Quality cars, whisky, pop music... the list of famous British exports is undoubtedly a varied one. It might surprise you, however, to learn the name of the latest company to make a splash abroad.
The inauguration of the huge 1,400 square metre store comes ten years after M&S pulled out of Paris amid a collapse in profits in 2001. The company closed down all of its shops in Europe, sparking anger and even street protests among loyal shoppers
"It was so, so sad when the old stores closed," shopper François Marchives told The Guardian. "There was a social mania when it happened. Everyone loved the brand."
What, though, makes Marks and Spencer so popular? While the brand is respected in the UK for its variety of quality products (including its clothing and furniture ranges), its reputation as a supplier of traditional British food and drink is the major draw abroad.
Whilst British food culture may not be on a level with its French equivalent, those over the channel still crave certain specialities. Earl Grey tea and crumpets are old favourites, but other items were also in demand on Thursday: by 1pm, just 90 minutes after the official opening, the store had sold out of sausages and chocolate chip cookies.
The Guardian asked Veronique Lacombe, the store's French manager, whether M&S would pull out of Paris again if business failed to meet expectations. Her response? "You're kidding me. Never, ever, ever." M&S, it seems, is back in Paris for good.
