Festive Boost: Gerry Armstrong Helps Open Enhanced M&S Foodhall in Craigavon

Craigavon recently welcomed a significant upgrade to its retail landscape with the official opening of the newly expanded M&S Foodhall at Marlborough Retail Park. Just in time for the festive season on November 30, 2025, the ribbon was proudly cut by none other than Belfast-born footballing legend, Gerry Armstrong, marking a new chapter for the popular store.

The transformed Foodhall is now double its previous size, spanning an impressive 15,300 sq ft. Shoppers can look forward to a stunning new market-style layout that showcases the full, exceptional range of M&S Food. This major investment has also delivered a welcome boost to the local economy, creating over 35 new roles and expanding the dedicated Craigavon team to a total of up to 100 colleagues.

Customers will be delighted by the mouth-watering aromas from the expanded in-store bakery, offering an extended selection of freshly baked breads, artisanal pastries, and sweet treats daily. A brand-new takeaway coffee bar is ready to serve favourite hot drinks, while wine enthusiasts will appreciate the refreshed M&S Wine Shop, stocked with collections perfect for any occasion. The Foodhall is also brimming with Christmas favourites, including party essentials like Snowman Bao Buns and Pigs in Blankets, alongside the acclaimed Big Mix Tin selection.

The opening day was a truly festive affair, with the Just Sing Choir from Portadown performing to welcome customers. M&S's Best Ever Mince Pies, supplied by local producer Genesis Bakery, were handed out, and the first 400 customers received special tote bags. Adding to the excitement, an ITV filming crew was on site, capturing footage for this year’s 'Inside M&S' documentary, set to air in December on ITVX. Craigavon holds the distinction of being the first M&S store outside of England to be featured in the programme, offering viewers a unique behind-the-scenes look at the store’s Christmas preparations.

Gerry Armstrong, a true Northern Ireland football icon famous for his winning goal against Spain in the 1982 World Cup, highlighted M&S’s commitment to healthy eating through the M&S Food and Irish FA Eat Well, Play Well partnership. He commented, “It was a pleasure to open the renewed M&S Foodhall here in Craigavon. The atmosphere this morning shows just how much a transformation like this means to the local community. The creation of new local jobs, along with a better place to shop, is great to see, especially as we come closer to Christmas. I’m particularly delighted to see the store’s focus on the M&S Eat Well, Play Well initiative, promoting delicious and nutritious food – something that is vital for everyone, especially athletes.”

Ashley O’Reilly, Store Manager at M&S Craigavon, shared her excitement: “Today is a really special milestone for the whole team. We’ve been working away behind the scenes for many months, so it’s wonderful to finally open the doors, just in time for Christmas, and share the completed new Foodhall with our customers. Having Gerry here made the morning even more special for all of us. We’re so grateful to our customers for their patience and encouragement throughout the expansion. We can’t wait for them to experience the new space, and we hope they’ll tune into Inside M&S in December to spot a few local faces on screen.”