After a trial, M&S has decided to sell a limited number of (non competing) manufacturer brands in its UK stores.

At a time when own label (at least in Europe and North America) continues to grow and against a background of troubled economies, rising unemployment and more, this is a significant decision.

Whether this initiative would have taken place had M&S not had significant problems of its own, is debatable.

I’m just not sure whether it was Plan A or Plan B.