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Original poster

Fortnum and Maisons or Aldi?

121 replies

EachandEveryone · 12/12/2023 13:31

I went to F and M the other day and everything looked so beautiful. I was tempted by the tea and mince pies and hand made chocolates but then I thought us it just the packaging? When it comes to it is there that much of a difference?

OP posts:
OhComeOnFFS · 12/12/2023 16:16

I had a sachertorte from there that was the nicest cake I've ever had.

Original poster
EachandEveryone · 12/12/2023 16:17

I don’t think my brother deserves all these nice things I’m going to have to whittle it down and treat myself for the rest

OP posts:
blacksax · 12/12/2023 16:17

This thread is like comparing Premier Inn with Claridges.😂

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 12/12/2023 16:19

Teas at F&M is excellent. There isn’t any ‘supermarket’ teas that are anywhere close (leaf tea).

And yes you do pay for the packaging too but if you are happy to have the ‘refill’ bags rather than the metal box, their tea isn’t that expensive vs other makes (maybe not Aldi but I think you do pay for what you are getting there too)

KatBurglar · 12/12/2023 16:20

I had a small tin of loose tea from F&M and it was absolutely superb.

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 12/12/2023 16:22

blacksax · 12/12/2023 16:17

This thread is like comparing Premier Inn with Claridges.😂

Agree.

BUT it’s also true that you don’t always need or appreciate the opulence of Claridges when you are happy with the Premier Inn.

Eg i wouldn’t buy English breakfast tea for DH because I know he won’t appreciate it. He is likely to say he prefers his ‘proper’ Yorkshire tea instead.

Gowlett · 12/12/2023 16:25

The three things you’ve mentioned are the very things I would buy in Fortnum & Mason. I miss London Christmas…

WednesdaysPlaits · 12/12/2023 16:30

DH generally gets various hampers or wine boxes from clients at Christmas.

Last year we had two fortnums hampers (two different ones), a selfridges one and an M&S one.

I can genuinely say some of the M&S things were nicer. I preferred most of the selfridges stuff to the F&M stuff.

Most of it was better than anything from Aldi/Lidl but the Fortnums tea biscuits were not nice and were eaten only by our resident robin. You’d have to really love the taste of strong tea to enjoy them (which I don’t). I’d take Lidl sultana butter cookies over them any day of the week.

londonmummy1966 · 12/12/2023 16:33

I would go for a smaller selection of items in nice tins if giving as a gift - the tins are really lovely and robust. If giving in person then just hand them over in a fortnums paper bag - looks nice and is quite sturdy.

Having said that if you can visit the shop the toiletries and stationery on the upper floors are worth a look too. Then go to Paxton & WHitfield opposite on Jermyn Street for cheese crackers and chutney. Also worth popping into Floris to look at their candles. Finally Prestat in one of the arcades between Jermyn Street and Picadilly is better for chocolate and Ladauree on Picadilly (by the Royal Academy) for macarons.

Oh for the days when I was able to do all my Christmas shopping on Jermyn Street in one afternoon.....

wheresmyshoe · 12/12/2023 16:36

My latest Fortnum's favourite is Truffle Mayonnaise, highly recommended.

ssd · 12/12/2023 16:36

I want to go to F&M now, never been

Daisies12 · 12/12/2023 16:36

I bet it’s all made in the same factory as Aldi stuff. Just marked up for stupid tourists!

Lilithlogic · 12/12/2023 16:40

F and M for me, better quality ingredients and beautiful packaging, which I'm a sucker for. Their jarred mincemeat is to die for, range of teas is next to none. My ham and other fresh bits are coming next week. Looking forward to the Calum Franklin pie I've ordered, alongside jars of Welsh rarebit.

Lilithlogic · 12/12/2023 16:41

Daisies12 · 12/12/2023 16:36

I bet it’s all made in the same factory as Aldi stuff. Just marked up for stupid tourists!

It's not. Tourists go to Harrods. Have you ever tasted anything from F and M?

maddiemookins16mum · 12/12/2023 16:42

I bet S and M don’t have the marshmallow, brownie bombs covered in chocolate in the tubs for £2.79 that are just utterly wonderful in Aldi.

Barnowlsandbluebells · 12/12/2023 16:52

F&M elvas plums - a must for my cheeseboard

Lilithlogic · 12/12/2023 16:54

Barnowlsandbluebells · 12/12/2023 16:52

F&M elvas plums - a must for my cheeseboard

I have some in my Christmas cupboard calling my name, I'm being good

EasternStandard · 12/12/2023 16:56

Dh had a Christmas thing at or near F&M can’t remember but he went crazy after a few drinks and bought loads back

It looked beautiful and probably tasted great I just can’t recall how much by

Barnowlsandbluebells · 12/12/2023 16:58

@Lilithlogic Same here - it's a battle I may not win for much longer 😂

UnfortunateTypo · 12/12/2023 16:59

The tiny Fortnum mince pies are lush. Someone sent us some as a gift one year, ruined for life.

Lilithlogic · 12/12/2023 17:06

Barnowlsandbluebells · 12/12/2023 16:58

@Lilithlogic Same here - it's a battle I may not win for much longer 😂

We have already annihilated a box of Laduree macarons from Selfridges, so good 😍

furtivetussling · 12/12/2023 17:10

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 12/12/2023 16:22

Agree.

BUT it’s also true that you don’t always need or appreciate the opulence of Claridges when you are happy with the Premier Inn.

Eg i wouldn’t buy English breakfast tea for DH because I know he won’t appreciate it. He is likely to say he prefers his ‘proper’ Yorkshire tea instead.

Show quote history

Perhaps you are missing the point slightly. One can appreciate the opulence of somewhere like Claridges, whilst at the same time wondering whether the enjoyment gained is outweighed by the staggering difference in price.

I have a nice handbag, which cost me around £70. I love it, and I've never had so many of my friends admire - nay covet - a bag of mine as they do this one. Now I could easily afford another bag costing £700 if I wanted one, but would I get ten times the enjoyment out of it? Nope, because I'd always be thinking it was pointless spending that much for so little gain.

Barnowlsandbluebells · 12/12/2023 17:12

Lilithlogic · 12/12/2023 17:06

We have already annihilated a box of Laduree macarons from Selfridges, so good 😍

Show quote history

Excellent work! DH and I have both had Covid which has impacted our usual early 'sampling' so we have some catching up to do. I love the build up to Christmas.

Galiana · 12/12/2023 17:12

'Whatever you do, do not buy one of F&M's over priced rip off hampers! Some of them don't even come with food.'

  • *Makes no sense.

F&M hampers are always cheaper than buying the contents separately,

And...

You can choose which one you want, including food if you fancy ..

Puffling235 · 12/12/2023 17:45

albaalba351 · 12/12/2023 14:45

Yes there is a large difference - the quality of the ingredients for Fortnum and Mason will be a lot better. Unfortunately cheaper brands are usually full of artificial preservatives. They also often bulk products out with bulking agents to make them need less ingredients.

This, it's less the taste surely and more quality of ingredients /absence of crap? I'd check the ingredients list. But then i am a food geek!