This new agreement sees the continuation of a highly successful and historic partnership between the two businesses, with the first year of the contract estimated to be worth circa £300m.

Gist will continue to provide daily food deliveries from their national network of regional distribution centres to M&S stores across the UK, Eire, France & the Netherlands. The agreement also sees an extension to Gist’s work in M&S’s primary logistics network – collecting M&S food products from suppliers and delivering to regional distribution centres – and delivery services to M&S’s expanding network of owned and franchised stores in Western Europe.

Steve Rowe, M&S Executive Director for Food said: “We’re proud of our long and successful partnership with Gist. Our supply network has helped us deliver market leading growth, delivering our customers fresh, innovative and special foods every single day. With more stores, new products and expansion in Europe, we’re growing and Gist will play a major role in helping us deliver our ambitious plans over the next 12 years”.

Martin Gwynn, CEO, Gist said: “We are delighted to be extending our partnership with Marks and Spencer to 2027. I would like to thank all of the people who have been involved over many years in making this relationship such a success; we greatly look forward to supporting the excellent M&S foods business into the future”.