M&S Simply Food goes LED

Lux reports: Marks & Spencer is introducing LED lighting to all its food halls over the next two years, the retailer announced this week.100 M&S Simply Food stores will be lit by LED throughout, and a further 300 food halls and Simply Food stores will get LED lights in refrigerators. M&S announced its LED rollout in an update on its ‘Plan A’ environmental and CSR strategy. The report said: 'LED lighting is more energy efficient and longer lasting than more traditional forms of lighting. It is better for customers, directly focusing light on shelves and products to give a better visual experience.’ LED is described in the report as a key element of M&S’s strategy to meet its Plan A energy-efficiency commitments to reduce energy usage by 35 per cent by 2015 and 50 per cent by 2020. Mike Barry, director of Plan A at M&S, said: ‘Our products are becoming more sustainable, we’re testing new technology that could transform our future operations and we’re supporting causes that make a real difference to the future for our customers and the local communities we operate in.’ Earlier this year, Balfour Beatty Engineering Services announced that it had been hired to replace T5 ribbon wall light fittings with Philips LEDs in over 170 of its shops. Steven Palmer, project manager at Balfour Beatty, said: ‘The new LED lighting is expected to make a significant impact in helping to reduce Marks & Spencer’s non-merchandise lighting costs. The specification of Philips’ long-life, low-energy lighting systems represents significant cost savings for each store.’ LED lighting was first trialled at the M&S eco-store in Ecclesall Road, Sheffield back in 2011 – one of the first shops in the UK to use the technology. It has since been trialled in 12 other stores. In the trial stores, energy consumption was reduced by around 20 per cent. Novel Energy Lighting provides LED lighting solutions for retail and trade. We can supply lighting designs, supply, install, and commission LED projects, leading to energy savings of up to 80%. Visit us today, or call to discuss your needs: 0208-540-8287