M&S Expands Sustainable Food Strategy Through Launch of Advanced Vertical Farming Products

M&S Expands Sustainable Food Strategy Through Launch of Advanced Vertical Farming Products

(IN BRIEF) Marks and Spencer has launched three vertically farmed salad leaf products grown using advanced indoor farming technology that uses significantly less water and fertiliser than conventional agriculture. Developed in partnership with Planet Farms, the salads are grown in controlled environments using robotics and UV lighting, allowing the products to remain fresh for up to five days longer than standard packaged salads. The launch supports M&S’s wider sustainability and net-zero strategy under its Plan A for Farming initiative.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 15-May-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Marks and Spencer has introduced a new range of vertically farmed salad leaves to stores across the UK, marking a significant expansion of the retailer’s investment in innovative and lower-impact food production methods.

The new products, launched under the M&S Food range, are grown using indoor vertical farming systems that rely on advanced robotics, controlled growing environments and highly efficient water and nutrient management technologies. According to the company, the production method uses up to 96% less water and approximately 97% less fertiliser than conventional field-grown salad crops while eliminating the need for pesticides.

The launch includes three exclusive salad varieties available only through M&S Food stores: Citrus Sorrel Baby Leaves, Spicy Baby Leaves and Baby Garlic Kale. The retailer says the products are designed to deliver stronger flavour profiles, longer shelf life and greater consistency in quality compared with traditionally grown salad products.

The leaves are cultivated in fully controlled indoor environments where temperature, lighting and humidity are carefully managed throughout the growing cycle. Instead of soil, the crops are grown using specialised substrates that allow nutrients and water to be delivered directly to plant roots with greater precision and efficiency.

Robotic systems are used to plant and manage the crops, while UV lighting helps maintain optimal growing conditions year-round regardless of seasonal weather variations. Because the leaves are harvested in a clean environment without soil contamination, the products do not require washing before consumption.

M&S said the controlled harvesting and rapid packaging process helps extend freshness significantly. The leaves are packed within 60 seconds of harvest, allowing the salads to remain fresh for up to five days longer than the average packaged salad product. The retailer believes this could also help reduce household food waste by extending usable shelf life for consumers.

Andrew Clappen said the initiative reflects the retailer’s broader effort to explore new food production methods capable of reducing environmental pressures while maintaining high standards for flavour and quality. He added that the vertically farmed salads also support the company’s Plan A sustainability strategy, including its target to achieve net-zero emissions across its supply chain by 2040.

The products were developed in collaboration with Planet Farms, a specialist vertical farming business focused on controlled-environment agriculture technologies. Daniele Benatoff described the launch as a major milestone for vertically farmed fresh produce in the UK and Ireland and highlighted the years of development work carried out jointly with M&S.

The retailer said the vertically farmed range forms part of its wider Plan A for Farming programme, a five-year sustainability initiative launched to encourage more environmentally responsible food production practices. Alongside investment in new technologies such as vertical farming, M&S is also working with conventional growers on regenerative agriculture initiatives focused on improving soil health, increasing biodiversity and reducing environmental impact.

These measures include reduced tillage techniques, the planting of cover crops and herbal leys, and the expansion of hedgerows and tree planting on farmland.

The launch comes amid growing interest in vertical farming technologies globally as retailers and food producers seek alternatives capable of improving resource efficiency, reducing water usage and strengthening resilience against climate-related disruptions in traditional agriculture.

ENDS 
Notes to editors 
*M&S Collective panel of over 40k M&S Customers, n = >1,000, November 2024

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SOURCE: Marks and Spencer