What does M&S actually do well?

[innit]

I do most of my shopping in M&S (and Wing Tai as well I spose), I buy normal stuff in there. I like their baked beans, well tasty and cheaper than the corner shop. They sell some really lovely mature cheddar (Cornish Cruncher) which isn't cheap but a little bit goes a long way when using in cooking. I quite like the bread too, the seeded loaves are not bad for supermarket bread. And the Oakham chickens are nice like Trashy said.

 

[kalidarkone]

Belgian chocolate covered peanuts and custard filled choux buns. Lovely juices. Tubs of goodies. I buy stuff from there about twice a year. oh yeah knickers and tights!

 

[HeroineSheep]

Britain goes to work in M&S undies
It's the one of the few places you can easily get cotton underwired bras - none of your artificial fibres malarkey

 

[mrs quoad]

Britain goes to work in M&S undies

The bloke in charge of commissioning ALL of M&S's knickers used to live opposite us

 

[Maggot]

their ready to eat fruit packs are loads dearer than in supermarkets for instance.

What's a ready-to-eat fruit pack?

Since when has fruit not been ready to eat?

 

[Cribynkle]

Molly-Moos and Percy Pigs ftw

 

[Meltingpot]

Most M&S stuff is a bit mediocre unless it's massively carb- or dairy-heavy .. viz:
Sesame bagels (M&S are miles better than anyone else's)
Cheese straws ("all butter" ... and plenty of it I think)
Berry cheesecake, melting choc puddings etc (I think M+S might have to start sponsoring a cardiac ward somewhere)

Yeah, I like their rice pudding, and their double cream luxury bread & butter pudding is awesome

 

[moomoo]

Molly-Moos and Percy Pigs ftw

Cor! Percy Pigs! And I really like their duck and orange pate, it's the nicest I've ever had. And their chilli con carne is an alright ready meal.

And their knickers of course.

 

[moose]

The larger in-house bakeries do some lovely bread.

They used to make some nice little lemon cheesecakes with a gingernut base, which were suitable for veggies, but now they've gone back to using gelatine in them

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Belgian chocolate covered peanuts and custard filled choux buns. Lovely juices. Tubs of goodies. I buy stuff from there about twice a year. oh yeah knickers and tights!

Honey roasted cashew nuts are lovely

 

[Boycey]

I've also been into that Portuguese one in Brixton and either because prices weren't displayed or because I didn't know what I was looking at, I'm always too embarrassed to ask

it's weird how we're not used to actually with humans for our food shopping innit?

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

it's weird how we're not used to actually with humans for our food shopping innit?

erm, yes

 

[boing!]

Percy pigs.

Other than that, not much, if I'm feeling flush and need to buy supermarket stuff I'd chose Waitrose over M&S any day.

 

[lillia]

Molly-Moos and Percy Pigs ftw

You beat me to it

But not the limited edition yellow ones recently. I'm not as keen on those.
(But don't look in your kitchen cupboard for the ones I gave you. Cos I ate them when I was cat sitting. )

 

[bi0boy]

Their ice cream in the 2 for £5 category, haddock pie, breakfast cereals (especially the chocolate one ), carrot and something cake, cheesecakes, pitta bread, plain chocolate.

 

[rennie]

They do some very nice olive crackers, and the black pepper bruschetta bread is lush. But in general I agree - their food isn't that special and often not worth the extra money.

very true.

 

[Cribynkle]

You beat me to it

But not the limited edition yellow ones recently. I'm not as keen on those.
(But don't look in your kitchen cupboard for the ones I gave you. Cos I ate them when I was cat sitting. )

I thought you might.....which is why I made the little cherubs lick them all before I went away xxxx

 

[CharlieAddict]

they do really good wine gums.
just ate a whole packet.
and their cocktail sausages are well nice.

 

[rennie]

I thought you might.....which is why I made the little cherubs lick them all before I went away xxxx

Good one!

 

[lillia]

I thought you might.....which is why I made the little cherubs lick them all before I went away xxxx

SEE. We spoke about this. Remember what happened with the babies? They get a taste for summat and that's it.

 

[idioteque]

Percy Pigs, low fat strawberry and vanilla smoothie, and sundried tomato focaccia.

 

[Geri]

I very rarely buy any food items from M&S as they seem very expensive - their ready to eat fruit packs are loads dearer than in supermarkets for instance.

Their packs of mixed nuts are cheaper than Tesco - and much nicer, more walnuts and bigger, juicier nuts.

 

[oryx]

They seem to be doing some incredibly cheap, & OK, toiletries ATM e.g. £1 for a bottle of shampoo or deodorant.

Was M & S always a bit poncey or was it once quite a down-to-earth shop like Sainsbury's? My parents did the weekly shop there when we were kids & I remember it being pretty ordinary & not that expensive.

Their minced beef puff pastry pies were our staple diet in the 70s.......