Marks & Spencer has announced its return with the forecasted opening of a new store in the Andalusian city of Marbella

Eight years after departing Spanish mainland shores, retail giant Marks & Spencer has announced its return with the forecasted opening of a new store in the Andalusian city of Marbella.In 2001 M&S closed all of its Spanish stores save for the ever popular Gibraltar location due to the large British presence. The heavy expat population in the Costa del Sol has lead to the relaunch with the Marbella store set to open its doors next month.In 2001 the nine mainland outlets were bought by rival El Corte Ingles for around £150 million. At the time it was part of the company’s well publicised worldwide reduction in the wake of falling profits. The move sparked outrage in France and Belgium where the local workforce was sacked. The new 14,000 square foot £2.7m Marbella store is expected to lead to around 70 new jobs.M&S currently has over 300 overseas stores in addition to the near 700 in the UK.The usual range of homewares, baked treats, clothing and manchester will be sold at the La Canada mall location but unlike most UK branches the store will not feature fresh food due to the abundance of local produce markets.M&S also has branches in four locations across the Canary Islands, with one Tenerife and three in Gran Canaria.The opening represents an about turn on the company’s philosophy from a decade ago, where stiff competition from El Corte Ingles and a luke-warm reaction from Spaniards forcing the closure of operations. However, a successful rebranding in recent years and signs of an economic upturn has led M&S to decide the time is right to try again.