Marks & Spencer announced on 25 August 2026 that its partnership with Berlin‑based online fashion platform Zalando will now cover online order fulfilment in 22 European markets, from Germany and France to the Netherlands and Spain. The retailer expects the expanded arrangement to deliver faster deliveries, smoother returns and logistics cost reductions of up to 50%.
Background to the partnership
The collaboration was first disclosed in November 2025, when M&S said it would work with Zalando to improve its cross‑border e‑commerce reach. A pilot run in Poland was completed successfully in August 2026, giving both parties confidence to roll the model out more widely.
Marks & Spencer is a British retailer headquartered in Leeds, with a reported workforce of 85,813 employees and chief executive Stuart Rose (Wikidata). Zalando, founded in 2008, is based in Berlin and is led by chief executive Robert Gentz, employing 14,194 staff (Wikidata). Both headcounts are supplied as background figures and have not been independently verified against the latest company filings.
Expansion details and expected benefits
According to the German daily Handelsblatt, Zalando will “übernehme künftig die Abwicklung der Online‑Bestellungen von M&S in 22 europäischen Märkten” – in English, it will take over the processing of M&S online orders in 22 European markets. The expansion includes the continent’s largest e‑commerce markets: Germany, France, the Netherlands and Spain, among others.
"Zalando übernimmt künftig die Abwicklung der Online‑Bestellungen von M&S in 22 europäischen Märkten, teilte das Unternehmen am Dienstag mit." – Handelsblatt
M&S has said it hopes the deal will bring "schnellere Lieferungen und Retouren sowie eine Senkung der Logistikkosten um bis zu die Hälfte" – faster deliveries and returns and a logistics cost cut of up to half. The 50% figure is an expectation, not a realised outcome, and is presented by M&S as a target for the period following the expansion.
By handing order fulfilment to Zalando, M&S aims to tap the German platform’s extensive logistics network, which already serves millions of customers across Europe. The move is intended to strengthen M&S’s European online business, which the retailer described as a key growth engine after a difficult 2025/26 financial year.
Financial context and profit recovery
Handelsblatt reported that M&S recorded a 24% profit decline in the 2025/26 financial year, a drop linked to a cyber‑attack that disrupted operations in 2025. The retailer has signalled a forecast of returning to profit growth in May 2026, citing renewed momentum in international online demand as a catalyst.
The logistics cost‑saving target of up to 50% is therefore positioned as a lever to help reverse the 24% profit fall. While the exact monetary impact is not disclosed, the percentage figure provides a clear benchmark for internal cost‑efficiency goals.
Implications for the UK business
For UK‑based managers and investors, the expansion matters on two fronts. First, a lower logistics bill could improve the margin on M&S’s European e‑commerce sales, potentially freeing cash to reinvest in the UK store network or digital capabilities. Second, faster delivery and return processes may enhance the brand’s reputation with British shoppers who increasingly expect pan‑European service standards.
The partnership does not alter M&S’s domestic supply chain, but the cost savings are expected to be reflected in the group’s consolidated financial statements. Analysts will be watching the next quarterly report for any indication that the anticipated logistics efficiencies are materialising.
Open questions
- How quickly will the 50% logistics cost reduction be achieved? The target is framed as a post‑expansion expectation, but the timeline for realisation is not specified.
- What proportion of M&S’s total European online sales will be processed through Zalando? The packet confirms coverage of 22 markets but does not break down volume share.
- Will the partnership affect employment at M&S’s own European fulfilment centres? No comment on staffing changes is provided in the source material.
Until the next set of audited accounts, these questions remain unanswered. What is clear from the available evidence is that M&S is betting on Zalando’s logistics platform to deliver faster service and significant cost efficiencies as part of its broader recovery strategy.
M&S‑Zalando expansion at a glance
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Markets covered | 22 European markets incl. Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain | Handelsblatt |
| Expected logistics cost cut | Up to 50% | Handelsblatt |
| Expected benefits | Faster delivery and returns | Handelsblatt |
| Pilot market | Poland | Handelsblatt |
| Partnership first announced | November 2025 | Handelsblatt |
The table summarises the core elements of the deal as reported by Handelsblatt. No other source in the packet provides contradictory evidence.
As the partnership moves from pilot to full rollout, the next reporting window will reveal whether the anticipated logistics savings translate into measurable profit improvement for Marks & Spencer.