon as the new store opens in Winter 2026, the existing King Street unit will close for good. David Anderson, M&S Regional Manager, said: “Customer shopping habits are changing, and we’re adapting by rotating our store estate to ensure we have the right stores with the right space to deliver an excellent shopping experience for our customers. We’re proud to announce a multi million pound investment in relocating our Kilmarnock store to Queens Drive Retail Park, creating a modern 14,860 sq ft store with a 62.5% larger foodhall and an improved, accessible shopping environment. Once the new store opens in winter 2026, our existing King Street store will close. We are offering our colleagues alternative roles at the new store and in the wider area, and in the meantime, we look forward to continuing to serve the people of Kilmarnock.”
