Gen: Impact - Xav’s story

I didn’t come from a typical food background, but my degree was really numbers-focused, and those analytical skills have been a huge help on this programme. As much as you need to love food, you also have to be confident with numbers because so much of the role is about balancing availability, waste, cost and sales. I first joined M&S on a summer internship in the Process Optimisation team, working with suppliers to make their operations more efficient. I enjoyed it so much that when the opportunity came up, I went for the Food Business Graduate Programme.

Why M&S? For me it was simple, it’s the best retailer out there. Everyone knows and loves the products, and the business is always innovating and leading the way on quality and value. I knew I wanted to be part of that and contribute to the business’s future success. I spoke to a few M&S colleagues before I applied who told me about the culture here: it’s fast paced with a real focus on high performance and that really appealed to me as my first job after uni.

On the Food Business Graduate Programme, it’s all about the business of food, making sure that the products customers love are available at the right time, in the right place, and at the right price. The programme is very different to our Food Technology and Food Product & Marketing pathways, which focus more on the development and . On this scheme, you rotate through areas like Supply Chain, Trading, and Space, Range & Display (SRD) before specialising in a specific business area at the end.

All colleagues who join M&S start by working in store. For my first 4 months, I worked at Stratford City which is one of our largest full line stores in London. It definitely wasn’t easy. Working in store is labour intensive and completely different to university life but I learnt so much. During my placement, I worked across the store in almost every role and department. Getting this broad experience gave me a real appreciation for how every decision made in the support centre, big or small, ultimately affects the customer. Working in store was the most challenging part of the programme for me but it was also the most rewarding. That experience has shaped and informed every decision I’ve made on the programme ever since, keeping the impact on the customer and colleagues in mind.

My first rotation in the Food business was in supply chain as a Supply Demand Planner. My job was to balance waste and availability, making sure customers had the products they wanted, while reducing food waste and cost. It’s a constant juggling act, because shelf life of food is short and you’re dealing with variables like weather and seasonal events.

Next, I moved into Trading, working as a Buyer in soft drinks and juices. That role is a bridge between suppliers and M&S, and it comes with a huge amount of responsibility. I’ve worked on contracts and tenders, helped improve recipes, managed supplier relationships, and even launched my own promotional campaign to achieve more competitive pricing for customers. To have that level of exposure and impact this early in my career has been incredible.

My next rotation will be SRD, which is about how products appear in stores, looking at shelf space, location and formats to maximise sales and give customers the best choice. It’s the final stage before a product reaches the customer, so it’s really important. The great thing about the rotational structure of the Food Business Graduate programme is that it helps you figure out what you love and where you want to go next.

If I had to sum up the culture here, I’d say it’s fast paced, ever evolving and really collaborative. There are loads of opportunities but also a lot of challenges, so you have to be adaptable, a quick problem solver and a fast thinker. The thing that unites everyone is a love for food and it’s why we’re all here. Even in the busiest and most demanding periods, like Christmas, that passion keeps you going. The Early Careers team and my managers have been brilliant at making sure I have what I need, and colleagues across the business are always happy to help. Your colleagues genuinely want you to succeed and you can feel that every day.

My advice to anyone thinking about applying? Make sure that it’s going to be right for you, then go for it. Be honest with yourself and with us, understand what drives you and how it connects to M&S values. Do your research, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to put yourself forward. This is a fast-paced programme, the expectations are high, but the opportunities and the support make it worth it. I never imagined I’d be doing this, and I can honestly say I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Learn more about the M&S Early Careers programmes here.