M&Co to reopen 50 stores over two years

AK Retail Holdings is reportedly set to reopen roughly 50 M&Co stores over the next two years, with a number of sites to reopen as early as this autumn, Drapers has reported. 

The retail group, which also owns Yours Clothing BadRhino, PixieGirl, and Long Tall Sally, said that the first store openings mark “a significant milestone in M&Co’s journey to revive the brand”. 

According to the group, final negotiations for stores are also currently underway and it will release exact locations in the coming weeks. 

News of the fashion retailer’s store reopenings come after it announced the launch of a new website on 21 June 2022, followed by an app. 

The new online platform will first launch to include a range of womenswear products including curve and petite collections, with other product categories to be added “in the near future”. 

In addition, M&Co collapsed into administration in December 2022 after increased pressure on cash flows and trading losses. 

AK Retail Holdings bought the brand and intellectual property of the collapsed retailer for an undisclosed sum in February. However, it did not purchase M&Co’s 170-store estate, which closed its doors this April.

Andrew Killingsworth, CEO of AK Retail, said: “We are truly excited about this acquisition and the opportunity to restore the M&Co brand. M&Co has an incredible heritage and a loyal customer following, and our goal is to honour that legacy by providing an unparalleled shopping experience while preserving the brand’s identity.

“We are committed to bringing M&Co back to the high streets across the country. Our focus is on delivering quality, trend-led and affordable products to our valued customers, as well as providing exceptional service and an enjoyable shopping experience both online and offline. We are confident that our revitalisation efforts will make M&Co a go-to destination once again.”