FY028 Inquiry Project: Marks & Spencer Organic Food Trend Analysis

This report analyzes Marks & Spencer (M&S) within the context of the retail industry, focusing on organic food trends and business strategies. The report begins with an introduction to inquiry-based learning and then identifies current trends in the retail sector, such as the increasing demand for organic food, the rise of AI in customer-facing roles, self-driving deliveries, and the 'shop local' trend. It then provides an in-depth analysis of M&S, utilizing PESTLE and SWOT frameworks to assess its internal and external environments, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The report concludes with recommendations for M&S, including leveraging social media and AR-powered shopping experiences to enhance customer engagement and drive business growth. The recommendations aim to help M&S adapt to changing market dynamics and maintain a competitive edge.

Mark and Spencer - Organic Food
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION
Inquiry-based learning is based on the approach to learn that emphasizes the individual role
in the learning process. Instead of memorizing facts & materials, students learn by doing. It
allows them to build a strong knowledge through exploration, experience and discussion.
This report is based on the analysis of Marks & spencer in which identify the suitable trends
in retailer. It will discuss about the current trend of M&S in marketplace. Moreover, it will be
suggesting the suitable innovative idea in the business growth and development.
TASK
Trend in retailer
Retailer such as M&S is changing their business formats, store design and mode of
communication with potential customers. It is the best way to handle commercial dealings. M&S
is one of the leading enterprise which is always adopting new idea in their related to the organic
food items. Afterwards, it can be used modern technology for marketing, operation and other
business transactions.
In today’s era, there is place in different cities, location and areas that have become
congested, infrastructure has changed. In order to different speed of exchange of information
(Bocciarelli, D’Ambrogio and Durak, 2020). Because of Covid-19, it has been increasing the
demand of organic food so that M&S uses new modern technology to target the potential
consumers. in order to provide the organic food information through modern technology.
Significant rise in AI customer-facing in retail- The use of Artificial intelligence has
become consider as modern technology. It has been supported the retailing analytics which
ripening for age now. It may lead to large number of retailer depending on the advanced
analytics to recognise different kind of products and services. it must keep in stock in their M&S
stores. Nowadays, M&S has been trying to influence potential consumers while giving the better
options. A majority of M&S is putting their main focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) marketing
outreach to boost their consumer base. AI is helping M&S to recognise technology and also
enhanced to great extent and has been adding immense value in stores and other online vehicle of
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shopping. Generally, retailer is mainly focused on the one’s voices to search something online
and control any kind of device. It is the most commonly approach in which attracts potential
consumers. In this way, it is important for M&S to establish a dynamic infrastructure to cater to
these changing habits. In 2021, it may be expected to witness robots in the inventory
management occupying the shop floor.
Self-driving delivery and drone deliveries- In recently, it has been rapidly increasing
the demand of self-driving delivery at the time of covid-19. The exponential growth of M&S
identified in current scenario. It is one of great achievement in which expand their business
across global world. On the other hand, it has been shutting down of the considerable offline
stores across globe retailers that have discovered as innovative model of delivery services. Even
though online shopping significantly decrease because of the chance of coming in close contract
of people. It may have a chance to spread the virus from one person to another. In this way, this
kind of innovative trend will support for M&S while fulfilling all demand of customers. The
benefits of self-driving deliveries can reduce the risk of contamination leading to wide
acceptance of different new technologies.
The emerging ‘shop local’ trend in context of organic food demand- in most of cases,
some shoppers fearing to travel to large shopping malls, there are various kind of local shops
witnessed an upswing in their sales margin. The actual emerging trend is likely to continue
throughout 2021 and also beyond the significant offers such as organic food items (Brabbs and
et.al., 2019). At that time, the potential clients exist who tend to immensely support their local
service provider while producing a best quality of organic food at reasonable price or cost. In
some situation, consumer want to organic food item from independently owned business so that
M&S is always tried to the give better options, unique items. M&S is an independent retailer that
provide various kind of offers, discounts to the client. Moreover, it is also adopting new features
offered by large retailer to satisfy consumer need or requirement.
