As the retailer celebrated 40 years of business in the province, Neil Hyslop, its divisional executive in Ireland, revealed the London-based company is aiming to add to its 17 stores here.

"Plans are well under way for further development in the province," he said.

Mr Hyslop did not elaborate, but M&S previously revealed it is aiming to bring its Simply Food format to several towns across Northern Ireland where it currently does not have a presence.

The company, which now employs nearly 2,000 people here, opened its first Ulster store in Belfast's Donegall Place in September 1967.

"I think our 40th anniversary is a fantastic opportunity to say a huge thank you to our customers and staff and to celebrate the marvellous relationships we have with them," the divisional executive said.

He said both customers and staff have had a remarkable influence on the company's business development in Northern Ireland.

Mr Hyslop also said M&S had demonstrated its commitment to Northern Ireland through a continuous and extensive investment and development programme over the last 40 years.

In the past couple of years it has spent over £75m on revamp and development projects, including the opening of a new store at Abbeycentre in September 2006, the launch of a dedicated Home store and table service restaurant at Sprucefield, a remodel of the Foyleside store in Londonderry and the launch of a Simply Food outlet at Boucher Road in Belfast.

And just last week it unveiled a redesign and extension at its Belfast city centre store.

Mr Hyslop also noted that M&S has developed longstanding relationships with a number of Ulster suppliers over the past four decades. And the likes of O'Kane Poultry, Avondale Foods and RHM Bakeries have been working alongside M&S since the opening of the Belfast store in 1967.