£195 for a beef wellington!

[Blueskybird]

Just that really, are supermarkets now taking the absolute Micky?? I know I don’t have to buy it. I know no one is forcing me to. But seriously how can they actually think it’s ok to demand that price for a Beef wellington that serves 6. Granted it’s in the celebrity chef Christmas range and I’m well aware that we all have different budgets and I absolutely expect to pay for quality but come on, that’s a scandalous price. AIBU to think we have lost the plot with food pricing or would you pay it?

The best beef wellingtons I have come across are from a company called Mucca in Cambridge who deliver. They are honestly so much better than even the posh supermarket ones and cheaper too: www.mucca.co.uk/shop

The best beef wellingtons I have come across are from a company called Mucca in Cambridge who deliver. They are honestly so much better than even the posh supermarket ones and cheaper than the price you quoted.

I was asking pp who was questioning if someone actually had that amount of money to spend on beef.

We voted for Brexit knowing full well this would happen (food price rises generally of which this is an obvious and extreme example).
This is the price of freedom I guess. We as a country need to own our choices.

It won't be mass produced though. There will be relatively few of them ordered, TK has put his name to it and it won't be made on an automated production line alongside a cottage pie and steak bake. There will be skilled chefs involved.

I only eat gamon and turkey at Christmas so I wouldn’t be buying it anyway.

Yep!

I also think it's possible this is pitching to the crowd who usually like to go out for Christmas dinner but have been priced out or just don't think it's worth the money now. Quite often when people are no longer partaking in a particular luxury, they choose the next price point down instead.

Mass produced?

And that's fine. Don't buy it. The question is what is your problem?

Very good beef £55/kilo.

A generous allowance for 6 would be 1.8kg (300g per person), so the beef would cost around £100.

I’d prefer to buy more meat and preps it myself, for maybe £125 in total, but I guess if you can’t cook or don’t want to, it isn’t totally out of the ball park.

F&M only charge £120 for beef wellington, or at least they did last time I bought one - a few months ago admittedly!! And there’s only feeds sic, albeit generously. Mind you, fillet is €68 a kilo in my local boucherie last week, so if you’re working on 200/250g per person then for 8 people you are approaching €120 before you’ve started. Probably a little less in the UK, but not massively I wouldn’t have thought.

I don’t think I’d spend £195 on one from M&S - there’s surely a heavy Tom Kerridge premium. But then I’m as happy making my own, and on its own £25 a head isn’t outrageous, and probably not hugely more expensive than actually making one yourself - though I take a previous posters point on quality!

Food is still cheaper in the UK than France though, and Italy too. I can’t comment on Germany and Spain

You could make your own for about a tenth of that price!!

This thread brings to mind the lovely social media thread about the 16 year old M&S employee whose family were relying on his staff discount for their Xmas dinner.

It also makes me think that not many people understand economics, pricing and supply and demand.

It's not very likely to sell tens of thousands so it won't be 'mass produced' - they will likely sell very few, that need to be made locally by very trusted contractors and be very high quality given the demanding kind of customer that will buy them. These sorts of specialised event foods are made by independent butchers and caterers and usually in this price range. M&S is obviously looking to get a corner of that market.

There are plenty of people who have very little money in this country. There are also plenty of people - millions - who are doing very nicely. I personally find it insane that people spend £50 or so on a Turkey - mental. We have duck or pheasant for £20.

I know.

I was just adding that you wouldn't even need to be wealthy just choosing to prioritise buying that.

Personally, I'll be buying a chicken because I don't like turkey but love a decent roast chicken.

I just don’t get the issue, they sell a range of beef wellingtons. Starting at 6o pounds going to 195. Like the sell a range of champagne starting at 25 quid and going up to hundreds. Arguably both are mass produced.

Fillet steak is very expensive.
I wouldn't buy it but I don't actually think it's an unreasonable price

For some people, this will be a wonderful way to splash out on a lovely Christmas meal, and on a per head basis, it’s not that bad for fillet (assuming it’s generous and beautifully made)

I agree that’s a huge amount, but it’s not exactly a difficult thing to make yourself, and you could easily make a huge beef wellington for under half the price.

You can’t make a beef wellington with that cut of meat, if that size, with chicken, mushrooms, truffles, and red wine gravy for six people for 20 pounds, don’t be ridiculous. 😂

That's great to hear. So why are you moaning about something that has no effect on you?

I'm with you @Blueskybird . I was astounded when I saw that price online on M &S . Outrageous!!

I listened to a top chef talking about the prep of a properly made beef wellington, it took forever. The duxelles alone had about four stages. The mousse, the pastry, the jus / gravy.

I would be prepared to risk £32 on a portion of this with 5 other people, if I had a margin of disposable income. It’s the price of 3 cocktails.

Instead of a restaurant visit, for example.

But I won’t because I am needing to not be extravagant.

Not with those ingredients. And not many people would risk it in case it didn't work. In which case, if they wanted to serve that paying £195 for it probably wouldn’t seem too bad.

It's not very likely to sell tens of thousands so it won't be 'mass produced' - they will likely sell very few, that need to be made locally by very trusted contractors and be very high quality given the demanding kind of customer that will buy them. These sorts of specialised event foods are made by independent butchers and caterers and usually in this price range. M&S is obviously looking to get a corner of that market.

Yes, and I suspect they're pitching for people who'll order other Christmas food from them and want everything from the same supplier for convenience. Someone who'd prefer to spend a bit more and only need one delivery rather than shopping around and ordering the meat dish from a local butcher, the starters from M and S etc.

Aldi always do a good one for four, at Christmas.
i think last years price was 29.99