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1.0 Introduction
1.1 Company background
Marks & Spencer plc (known also as M&S, Your M&S and sometimes colloquially as Marks and Sparks, Marks or Marks's) is a British retailer, with several branches outside of the UK. It is one of the most widely recognised chain stores in the UK and is the largest clothing retailer in the UK, as well as being a multi-billion pound food retailer. Most of its shops sell both of these categories. It also has a third line of business selling homewares such as bedlinen, but this is far smaller than the other two. In 1998 it became the first British retailer to make a profit before tax of over £1 billion. though a few years later it plunged into a crisis which lasted for several years. As of 2007 it is growing again, and rapidly increasing profitability, but it is now less than one quarter of the size of the UK's largest and most profitable retailer, Tesco.
Leading standards wherever we trade epitomises the Marks & Spencer approach to both the way we serve our customers and the way we run our business.
As one of the UK's leading retailers, we have annual sales in excess of £8 billion. We employ more than 60,000 people worldwide, operate more than 450 stores in 30 countries, and serve tens of millions of customers every week.
1.2 Our Vision
To be the standard against which all others are measured.
1.3 Our Mission
To make aspirational quality accessible to all.
1.4 Our Values
Quality, value, service, innovation and trust.
Whether we're working at home or abroad, within our own stores or in partnership with our franchisees, our Vision, Mission and Values remain the same. Ensuring we meet our customers' needs wi ...