Marks & Spencer introduced the St Michael brand in 1928 for products meeting its quality standards.
The St Michael name combined the first name of co-founder Michael Marks with the name of his son Simon Marks. Marks & Spencer used it on clothing and food, turning the label into a familiar sign of the retailer’s own-brand merchandise. The company’s private-label strategy became central to its identity and supply relationships.
Marks & Spencer grew from a partnership between Michael Marks, a market trader, and Thomas Spencer, who joined him in 1894. Simon Marks later helped develop the business into a major British retailer, emphasizing consistent quality, clear pricing, and close control over products sold in its stores.
St Michael was gradually replaced by newer Marks & Spencer branding in the early twenty-first century. The label is still important in the company’s history, but it was not the name of a separate retailer. Marks & Spencer continues to sell clothing, food, and home-related products.