The starting point occurs when M&S selectors provide a brief for suppliers, comprising a range of ideas for research and development. Ideas originate from changing food tastes as evidenced by the increasing number of different types of restaurants from around the world or from food selectors spending time abroad examining alternative cuisine and dishes. Other opportunities are developed having identified local trends, as occurred in Scotland where M&S managers and supervisors noted there were products required by M&S customers which the company did not offer. Their research led to the development of the ‘Haggis, Neeps (turnip) and Tatties (potato)’, the traditional Burns supper as a national line. In the north-east of England they offer customers ‘Stottie Sandwiches’ (a savoury filled large bap) and in other areas, they offer food gift specifically developed for visitors to a region. Recently, the M&S food business has grown at a faster rate than its textile business. This growth has reflected changing shopping tastes and trends leading to them altering the balance of merchandise in departmental, town centre and edge of town stores.