Marks & Spencer has launched its partnership with ZEOS, Zalando’s B2B logistics business, which will see it fulfil M&S’ entire online direct-to-consumer business across 22 markets in continental Europe.
The move comes as M&S continues to see momentum in its international online business, driven by growing demand for its fashion offer.
The partnership is helping to accelerate M&S’ online channel growth across Europe, while strengthening its ability to scale its online business efficiently. It is also reducing logistics costs by up to half, a key priority as M&S seeks to drive global growth.
This year, direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales have continued to increase, reflecting the continued appeal of M&S’ trusted combination of style, quality and value.
Having initially announced the partnership in November last year, the roll-out began earlier this month with a trial in Poland.
Following its success, with customer demand in Poland increasing by 22% and conversion improving by more than 97% in the first week, the partnership has now expanded across Europe to include M&S’ largest online markets of France, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain.
The partnership is also helping M&S deliver a faster, simpler and more localised online shopping experience for customers across Europe. By leveraging ZEOS’ extensive fulfilment network and a single stock pool, delivery times have been reduced, while delivery costs have fallen by up to 58%.
Additionally, returns processing has also improved significantly, with return times reduced from up to 35 days to just eight days, helping products get back on sale faster and improving availability for customers.
Mark Lemming, Managing Director of International at M&S, said: “We have a clear ambition to grow our International business by bringing the best of M&S to more customers around the world. As demand for our fashion products grows across Europe, it’s vital that we offer a seamless online shopping experience that matches the quality of our product.
“By partnering with ZEOS, we’re able to improve speed, availability and service for customers, while creating a more efficient and scalable platform to support our future growth in Europe.”
M&S’ ambition is to build a global omnichannel business through simple, scalable and capital-light operating models, “enabled by strategic partnerships and best-in-class expertise”.
M&S first partnered with Zalando Fulfilment Solutions (ZFS) in 2022 to support marketplace sales across Europe, fulfilling orders placed through Zalando, About You and Amazon.
Last week saw M&S launch a new fashion partnership with luxury streetwear label Aries, consisting of a 26-piece men’s and women’s collection that reworks M&S’ historic St Michael label following renewed interest on social media and resale platforms.
The collection blends the heritage of the St Michael label with modern streetwear, pulling from the label’s archive – including its crests, angel motif, Penny Bazaar imagery and iconic Spencer Bear – alongside Aries’ signature codes, including gothic lettering, Ionic columns, Roman coins and the brand’s Temple logo.
This month has also seen US denim giant Levi’s join the ‘Brands at M&S’ line-up, with its latest men’s and women’s collections now available on the M&S website, initially targeting customers across the UK and Ireland.