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Original poster

M&S is going to outprice a lot of its customers

124 replies

Overthinker918 · 22/01/2023 15:54

I popped into an M&S food shop this afternoon and it was the first time I’ve had a proper browse of the shop in a while. And the prices now for a lot of staple items are, in my opinion, quite frankly ridiculous!

Yes I know prices have gone up a lot everywhere, but wow, over £5 for some chicken goujons…?

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 22/01/2023 15:59

They are £4.25 in Morrison so £5 in Marks seems about right.

HeddaGarbled · 22/01/2023 16:03

Apparently they’ve had a really successful Christmas for both food and clothes sales figures.

IntentionalError · 22/01/2023 16:04

M&S are actually doing very well at the moment, and declared strong trading growth to the City last week. They are expanding their food business via Ocado & new store openings on retail parks. I noticed a brand new out-of-town M&S Foodhall in Derby a few months ago. There was a queue to get in the car park.

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hairymuffet · 22/01/2023 16:04

I was in yesterday and noticed that too.
£5 for a ready meal, that was £3.50
Burger packs 3 for £12 , used to be £10
The best one was a boiled egg and a couple of spinach leaves, £1.79 , used to be 90p 🤐

CosyScentedCandles · 22/01/2023 16:04

People don’t do their food shop at M&S for affordability…

Augend23 · 22/01/2023 16:05

Places like marks, and supermarkets' finest ranges often do well in a downturn because people downgrade their meal out to some nice stuff from the supermarket.

Overthebow · 22/01/2023 16:06

They're doing well at the moment. I do my big food shop at a supermarket but tend to pop to M&S for nice stuff and treats and don’t think it’s too badly priced at the moment. Food had gone up everywhere.

FlopFit · 22/01/2023 16:07

They often do really good specials on their food

Greenshake · 22/01/2023 16:07

The price jumps are quite high. The Indian takeaway for 2 box went from £10 to £12 overnight

DazzlePaintedBattlePants · 22/01/2023 16:07

Their food has never been at the cheap end, tbh, and £5 for chicken goujons sounds about right.

Their clothes on the other hand are spot on- merino wool jumpers for about £30. Really impressed by their clothes and homewares at the moment.

Crikeyalmighty · 22/01/2023 16:07

@Overthinker918 how come? I buy them usually in the 3 for £8 offer

Almostwelsh · 22/01/2023 16:07

The kind of person who shops in M&S food isn't particularly price sensitive. They are more focused on quality and they're prepared to pay a bit more for it. There are a lot of people who shop there who are well insulated from cost of living increases.

CandyflossKid · 22/01/2023 16:07

Must admit, I bought a loaf of bread and a cucumber in M&S today when passing through, that were cheaper than they were in Asda.

N00bz · 22/01/2023 16:08

Good. I’d noticed some riff-raff creeping in over the last year or two. This will sort that issue out.

Babyroobs · 22/01/2023 16:08

Coop is as bad. £5 yesterday for a tin of red salmon ( small tin ), £1.70 for a loaf of bread.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 22/01/2023 16:10

Almostwelsh · 22/01/2023 16:07

The kind of person who shops in M&S food isn't particularly price sensitive. They are more focused on quality and they're prepared to pay a bit more for it. There are a lot of people who shop there who are well insulated from cost of living increases.

Exactly, I dont think they are at the end of the market that aims to attract the masses.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 22/01/2023 16:12

Crikeyalmighty · 22/01/2023 16:07

@Overthinker918 how come? I buy them usually in the 3 for £8 offer

They havent been 3 for £8 for a long time.

Mindymomo · 22/01/2023 16:14

I find M&S food compares with Tesco prices, 3 packs of meat/fish £10 same as Tesco. Potatoes pack £1, sirloin steak 2 nice size £9, Tesco £10 and inferior quality. I go early and get discounted veg that’s ok for a few days and they always have meat and fish discounted. Ready meals some are now smaller and not worth buying.

WeAreTheHeroes · 22/01/2023 16:14

Prices have gone up everywhere - those prices don't seem outrageous to me. M&S has always differentiated itself rather than trying to compete on price.

IntentionalError · 22/01/2023 16:19

Augend23 · 22/01/2023 16:05

Places like marks, and supermarkets' finest ranges often do well in a downturn because people downgrade their meal out to some nice stuff from the supermarket.

I agree. M&S food competes as much with Pret & chain restaurants as it does with Aldi.

dreamingbohemian · 22/01/2023 16:19

Ready meals aren't basic foods though. They can get away with upping the prices because, as others said, people aren't going out and are buying 'nice' ready meals instead, and people who are really budgeting aren't buying ready meals in the first place.

There are still a few things at Marks that are the same price as other shops and nicer quality. The only place near us that's always cheaper is Aldi but their fruit and veg are terrible (at our shop specifically).

WelshNerd · 22/01/2023 16:20

I switched from Ocado to morrisons briefly last year but felt the quality drop was disproportionate to the savings. So I'm back with Ocado and all my M&S favourites.

I think pp comments about eating out is spot on too. Although I understand what is driving increases in restaurant prices, so many places don't represent good value anymore.

Weightlossanne · 22/01/2023 16:21

Crikeyalmighty · 22/01/2023 16:07

@Overthinker918 how come? I buy them usually in the 3 for £8 offer

I’d been used to them being in the three for £10 but noticed they were three for £12 before Christmas.

dreamingbohemian · 22/01/2023 16:23

Yes at our local pubs the cheapest mains are now £15

Even shopping at Marks that will get us a nice dinner for the whole family

TodayInahurry · 22/01/2023 16:34

Interesting comment about restaurants. All seem to be very busy round here, local good pub’s car park full and loads of cars parked on the road outside today and every lunchtime. Friends went to see in laws in Wales and had difficulty booking anywhere to take a mum out as all fully booked.