I was once a devoted Lidl shopper, picking up everything I needed under one roof, but this year a single food item tempted me through the doors of Marks and Spencer far more regularly. Like countless others across the UK, I've noticed food prices creeping up since the pandemic, making me considerably more vigilant when it comes to my weekly budget. There's real satisfaction in hunting down a bargain and spotting a receipt full of great deals.
That's precisely why Marks and Spencer had always seemed off-limits to me, given its reputation for premium pricing — but curiosity got the better of me this spring. Fancying something a little more indulgent to enjoy in the warmer weather, I stumbled upon the Marks and Spencer bakery, and I'm not sure I can ever return to buying pastries from Lidl again.
Better Value Than Expected
Lidl is undeniably far better value than Marks and Spencer, with a great many breads, cakes and treats priced under a pound, and further savings often available through the Lidl Plus app. Yet having sampled a variety of baked goods from M&S, I've found they tend to stay fresh considerably longer than those from Lidl's bakery. Much as I appreciate Lidl's pocket-friendly prices, their bread frequently only holds up for around a day, which can ultimately prove a false economy when you're forced to bin it.
In contrast, Marks and Spencer bread costs a touch more but regularly remains fresh for up to five days or even a full week — helping me cut down on food waste and achieve far better value in the long run.
Pain au Chocolat: The Deciding Factor
One of my all-time favourite indulgences is a pain au chocolat, and I used to make a weekly trip to Lidl on my day off to grab one for breakfast. At Lidl, a pain au chocolat will set you back 69p, or you can pick up three for £1.80, which represents excellent value – though I tended to stick to buying just one, as they have a habit of going stale within a day.
Recently, I decided to give the Marks and Spencer version a go, priced at £1.30 for a single pastry, and I'll freely admit I winced at the cost when I first clocked it. Having purchased it, I completely forgot it was there over the weekend, and was genuinely taken aback a few days later to discover it was still perfectly fresh. Not only did the pain au chocolat have a longer shelf life, but it was simply superior in taste – buttery, rich and wonderfully chocolatey – leading me to conclude it actually represents far better value for money.
I also found that Marks and Spencer sells a pack of pain au chocolat for £3, working out at roughly 75p per pastry, which makes the price gap considerably narrower than it initially appears.
If keeping costs to an absolute minimum is your priority, Lidl remains the obvious choice – but switching to Marks and Spencer has actually helped me cut down on waste while treating myself to something far more delicious.
