From specialty food and beverages to fine perfumes and outerwear, Marks & Spencer (M&S) has become an icon when it comes to premium items in the Philippines. Ideal for gifts or for anyone who appreciates a touch of luxury, the experience that the M&S brand has given to the Filipino market has made it stand out for many years.
However, on February 25, 2026, the SSI Group officially announced that it would cease its store operations in the country and had its final operations on May 2. According to reports, the shift in consumer taste and other market factors are some of the reasons that impact the financial health of the business, leading its management to pull out its stores from the country.
Shortly after, M&S announced it would reopen through a new franchise partnership with PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk (MAP)—the leading lifestyle retailer in Indonesia. MAP’s proven track record and deep local expertise in driving M&S’s growth in Indonesia gave the brand the confidence to pursue this partnership as it pushes its growth ambitions across Southeast Asia.
According to Mark Lemming, Managing Director of M&S International, the Philippines remains a market with strong demand for the M&S brand, and despite the current challenges, MAP Fashion CEO Sameer Prasad views the Philippines as an exciting and fast-growing market, with Manila serving as the ideal starting point for M&S’s new chapter in the country.
This suggests that the brand’s pullout was only temporary, and the Philippines — one of the countries where M&S has operated since 1984, is still part of their long-term plans. For M&S fans, your favorite finds are on their way back. The new M&S store is set to open later this year at Glorietta in Makati City.
Stay tuned for more details!