Marks and Spencer plc

Marks and Spencer p.l.c., known as M&S, is a major British multinational retailer headquartered in London, England, selling clothing, beauty products, home products and food. It was founded in Leeds in 1884 by Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer, and in 1980 became the first British supermarket chain to sell packaged sandwiches, then in 1998 the first British retailer to report pre-tax profits above one billion pounds before a long decline in fortunes followed. The company has undergone significant restructuring in recent years, including more than 100 store closures announced in 2018 and roughly 7,000 job losses during the 2020 pandemic. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.