Marks & Spencer dishes up a varied course for local success

The staff at Marks and Spencer's new Beijing store were all smiles and helpfulness on Sunday afternoon-as they should be, only weeks after the flag-carrier of British retailing opened what is likely to become a crucial litmus test for its future here.

M&S's distinctive lettering lit up outside the 1,500 square meter site on Dec 18, in The Place, a top-end, CBD shopping mall.

The Beijing store features carefully edited collections for women, men and children, along with what it says are 1,200 food and drink items.