When it comes to the weekly food shop, most of us have our preferred supermarkets. For the bulk of my groceries, I tend to head straight to Sainsbury's or Tesco. It's practical, dependable, and stocks everything I need. I'm also a big fan of their own-brand ranges.
The One Item That Sends Me to M&S
But there's one particular item that sends me straight to M&S instead. I'd happily do my entire food shop there if it made financial sense, but for most things, it simply doesn't add up. However, there is one product I will absolutely only ever purchase from the upmarket retailer — and that's strawberries.
Fruit is a staple in many people's weekly shops, mine included, but it has an infuriating habit of turning mouldy almost overnight. While there are plenty of storage tricks to extend the life of strawberries, buying them from M&S means they simply stay fresher for longer without any extra effort. Whether I'm picking up a single punnet or several, I won't go anywhere else. The same applies to all berries, too. I once had blueberries from M&S that lasted a full 10 days.
Quality and Value
The quality and flavour are noticeably superior, and the price difference isn't as steep as you might expect. For instance, a 250g punnet at Sainsbury's costs £2.25, compared to £2.60 for the same size at M&S. While marginally pricier, I find I waste far fewer strawberries than I normally would.
Truthfully, I rate all of M&S's fruit highly, particularly as we move into the summer months — including their kiwis, bananas, apples and oranges. The supermarket has also recently expanded its simple ingredients range, transforming everyday foods into healthier alternatives. The packaging is brilliant, clearly displaying what's inside each product, and I picked up a selection to sample. The avocado oil crisps, despite carrying a hefty £3.90 price tag, were absolutely delicious, as were the sausages, meatballs and bread. The condiments were equally tasty and had a fresh quality, and I'm keen to return for the baked beans.
