I have been at M&S since 1995 in product development, and from our Crafted Sourdough Baguette (a personal favourite and best enjoyed with French Fresh Butter with Sea Salt Crystals) through to our expertly roasted and salted cashew nuts, for me the ranges you see in our Foodhalls today are up there with our most delicious yet. Across M&S Food, we are obsessed with detail and laser-focused on quality and innovation; I always say if we can’t present a product on a velvet cushion then it isn’t ready for customers.  

M&S is known for exciting, never-seen-before foodie innovation, and for Christmas we’ve gone the extra mile by launching 450 new lines and made 200 upgrades.  

With the big day now only a few weeks away, I wanted to share my top ten recommendations to make your celebrations extra special. 

1. Revolutionary double-wrapped Pigs in Blankets 

I’ll kick things off with a Christmas staple. Everyone loves Pigs in Blankets and we know how frustrating it is when they fall apart. So this year we have double-wrapped those pigs in a full rasher of dry-cured artisan bacon each – they’re guaranteed to stay snug! All M&S Pigs in Blankets are made with British pork. M&S 12 British Outdoor Bred Pigs in Blankets (£4.75). 

2. The perfect gifting tin  

You won’t want to miss our Santa’s Workshop Musical Light-Up biscuit tin (400g, £10). Inspired by the trend for miniature book nooks, you can watch the elves prepare for Christmas with a little help from magical mirrors and music, filled with all butter choc chip cookie stars. 

3. Our Best Ever… Best-of-the-Best innovation (and a real time saver) 

I’m really proud of our Best Ever range and this year we’ve taken it to a whole new level. Introducing Our Best Ever Slow Cooked Turkey (serves 8-10, £85) – we’ve done all the hard work so this succulent stuffed turkey takes just two hours finish in the oven at home. 

4. Authentic Panettones  

Our fruited Panettones are made near the Italian Alps by a 2^nd generation family run business. These are baked then hung for a truly authentic, stretched and pillowy texture – our Classic Panettone (750g, £12) is absolutely fantastic. We’ve also got alternatives for those looking for a sweet treat on a festive morning. Our Quattro Chocolate Panettone (750g, £12) is a luxurious twist on the classic recipe, with a rich chocolate sauce and a generous blend of milk and dark chocolate chips.  

5. Collection Party Lights – the ultimate stocking filler 

Everyone loves a festive chocolate. Our limited edition, beautifully finished and crafted smooth milk and white Belgian chocolate treats are hand-decorated with rich pistachio and white chocolate fillings – at just £5 these make the perfect stocking filler (98g). 

6. Collection Mince Pies 

This year we’ve upgraded our Collection Mince Pies by adding caramelised sugar to all butter pastry and a touch of black pepper to the mincemeat for a warmer flavour. We’ve won four Christmas Tried and Tested awards, our Collection 6 Mince Pies (£4) have won with Olive, BBC Good Food and Woman & Home and our Sloe Gin Crumble Mince Pies (4, £4) have won Best Flavoured Mince Pie with Olive.  

7. World First Magical Light-up Bottle - Mince Pie Liqueur 

Thanks to some brand-new technology, our Mince Pie Liqueur (70cl £17) bottle brings a little extra magic to the table. Simply touch the bottle, and the lights on the Christmas tree on the front turn on instantly, adding a festive glow to every sip. Simply drink neat over ice for a lovely end of dinner treat.  

8. Muddles tins - the most delicious treat you’ve never heard of 

They really are something else. Inspired by the famous American candies, we’ve launched the UK’s first chewy caramel Muddles tin. Made in small batched by a family bakery in Somerset, these crunchy almonds and salted caramel swirls are covered in a thick Swiss dark chocolate (210g) £10. 

9. Our famous M&S Turkey Feast Sandwich – with a twist 

The Christmas sandwich is a festive staple, and this year M&S is, once again, donating 5% of sales from each item in the Christmas Food On The Move range to Shelter to support people experiencing homelessness or unfit and unsafe housing. This year we’re celebrating 20 years in partnership with the charity! 

Our much-loved Turkey Feast sandwich (216g, £4) is back again, but for 2024 we’ve also introduced some spin offs. My personal favourite is our full-on Turkey Feast Dip (170g, £3.50) – perfect with a few carrot sticks or some pitta crisps. 

10. Our iconic M&S Party Food 

Our party food has been the heart of festive get-togethers for years, and our 2024 is undoubtedly our best yet. A must-try is our New York Deli Pastrami Spring Rolls(220g, £5.50) – the ultimate ‘foodie mash-up’ filled with pastrami, sauerkraut and dill. We’ve also introduced for the first time ever a Build Your Own Charcuter-tree (799g, £25) for the perfect, fun centrepiece.