Marks & Spencer (M&S) has expanded its range of value food items with more than 30 new products this month, including core family items such as 500g and 750g packs of 5% fat beef mince and 1kg bags of frozen sweetcorn. The retailer, traditionally known for its high-end own-brand food, is positioning itself as a competitor to the “big six” supermarkets among families, citing till receipts data from analysts Worldpanel that shows it is the fastest-growing grocer among families.
YouGov figures indicate a three percentage point increase over the last two years in families likely to consider shopping at M&S Food, while perceptions of value among families have improved by 10 percentage points in the same period. Sales of M&S value lines, including “remarksable value”, “dropped & locked” and “bigger pack, better value” items, were up 20% in the third quarter of last year. The “remarksable value” range alone has doubled in size since 2023.
Bestsellers include loose bananas at 90p per kg, a 1.5kg lasagne for £9, and a dozen free-range eggs for £3.30. Sales of beef mince have risen 80% since it was added to the “remarksable value” line. More than 40 products have been added to the range since 2023, including select farms red cooking onions (£1.10), 500g Greek style yoghurt 0% fat (£1.15), and traditional Scottish oats 1kg (£1.25).
Kara Greatorex, chief commercial officer at M&S Food, said: “For M&S, becoming a shopping list retailer is about offering core ingredients and products at the right price without compromising on quality. Over the last few years, we have improved the remarksable value range by lowering the price of core shopping trolley essentials, whilst retaining the quality and sourcing credentials M&S is known for.” There are now over 250 products across the three value ranges.
The move comes as supermarkets compete for households amid rising food inflation. Latest BRC and NIQ data shows food inflation climbed to 3.3% in December, while market share figures from Worldpanel over the 12 weeks to December 28 show Lidl gained 0.5 percentage points to claim 7.8% of the market. M&S grocery sales were 7.2% higher than the same period a year earlier.
