Marks & Spencer has announced it is taking action across its food stores to cope with extreme heat of up to 45C, after struggling during last month's searing temperatures. Chief executive Stuart Machin told shareholders at the chain's annual general meeting in London that fridges in some stores and foodhalls broke down because of the recent heatwave.
Investment in New Equipment
Machin said the group is reviewing its refrigeration and investing in new equipment to deal with even higher temperatures in the future. "There's no doubt we were struggling in those nine days of extreme heat," he stated. "Now we're investing in equipment in our stores to deal with temperatures of 45C. We're reviewing all our refrigeration as well."
Wider Industry Impact
Food stores and supermarkets across the country faced fridge issues during the June heatwave, when temperatures reached a new high of 37.7C, beating the previous June record from 1976. It is forecast that temperatures could rise to 45C or even higher in the future.
Climate Change Context
The Met Office warned last year there was a 50:50 chance temperatures could soar to 40C in the next 12 years, as the risk of extreme heat rises with climate change. Far higher temperatures of 45C or more "may be possible" in today's climate. The Met Office also announced a "plausible" forecast for a heatwave in June 2056 showing peaks of 45C in England, after the UK hit 40C for the first time on record in 2022.
