M&S: From Farm to Foodhall - Celebrating British Agriculture

M&S sought to create an immersive activation stand at three of the UK’s premier agricultural shows to showcase British farming, highlight supplier partnerships, and reinforce its commitment to quality and provenance. The goal was to engage visitors and differentiate M&S in the retail market, placing the key message “For Us, It’s Never Just Food” at the centre of the experience.

Challenge

M&S tasked us with delivering a cohesive experience across three distinct events while maintaining consistency in brand messaging. The key message - “For us, it’s never just food,” was to be at the centre of every interaction.  The design needed to reflect M&S’s premium retail feel while also being adaptable for different venues.  

Solution

TBA developed a stand design that mirrored the freshness and quality of M&S stores, integrating interactive elements and farm stories that communicated the M&S difference. The activation was tailored to ensure both consumers and farmers felt valued and engaged, with distinct messaging for each audience. Interactive spaces featured fun activities for families, while kitchen demonstrations highlighted the quality and provenance of M&S food. The experience was enhanced with digital tools to track footfall, engage visitors, and measure the effectiveness of key brand messages.

The Results

14,000

Percy Pig Backpacks given away

£55,000

(+24% YoY) Balmoral Show

84

Kitchen demos

Sales Impact

£98,000

(+6% YoY) Royal Highland Show

9,500

Activity sheets completed

£91,000

(+8% YoY) Royal Welsh Show

85,000+

Vistors to the 3 stands

The M&S campaign successfully combined innovative design, engaging activities, and precise creative to tell M&S’s farm-to-foodhall story, reinforcing its brand values and driving tangible results. This wasn’t just any agricultural show; this was M&S bringing its unique narrative to life.