I decided to compare the most expensive fresh pizzas from Lidl and Marks & Spencer to see which offered the best value. M&S's Chicken Arrabbiata pizza costs £6.50, while Lidl's Chicken, Semi-dried Tomato and Basil Pesto Sourdough pizza is just £3.99. The Lidl pizza weighs 480g, making it significantly cheaper at £8.31 per kg compared to M&S's £13.57 per kg.
The M&S pizza had a generous amount of spicy chicken and roquito peppers, with a pleasant charred crust. However, the dough was slightly dry despite being light and airy. My girlfriend, who usually adds sauce to pizza, said it had so much flavour that no extra sauce was needed.
Lidl's pizza, a 2024 Papa Industry Awards winner, features a 50-hour fermented sourdough base with 00 flour. Despite the promising packaging, the base was thin and lacked flavour. The basil pesto was barely noticeable, and the cheese was unremarkable. The chicken came in small, stingy cubes with no flavour, unlike M&S's generous chunks.
Overall, the M&S pizza was superior in taste and quality, but the Lidl pizza offers good value for money at a much lower price. If you want a restaurant-quality pizza without the high cost, Lidl's £3.99 option is worth trying.
