Marks & Spencer says it is investing in refrigeration equipment designed to operate in temperatures up to 45C after stores faced disruption during the UK’s June heatwave. At the retailer’s annual meeting in London, chief executive Stuart Machin tells shareholders the business struggled during nine days of extreme heat. Multiple outlets report that fridges in some stores and foodhalls broke down during the period, affecting the retailer’s ability to keep products chilled and, in some cases, contributing to extra supply efforts such as ordering more ice cream to meet customer demand.
The investment is presented as a response to the specific conditions of the heatwave and to expectations that higher temperatures could become more frequent. Sources agree that the new refrigeration is intended to reduce breakdown risk and improve resilience in hotter weather. The reports frame the move as part of M&S’s operational planning for climate-related impacts on retail food storage and continuity.
