To wonder what the obsession with M&S Food is?

[Jajana]

Decided to pick up a few bits and bobs from M&S as I needed some underwear and the food was very average. The fruits like grapes don’t taste any better than Tesco (albeit it was 25p more expensive at M&S) and was surprised to see that it’s more expensive than Waitrose! It seems like a nice place for takeaways/ready meals though

Can anyone clarify to me why they shop at M&S food over Tesco/Waitrose/Sainsbury’s?

Some things are worth the price but not many. I shop with Ocado as there are not many supermarkets that deliver too me, I also don’t mind spending a bit more on food as I don’t spend in much else (don’t drink or go out). I buy their macarons as a treat and my dc love their big square pizza. Fruit and veg are nothing special.

@Pedallleur

Charlie Bighams ready meals are better imo. Had the chicken Jalfrezi recently - excellent. Best thing in M&S? Those yellow tickets that start going on the items near closing time and the prices start dropping to sensible levels

Love Charlie Bighams stuff, especially when it's put in my Waitrose online shopping as a free treat... Their fish pie, their lasagne... As for M&S yellow stickers - if I had a local one very locally I'd haunt it around the store at the time they reduced food. 🌹

If I could afford it, I'd absolutely shop in M&S! The food just tastes so much better. Their own brand humus, their cheese, the meat, the bakery...they are lovely! Sadly it's only the occasional treat now, although when we lived near it, DH and I used to do the "dine in for £10" (or similar!) deal once a week as it was such good value and yumm!

I really like their oranges, they’re the only ones that don’t just taste of water and always really sweet and just spot on.

Their ready meals are really tasty too. If you go past the boxes of sweet treats you really must pick up their new brownies… just wow. Brownie with ganache on top coated in chocolate. 😋

I only buy bits and pieces there as a treat, usually when we have visitors. When we were on holiday, we had one nearby and bought most food from there. It was great food but very pricey. My opinion on its popularity is:

• Everything is very good quality, usually better than the best I've had at other places I shop - Sains/Lidl/Waitrose. I have bought all sorts of different foods there and it never disappoints. For that reason, I will pay the higher price tag. Consistent high quality.
• They have some interesting, more unusual choices of food there, so again that makes a change from my usual shops.
• The prepared and deli food is great for get togethers, picnics etc. Again, you just know it will be excellent.
• I suspect the bulk of their shoppers shop as I do and may spend £30-£50 for some nice treats - but it won't be their main shop. Also for treat lunches - sandwiches and salads are better than other supermarkets.
• for basics / relatively cheap things, eg pizza, bread, it probably isn't worth the higher price tag and people just grab it because they are getting their treats and can't be bothered going to another shop.
• it is marketed as a luxury, so it's a go-to if people want to treat themselves. I don't know anyone who says they're going to treat themselves to a Tesco meal deal.

It is generally really expensive though, and not many deals on the things I like, so I limit myself.

I've had M&S grapes and they're amazing!

I guess some people imagine that Waitrose, Aldi, M&S and Sainsbury's have different suppliers www.express.co.uk/life-style/food/1609059/Food-recall-Sainsburys-Aldi-M-and-S-Waitrose-Pret-chicken-sandwiches-salmonella-warning Others realise it is much of a much.

I quite like it. Never noticed an obsession tho

I dunno what the obsession is, but it keeps DH in a job (works for a subcontractor).

I love all of their food. I really miss working there and getting cheap food on a Saturday night as our store wasn't open on Sundays.

I find the quality, freshness and flavour of Sainsburys fruit is dreadful actually. They're the worst of the big supermarkets, although Tesco isn't far behind.

Yeah, it’s nice for deli bits and posh ready meals.

Have one at the hospital I work at and probably get lunch there at least once of week far better than the canteen. Also have one near home often get the dine in deals as nicer food for slightly more effort than a takeaway but for less money. Today got free cookies with my sparks card and £5 a bottle of rose. Also have found a really nice pink grapefruit squash they do I like.

We've had some absolutely shocking fruit and vege delivered from Sainsbo's recently. Rotting, even though in date.

I absolutely agree with their deli offering, it's not just perception it definitely tastes significantly better than other shops!!

Convenience.

I like that our M&S is relatively small compared to Tesco/Sainsbury’s.

One item for each product rather than loads of different brands of the same thing.

Best bakery/ fresh bread of all I’ve tried.

My M&S bill is always (surprisingly) cheaper than when I do a full shop at Sainsbury’s/Tesco.
Really easy to meal plan.
Only Asda and Aldi are cheaper overall.

Yellow stickers are absolutely everywhere if you go at the right time. Brilliant for freezer food.

Just nicer as is Waitrose. Went to Lidl today. Various food items had been nibbled by rats 🤮won’t be back don’t care how cheap it is.

I suspect the bulk of their shoppers shop as I do and may spend £30-£50 for some nice treats - but it won't be their main shop.

Definitely this.

M&S (every week):
Nice convenience food, meat, treats, deli, bakery.

Aldi (once a month):
Cereal, tins, veg, salad, dry cupboard items (pasta/rice etc), loo roll, kitchen towel

Home bargains (once a month):
Household stuff - cleaning products/laundry, shampoo, soap etc…

Thanks @Jajana I will look travel to Tescos' tomorrow. We don't have a decent sized one locally but I think there is one off the A3.
Delighted o find another source of them as I have never seen the lamb and chicken mix anywhere else and there are delicious.

Yes I agree to that. I picked up some bits in my Sainsburys Local today and, when I got home, found that the tip of my cucumber was rotten.. 🌹

Waiting for my headphones to charge so may as well give you my very boring reasons for visiting (or not) supermarkets:

Waitrose - fresh ingredients / fruit / veg , bread fresh sushi counter is a big draw / frozen Itsu / frozen fruit
M&S - ready meals / pre-prepped food / Percy pigs / flowers / crumbed chicken - they also did a brilliant imitation Nando's meal deal thing recently / Truffle mash
Co-op - when I've run out of milk - local - expensive - convenient
Asda - local - bigger sizes of bulk / staple items & better value plus has some brands not sold in the above stores. Fruit and veg pretty good.
Lidl - v local - Greek yoghurt / corn fed chicken / fruit & veg so long as it's eaten immediately, snacks, cheaper tomato purée / tinned tomatoes etc/ Random snacks.

My local butcher for meat when I can- superior quality & taste to supermarket

Sainsbury's - horrible location & building here so don't go
Tesco - never been to the one here because the ones I have been in are just too flipping big & I can't find anything. I don't know the ranges and life is too short to find out.

Don't live near a Morrisons. Aldi is too far and not on my way anywhere.

Voilà!

It’s close to me , their fruit and veg is the best , basics are reasonably priced , love some of the ready meals , and crisps, and chocolate truffles

It's great quality and you can get some pretty good deals if you time your visit right. At uni I used to live opposite an m&s foodhall and had a friend who worked there who told me when things were typically reduced. I would go every week and get a good variety. Also the sandwich and wrap options are far better than anywhere else.

Pretty comprehensive! 😃. I'm also with you re Tesco. The Express/Extra aren't convenient, as a bus ride away and too small to make it worthwhile and the larger (Huge) one only works if I had a car. 🌹