RetailDisappointing UK sales for a third quarter in a row will not affect Marks & Spencer's expansion plans in this country, and the retail chain is continuing to look at sites with a view to opening new Irish stores.

A spokesperson confirmed that their market share here was "very good" and that the group would "definitely not" be closing any of its Republic of Ireland outlets.

While Marks & Spencer does not release either figures or details of specific store performances in the Republic, recent and near future openings indicate a lively market share. Early in August the company opened a Simply Food store in Dún Laoghaire and will open another on Clarion Quay, in Dublin's IFSC, in November. A Simply Food store is scheduled to open in Naas on December 28th and a full Marks & Spencer outlet is planned for the new Dundrum shopping centre in the spring of 2005.

Marks & Spencer's recent sales performance in the UK indicated a drop in growth in the group's food operations. The company blamed this year's long hot summer, saying it effected sales of both clothing and food. Although sales growth slowed down markedly from the first quarter, M&S chief executive Roger Holmes said the group had not lost market share. He admitted, however, that M&S showed no signs of meeting his self-imposed target of taking market share from its rivals.

The hot summer weather, according to Holmes, had a twofold effect in that it made selling early season autumn merchandise difficult while creating ideal marketing conditions for supermarkets offering one-stop shopping bargains in products like beer, branded soft drinks and barbeque foods. M&S sales of children's wear and homeware goods are also down.