Marks & Spencer is preparing for a Philippine comeback, and this time, the British retailer is returning with a new regional engine behind it.
After disappearing from local malls earlier this year, M&S is set to reenter the market before the end of 2026 through a new franchise arrangement that places its Philippine business under the wider Southeast Asian retail network of PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk, or MAP Group.
For Filipino shoppers, that means the familiar M&S mix of everyday fashion, lingerie, home pieces, beauty products, pantry treats, teas, biscuits, and ready-to-gift food items is expected to make its way back to shelves and screens later this year.
The first store under the new setup is planned for Glorietta in Makati City before yearend, with e-commerce channels also expected to go live around the same time. The Philippine operations will be handled by Universal Fashion Philippines Inc.
The relaunch marks a quick return for the brand following the closure of all M&S stores in the country last May 2, after the end of its nearly four-decade partnership with SSI Group Inc. The move initially sparked questions about whether the British nameplate had exited the Philippine market for good.
As it turns out, M&S was not saying goodbye. It was changing hands.
The brand is now shifting to a broader regional franchise model, tapping MAP Group’s long experience with M&S in Indonesia and Vietnam. MAP has been managing the brand in those markets for more than 26 years, giving M&S an established platform as it rebuilds its presence in the Philippines.
“We know there is strong demand for the M&S brand in the Philippines, and we are excited to reopen our stores and online channels later this year,” said Mark Lemming, Managing Director of M&S International.
The return also fits into M&S’ international strategy of expanding through franchise partners, a lighter operating model that allows the company to grow without directly carrying the full weight of local store operations. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
For MAP Group, the Philippines adds another market to an already large retail portfolio. As of March 2026, the company operated more than 4,000 retail locations across 80 cities in Indonesia and handled more than 150 international brands.
“Taking over the M&S business in the Philippines marks an important milestone for MAP Fashion,” said Sameer Prasad, Chief Executive Officer of MAP Fashion. “The Philippines is an exciting and fast-growing market, and Manila is the ideal place to begin this next chapter.”
MAP is not arriving cold. It has already built a Philippine presence through Digimap, its Apple-authorized reseller business under Mapple Philippines Inc., and through the local rollout of Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister.
The choice of Glorietta as the first stop is strategic. The Makati mall remains one of Metro Manila’s most visible shopping destinations, making it a fitting stage for a brand trying to reconnect with longtime customers while courting a new generation of shoppers.
For loyal fans, the comeback is less about novelty than reunion. M&S has long occupied a particular corner of the Filipino shopping routine: practical wardrobe staples, quietly polished basics, reliable gifts, and the sort of snacks that turn a quick mall visit into an accidental grocery run.
By yearend, that routine is expected to return.