Organic targets trimmed as M&S “recalibrates” Plan A

Marks & Spencer is scaling back some of its organic produce targets, reports Marketing Week.

The high street retailer says it has been forced to review its plans to triple the amount of organic food it sells in light of falling sales over the past three years. As with other major food retailers M&S has seen organic sales fall back to 2005-6 levels — the baseline on which the growth targets were set.

The organic expansion plan formed part of M&S’s bold Plan A sustainability strategy. While the retailer says it is on course to meet most of its Plan A targets it has been forced to “recalibrate” in certain areas, including organic.

A spokesperson told Marketing Week: “It is a very different world in 2011 compared to when it (Plan A) was drawn up.