Marks & Spencer has acknowledged that its stores struggled to cope during last month's record-breaking heatwave, with fridges breaking down in some locations. Chief executive Stuart Machin told shareholders at the annual general meeting in London that the retailer is now investing in new equipment capable of handling temperatures of up to 45C.
Fridge Failures During Extreme Heat
Machin stated: “There’s no doubt we were struggling in those nine days of extreme heat. Now we’re investing in equipment in our stores to deal with temperatures of 45C. We’re reviewing all our refrigeration as well.” The June heatwave saw temperatures reach a new high of 37.7C, surpassing the previous June record from 1976. Supermarkets across the UK experienced similar fridge issues during the hot spell.
Future Temperature Projections
The Met Office has warned that the risk of extreme heat is rising due to climate change. Last year, it indicated a 50:50 chance that temperatures could hit 40C within 12 years. A “plausible” forecast for June 2056 suggested peaks of 45C in England, following the first recorded 40C in the UK in 2022. Machin noted that temperatures could rise to 45C or even higher in the future, prompting M&S to prepare accordingly.
Pay Dispute at AGM
At the AGM, shareholder activists from ShareAction, representing 14 institutional investors, urged M&S to reinstate pay in line with the real living wage. M&S increased retail staff wages by at least 6.4% from April 1, to £13.41 an hour nationwide and £14.74 in London. While this is above the UK-wide national minimum wage of £12.71, it falls short of the real living wage—a voluntary benchmark based on the cost of living—which currently stands at £13.45 an hour in the UK and £14.80 in London.
