Is M&S food getting crapper?

[InsertSomethingMotivationalHere]

I don't shop regularly at m and s but there are certain things I really do like, such as posh dogs, and we do do a full shop every couple of months when feeling rich.
We've noticed a few bits that just seem to not be as good as they were and are quite poor, despite the fancily-worded ticket. This evening we've bought fancy camembert for £7.50 as a treat. Price ticket blurb went on about "complex flavours" etc... Bloody hell its awful. Like melted rubber. Basic greasy flavour, no French cheese flavour whatsoever. Quite a few products seem worse at the mo - has anyone experienced the same?

A lot of things in there now I’m not sure how they justify the price for. I get a lot on yellow stickers and am always amazed by what they cost normal price.

Ready meals have definitely gone down hill because they took a load of salt out.

I shop with Ocado, I was excited when they started selling M and S products. As time as gone on, I am not so thrilled, some products are lower quality than I would expect. You have to read the reviews before buying because the quality is a bit and miss.

'a bit hit and miss' I mean!

A lot of M&S food is very salty but I haven't noticed a decline in quality.

My kids always liked the watermelon fingers, but they were £5 last time I was in, so I’m not buying them at that price.

Five quid for watermelon fingers...bloody hell!!
Interesting about the salt. I think we are so used to salted food, it feels bland when it's removed!
Bluh, feeling sick from the cheese-fest 😕

I definitely agree with you - the quality of chicken in recipes has nose dived over the last 2 years.
Biscuits that used to be lovely and buttery are hard with a strange texture - I presume due to increasing amounts of palm oil.

@allthelittleangelsriseupriseup YES to the chicken! We had a Korean chicken dinner a while back and although the chicken was thighs and pre-cooked, it was dire - massive fat-fest!

Their bread and rolls are awful.

Yep.

Really very disappointed and wish they still had their partnership with Waitrose.

Yes, but I feel this has been happening for years. A long time ago when supermarket food was not good, basic if you like, marks was always better, but since then, supermarket food has improved drastically and marks haven’t kept up. I bought runner beans last week that rotted in the bag in two days, ready meals just underwhelming and over priced compared to anything you can’t buy elsewhere, nothing in there is any better than any run of the mill supermarket, I think they are trading on a ‘yesteryear’ reputation

Yes I was thinking this tonight.
I bought southern fried chicken which used to be really tasty and crispy. Today I paid £4.50 for a tiny amount and instead of crisping it just burnt on the edges, barely any flavour even though it was 'flamin hot'.

I assumed that 'watermelon fingers' was a medical complaint where the digits of your hand(s) swelled up and turned green.
Probably just as well I'm not a doctor.

Used to love their cakes and puddings but find them bland now. Much prefer Waitrose.

The only thing that stands out to me in there now is the ciabatta chilli and olive rolls, I bought a bean burrito on ‘food to go’ it was repulsive and cost £3.50 one bite and it ended up in the bin. Their cranberry sauce in a jar is nice as well, but everything else i just consider to be very basic and nothing special at all

@InsertSomethingMotivationalHere I would be furious at spending 7.50 on cheese that was not exceptional.

Totally agree, the quality of the chicken in their curries is so poor. I complained last time.
I'd rather buy from Tesco which is much better quality and 3 curries are £7

Totally agree with this and variety of fresh produce not so great.
i used to justify the extra expense with flavour, ethical sourcing etc but none of that seems to hold true anymore.

The mushroom pappardelle ready meal from m and s is really good.

Their lasagne ( I hate making it myself) has gone downhill.
Mushy and slushy.

I love these ready meals I buy mainly the pasta ones. I notice the yellow sticker hardly has anything off.

The Best Mac and cheese is hugely overpriced though. Everything else is worth the money.

Most of the ready meals are dreadful - apart from the Indian ones. The butter chicken is as good as anything you might get in a take away

Aldi butter chicken and lasagne are good.

I was disappointed when Ocado went over to M&S from Waitrose. The gluten free stuff is particularly expensive too. Style over substance.

Yes, agree. I think the difference between waitrose/m&s and aldi/lidl is pretty non-existent now. Things like wine, cheese, chocolate, veg are either no better or not better enough to justify the price hike. I still shop at waitrose because they stock Faith in Nature, but I don't bother with m&s anymore.

(I don't buy ready meals from anywhere though if that makes a difference)

Ours has installed a large amount of self service tills with software that doesn't accept the sparks card, so I'm not impressed with them at the moment.