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Analysis of M&S
Marks and Spencer is based on the British multi-national retailer which is headquarter in
London, UK. This company was established in 1884 by Micheal Marks, opened physical stores
in the marketplace. In 1894 and in 1904, the owner of M&S has been opened their first shop in
Leeds. Company has been enjoyed customer base of 32 million and operates 1433 stores around
the world.
By using appropriate tool or framework such as SWOT and Pestle analysis, it can be
identified the internal and external environment condition of M&S.
Pestle Analysis- it is based on the framework in which analyse the brand on its business
tactics. M&S pestle analysis examine the various kind of external factors such as political,
economic, social technological, environmental and legal which impact on business capabilities. it
is one of the efficient framework which is imperative for retailer, as it helps to understand market
dynamics and improve overall performance.
Political- In this factor, it has been identified that M&S can utilise the benefits of large
EU market where its products can travel freely across different counties without any restrictions
such as taxes and tariffs. Due to covid-19, it has been rapidly increasing the price or cost of
items. Therefore, it is directly affecting on the potential consumers. M&S is also believed that it
is very important to work closely with government, interact with them to protect an
organisation’s legitimate interests (Elsotouhy, 2020). M&S has been affected by political
stability or taxes, if in case government increases taxes then that future increase price or cost of
items.
Economic- in order to increase the inflation rate of particular economy affect the way in
which M&S operating in that economy price. M&S has overall strategy which is aligned with
providing the best quality of product as well as service. Financial crisis, however increased to
reduce the actual demand for high quality items for M&S. this is because of low disposable
income in hand of clients. At the time of covid-19, M&S has been affected by crisis as company
had to make job cuts of 2%.
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Social- The owner of M&S has been wanted to expand their business in global world. In
order to keep up with changing trends in markets. M&S appeal to different market in context of
social class, demographics. It is major implications that needs to be handled the critical issue or
problem efficiently and effectively. Nowadays, it has been rapidly changing the demand,
preferences and need of client. So as, M&S is always trying to create latent trends in which
attract more consumers towards brand.
Technological- in this factor, it has been analysed that M&S has been announced modern
technology transformation programme that would enable the enterprise to become establish a
digitalization. In order to satisfy their potential consumers and fulfil their specific need or
requirement. M&S is generally focused on create agile, faster and commercial technology that
would result in growth of company (Mittal and Tolk, 2019). M&S would be exploring a new
modern technology including adoption of agile method in which gaining more profitability in
marketplace.
Legal- this kind of factor is ever changing the M&S retailer, where it continuously
conduct a proper training session for their employees in the workplace. Company has been
updated a health service so that every single year in order to conduct a proper regulations and
laws. At some point, M&S has been failed because of addressing issue which turned into blind
eyes. M&S has been implemented Health & safety Act 1974 in order to measure all establishing
standards regarding safety related.
Environmental- in context of M&S, The significant issues related to the climate condition
or situation. It has been promoted awareness among potential people by using television,
magazine and newspaper. Company would be focused on adopting the green policy in order to
reduce emission of waste materials. Therefore, it is always protected the entire environmental
condition.
SWOT Analysis- it is comprising of different factors which influencing the internal
analysis of M&S. SWOT analysis of M&S has been covered the strengths, weakness, threat and
opportunities of retailer (Shulman, 2020). In some situation, it puts client at the heart of all
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enterprise and hold 17% of UK market share in clothing. M&S has relies on the UK and always
increasing their revenue but due to covid-19, M&S has face a certain issue or problem.
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Strength
 M&S is offering in line with implementation of modern technology trends and increase
overall business profitability as well as productivity.
 M&S has a strong e-commerce infrastructure
 Company is highly effective CSR practices in which provide the equal opportunity for
their employees.
 M&S is strong focused on enhancing consumer experience.
Weakness
 In some situation, M&S has face a poor financial performance
 In context of M&S, there is too much reliance on UK markets which make it vulnerable
to current condition of market in recent times.
 M&S is always focused on the expanding their business china but it is failed.
Threat
 M&S is facing a high competition level and difficult to maintain or stable their position
in marketplace.
