British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) signs a new franchise agreement in the Philippines with PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk (MAP), an Indonesian retail group. The deal is intended to enable the reopening and relaunch of M&S stores and its online channels later this year. According to reports, M&S will distribute fashion, home, beauty and food products through the Philippine franchise arrangement. The franchise structure involves MAP’s Philippine operations, including Universal Fashion Philippines Inc, which is described as a MAP subsidiary, to support the relaunch.
The announcement follows separate developments in the Philippines’ retail market involving M&S’s previous partner. The Tantoco family-led specialty retailer SSI Group had said it would shut down all M&S stores in the country by May. With the new agreement in place, M&S aims to continue operating in the Philippines rather than exiting. The outlets describe the latest partnership as part of M&S’s broader approach to expand internationally through local franchise and distribution partners, while MAP is positioned as the operator to relaunch the brand’s offerings.
