Ocado - what do you buy?

[KenAdams]

After lockdown I'll move from Ocado, but for now I need the regular delivery slots I'm offered so I'll have to stay.

I'm really struggling to find something to buy every week. Because the M&S range is so ready meal heavy, things to make actual meals from aren't in abundance and are often out of stock. For example I wanted a bit of pork shoulder this week and it was either Ocado (OOO) or Packington for over 3 times the price. When they had Waitrose at least you'd get a few more options.

Can you tell me of anything that you but regularly from Ocado please that's half decent and am I missing any M&S gems? All I've discovered so far is their pizza.

In the same boat! I have yet to find anything where I think the M&S version is superior to Waitrose - in some cases it’s far poorer! And I often find Ocado branded is poor quality (esp fruit and veg). I’m sure there’s all sorts of supply chain issues at the moment but finding a lot of regular purchases out of stock this week.

Agree I’m missing the choice that was available with Waitrose.

The odd ready meal from M&S or easy to prepare will be Toad in the Hole, Gammon shanks, Duck legs, Steak lasagne, Soy and Ginger salmon. There’s a £10 pack of salmon with four pieces.

The Crosta&Mollica italian breads are nice too. The glass jars of Brindisi chickpeas and lentils make for a very easy stew.

With some veg/salad/potatoes it’s easy to throw a meal together with their ready to cook options. Look under ‘ready to prepare’ and the Gastropub options.

The stock levels are frustrating but it's better if you do your order a couple of weeks in advance. I think the items are then 'reserved' for you.

I miss Waitrose too.

I also miss Waitrose but there are some more independent brand on there that I like. The organic whole chicken from The Thoughtful Producer is amazing when they have it. Otherwise Daylesford Organic stuff is usually good.

I also like the M&S red cabbage and Bramley apple, and their easy peeler clementines with leaves are some of the best we've had.

The Pasta Evangelist stuff is quick and easy but tasty. Celtic Bakers stuff also good.

Not of any help at all, but I am glad to hear it is not just us that are disappointed with Ocado since since they teamed up with M&S. we really miss the selection they used to carry and will definitely stop our pass once the pandemic is over.

Something else I’ve noticed as well is my weekly shop has gone up by a third.
There’s just me and DS at home and I could frequently do a shop for just over the £40 minimum spend with Waitrose’s basics range. Now I’m lucky if I can get it under £60 and as others have said the M&S range is far inferior to Waitrose’s. The three for £10 meat selection is pitiful.
I’ll probably cancel my pass once the pandemic is over too tbh.

Same here (although we actually don’t mind paying for the Packingtons pork as it’s extremely good quality) but I’m struggling with missing a range of items to choose from otherwise.

Waitrose slots all gone however so until that improves we are a bit stuck.

Another biding time until the pandemic is over to cancel my delivery pass.

I’ve noticed that many of the own brand Ocado products have disappeared too - such as frozen peas. I don’t want to have to buy birds eye or M&S, which are much more than Waitrose or Ocado peas.

Yes I'll be ditching ocado once it's safe to go out again. The Christmas slots fiasco of not being offered to regular slot/smart pass customers first, really pissed me off.

I like the packs of boneless chicken thighs from M&S. I get lots of those for curries etc.

They are now saying they want to be more like a 'normal' supermarket, so it might get better, but have you looked to see if any local butchers or farm shops are doing deliveries if you want things like pork shoulder, especially if you can buy larger quantities for the freezer.

Thanks for your suggestions everyone, keep them coming! I haven't seen any nutchers delivering around here. The local one is open but I'm trying not to go into shops at the moment if I can avoid it.

I like the kebab sticks - not sure on the brand, not M&S or Ocado though.

I really like the world foods section & buy Irish & Swedish stuff that I love.

I actually signed up because of M&S as I prefer it to Waitrose. I usually shop in M&S, Sainsbury's & a bit from Lidl/Aldi. Always found Waitrose very overrated, however the M&S stock on Ocado isn't as good as my local shop.

The select farms M&S chickens are nice and reasonably priced (£4.75 I think?) , also the M&S remarkable cheese is a great price. Other than that I'm struggling for meals too!

I mostly use Ocado for branded stuff, I don’t find the M&S range great either. I love the Garofalo pasta and the Biona and Mr Organic ranges. Valsoia tiramisu ice cream is amazing, Booja booja is also good.
I also second Crosta & Mollica mentioned by a PP - I get the wholemeal flatbreads and pizza bases regularly and sometimes the toasting bread. Sainsbury’s also stocks those though so not a reason to stick with Ocado per se.

We gave up on Ocado shortly after they changed to M&S. Not enough variety, things often out of stock and short dates. I emailed them about the stock levels and they assured me everything was in stock. Clearly not.

Very little since M&S
Just found out that if you pay more than £5.99 and order less than 2 a month you can get a partial pass refund which I am requesting

We are happy to refund your account for the previous month if:

you did not receive a delivery in the previous month.
OR

you pay more than £5.99 a month for your Smart Pass and had one or no deliveries in the previous month.

I have moved back to Morrisons- I used to have both but hone Morrisons moved from Ocado to store deliveries it wants great but seems more sorted now

Most M&S food is over processed junk.

@Lovelydovey

Another biding time until the pandemic is over to cancel my delivery pass.

I’ve noticed that many of the own brand Ocado products have disappeared too - such as frozen peas. I don’t want to have to buy birds eye or M&S, which are much more than Waitrose or Ocado peas.

There is a national pea shortage alongside cauliflowers, broccoli and iceberg lettuce

I’ve started doing gousto boxes for meals and then just getting basics from Ocado. Really recommend the boxes

I've been with Ocado for about 7 years and have barely noticed the switch over. Apart from being happy I can now have M&S fruit delivered because it's the absolute best.

Another biding time until the pandemic is over to cancel my delivery pass
Me too
Started getting veg from Oddbox because everything has such a short shelf life
Ocado had got so boring now, so little choice, stuff that used to be on 3 for£10 now full price. So many brands no longer available or limited and more expensive.

I am loving m and s stuff - the only thing I miss is the waitrose value loo paper, thats much better quality than m and s version.

I much prefer m and s meat as well, had lots of stir fries, buy chicken and make katsu curry, or beef and make it up like normal!

I used to buy mostly Waitrose stuff so have now given up on Ocado. M&S is OK for ready meals, but everything else is overpriced if you want to actually cook, and no better than any other supermarket. As for fruit, I buy loads of summer fruits, and our local Aldi is better quality, tastes better and is half the price of our local M&S food store.

I'm in the same boat. Miss waitrose so much. Don't like the quality either from M&S