 It is very difficult for M&S to handle the specific demand of consumers.
Opportunities
 M&S has been made a plan to invest in Indian markets
 A strong online presence of M&S is increasing overall business profitable rate in
marketplace.
 M&S has gained a competitive advantage.
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Recommendation
It has been recommended that M&S needs to adopt the innovation and do some changes in
their business to achieve desirable goal or objective. in this way, M&S will be considerable some
kind of essential advice in order achieve business success.
Using a social media channel- it is one of the best online medium in which targeting the
potential consumers in marketplace. Especially in the time of covid-19, where decline the actual
sales rate in marketplace. Social Commerce is one of the native shopping experience, offers
shoppers an even more seamless way to shop online. In 2020, M&S has been introduced a new
product and service in Facebook. Therefore, seller can create collection of features items, modify
the best look of their shop with the help of image, colour (van den and Cramp, 2018). For
Example- Facebook is becoming consider an excellent platform in which directly influence
different consumers. It efforts to create a personalised shopping experience for users in “shop”
destination of smart application.
AR- powered Shopping experience- it is another kind of suggestion to the M&S where they
can use machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI). In most of cases, the potential consumers
are argumented to be listed and virtual reality as the top technologies. It is seeking to assist the
people on daily basis. in order to measure that 50% client they would be use AR technology for
assessing items. Marks and Spencer is continuously relying on the shopping at the time of covid-
19. Retailer leverage AR technology in which built a bridge gap between physical existence and
digitalization (Wilshaw, Fowler and Wallace, 2021). For Example- M&S has been using this
technique and targeting all kind of AR shopping experiences. this will help for increasing the
demand of M&S in marketplace. Each and every consumers are attracting towards product as
well as service.
On the basis of two recommendations, it has been summarised that adoption of modern
technologies inspire or motivate individual people to attract potential consumers. This is main
reason for business to achieve their desirable goal or objective. An effective innovative idea is
always supporting the retailer where they can find the best solution and easily fulfil all essential
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demand of client. Discussion on the technology which means that examine appropriate trends
adopted by M&S.
CONCLUSION
From above discussion, it has been concluded that Inquiry-based learning focus on the
analysis of M&S as largest retailer in marketplace. On the basis of analysis, it has been identified
the importance of individual role in the learning process. Instead of memorizing facts &
materials about the selected M&S retailer. In this report, analysis of Marks & spencer in which
identify the suitable trends in retailer. It can be identified the current trend of M&S in
marketplace. Moreover, it has been suggested the innovative idea in the business growth and
development.
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REFERENCES
Book and Journals
Bocciarelli, P., D’Ambrogio, A. and Durak, U., 2020, December. ArTIC-M&S: An Architecture
for Tosca-Based Inter-Cloud Modeling and Simulation. In 2020 Winter Simulation
Conference (WSC) (pp. 2018-2029). IEEE.
Brabbs, J. and et.al., 2019. M&S as the key enabler for autonomy development, acquisition and
testing. In Proceedings of the Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology
Symposium (pp. 13-15).
Elsotouhy, M.M., 2020. Changing Customer Behavior in Sustainable Fashion Industry.
In Circular Economy and Re-Commerce in the Fashion Industry (pp. 31-39). IGI Global.
Mittal, S. and Tolk, A. eds., 2019. Complexity challenges in cyber physical systems: Using
modeling and simulation (M&S) to support intelligence, adaptation and autonomy. John
Wiley & Sons.
Shulman, A., 2020. Clothes... and other things that matter: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A beguiling and revealing memoir from the former Editor of British Vogue. Hachette UK.
van den Berg, T.W. and Cramp, A., 2018. Container orchestration environments for M&S.
In 2018 Winter Simulation Innovation Workshop, SIW 2018, 2018 Winter Simulation
Innovation Workshop, SIW 2018, 21 January 2018 through 26 January 2018. SISO-
Simulation Interoperability Standards Organization.
Wilshaw, R., Fowler, P. and Wallace, B., 2021. Working in Marks and Spencer's Food and
Footwear Supply Chains.
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