Marks and Spencer : NEW PODCAST TAKES LISTENERS BEHIND-THE-SCENES AT M&S

Presented by former LBC, ITN and BBC broadcaster Rachel Silver

Three, six-episode, series planned

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has launched a Podcast that goes behind-the-scenes at Britain's best loved retailer.

Interviewing M&S colleagues and guests from the world of business, government and campaign groups, it will tackle some of big issues facing business today, look at the history of the High Street and the ever-changing world of retail.

Series one takes a look at sustainable business and M&S' Plan A programme. A second series is planned later in the year looking at the history of the High Street, working with the M&S Archive based in Leeds, and a third series is in development. Each series will feature six episodes.

The first episode, 'The Cotton Challenge', is available to download and stream from today on iTunes and on the M&S website. It includes interviews with Mike Barry, Director of Plan A, and Lena Staafgard, Chief Operating Officer, at the Better Cotton Initiative.

Episode two will look back at 2013's Horsemeat Crisis and the impact it has had on beef traceability. M&S Director of Food Technology Paul Willgoss and Geoff Ogle, Chief Executive of Food Standards Scotland, feature.

Former broadcast journalist Rachel Silver, who previously worked at LBC, ITN and the BBC and is now in-house at M&S presents the Podcast.

She said: 'This is an exciting new step for M&S. We are inundated with requests for behind-the-scenes access and more information on the issues and campaigns we work on. The M&S Podcast is a great way to give a deeper insight to customers, shareholders, colleagues and journalists.

'For a communications professional, it is fascinating to see how the way we tell our stories is changing, from experts writing on our business blog, via our social channels or on Style and Living on M&S.com. The M&S Podcast adds another dimension to this and enables us to hear from people on what they do and their opinions on the issues at the heart of the business.'

The M&S Podcast, produced by specialist Podraffi, is available on the M&S corporate website - www.corporate.marksandspencer.com and iTunes.

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For further information, please contact:

Corporate Press Office

0208 718 1919

Podcast credits:

Hosted by Rachel Silver

Researched by Daniel Himsworth and Charlotte Allport

Original music: 'Blue' by Rose Betts (Vocalist) and Manon Dave (Producer)

Produced and edited by Kevin Fasusi (Podraffi)