M and s poor quality food

Sttevek

Hi there , this is my first time to post.
I am wondering if there are others out there that think that the food quality of marks seems to be going downhill.
I have thought this for a while now and do still shop there but I am increasingly coming to the conclusion to start going to watrose.

Callie22

I agree, the food quality in M&S is terrible now. OH and I used to have favourite things there that we'd occasionally buy as a treat, but we just don't bother any more. Everything just tastes 'cheap' and it's not worth the price. The food has definitely gone really downhill since they got the bloke from Morrison's in.

Bennifred

Yes - Waitrose food is definitely superior to that from M&S, and has been for a long time, imho!

over_flo

Callie22 wrote: »

I agree, the food quality in M&S is terrible now. OH and I used to have favourite things there that we'd occasionally buy as a treat, but we just don't bother any more. Everything just tastes 'cheap' and it's not worth the price. The food has definitely gone really downhill since they got the bloke from Morrison's in.

I think the decline started way before then.

amy888

i still think there fruit is much better than others i dont do all my shopping there but i do get some treat things there and i still find it good but i did try the spanish pella didn't like it much the cheaper one they do is better.

cherrypies

Not across the board. Some things from M&S are still very, very good. The fruit and vegetables, prepared salads, in-store bakery and basics like milk, tea, butter, spices, pasta etc are great. No complaints whatsoever.

I don't buy their ready meals (Other than certain items on the Dine-in offer and even then I tend to go for a whole chicken) but people I know who do buy them have told me that the quality has dropped and so have their portion sizes. I've noticed they have shrunk some items too.

I do enjoy Waitrose food and buy their ham, cheese etc I think Waitrose cooked meats are far superior to M&S versions, but I also know that M&S and Waitrose use a lot of the same suppliers for their products ... so instead of jumping ship from one retailer to the other, I just carefully buy selected items from lots of different places. It's time consuming but means that I get exactly what I want, at the price I want to pay and means I can monitor quality.

TravellingAbuela

I still like their chilled fish selection, especially the lightly dusted and seeded range. I buy their individual meringues but only when 2 for £2. Plus I still buy their pasta and pasta/cooking sauces but, again, only when on offer eg 3 for 2. Still find their bread selection very good.

No longer buy fresh meat, cooked meat and cheese there. Unless I happen to spot any reduced at the end of the afternoon!

Middy

I find Tesco's Finest meal deal for £10 is better quality than M&S. Though with the former, you have only 4-6 dishes to select for each section (main, side and pudding) instead of 8-12.

Edwardia

My mother is an avid M&S fan and buys their ready meals, wine and stuff like jams as well as clothes. Have to say I haven't found many organic products in hers. Don't have M&S in our town <sniffle>

Years ago you used to be able to buy wool jackets, coats, skirts and trousers for women and mens' black 100% cotton socks and I haven't found these in years not even in London. I rarely buy clothes in M&S because it seems like everything is in man-made fibres (don't wear em) and there are some pretty lurid prints too. I can buy certified Fair Trade organic 100% cotton t-shirts 50% cheaper than the non-organic M&S t-shirts, in Sainsbury's.

So my perception of Marks and Spencer overall is that the quality has been dropping for years.

Focusing just on the food, I don't think it's better than Waitrose and I can buy organic in Waitrose or on Ocado for less than the cost of non-organic veg in Marks and Spencer.

Waitrose is very good at the almost giving you the pig's family tree as back story when buying organic bacon.. but Marks and Spencer does all that to lure you into thinking you're buying something exclusive and natural. Lochmuir doesn't exist, it's a brand. There's no such thing as an Oakham chicken either.

If it doesn't say organic and have the appropriate logos eg Soil Association, USDA, EU leaf logo etc then it's NOT.

zennith

We can't afford to shop at Marks n Sparks anymore.

Judging by some of the recent experiences here, maybe it's not such a bad thing?

cardiff2007

Yes i agree with that also the sell by and use by dates are really bad on a lot of there food and also the clothing in MS is really old fashioned i used to shop there all the time years ago but i can honestly say that i rarely ever venture into Marks and Spencers now