Marks & Spencer has expanded its "picky bits" range with new dessert dips and a revamped sandwich, timed to coincide with the Wimbledon Championships and National Picky Bits Day on June 27.
The new additions include a Strawberry & Cream Dip and a Chocolate & Pistachio Dip, designed to offer easy-to-prepare dessert options for casual summer meals.
The Strawberry & Cream Dip, priced at £3.25, features a Greek-style yogurt base topped with strawberry compote. M&S suggests pairing it with biscuits or salty pretzels. The Chocolate & Pistachio Dip, costing £3.75, is inspired by the popular Dubai flavor combination and consists of Belgian chocolate ganache swirled with pistachio butter.
These dips are part of M&S's ongoing summer "picky bits" collection, which focuses on tapas-style and grazeable foods introduced in the spring.
Returning to the shelves is the M&S Collection Red Diamond Strawberry & Creme Sandwich, first released last summer. This sandwich, priced at £2.80, is made with fruit and lightly whipped cream cheese on sweetened bread, a nod to Japanese "sweet sandos" and the classic Wimbledon pairing of strawberries and cream.
M&S has also introduced a "Dubai treatment" version of the sandwich, called the Chocolate, Strawberry and Pistachio Sandwich, which costs £3.50. This new product features cocoa-enriched sweetened bread filled with pistachio creme, Belgian dark chocolate sauce, and sliced British strawberries.
M&S research indicates a consumer preference for lighter "picky tea" meals during summer, with 43% of Britons reportedly indulging in such meals weekly. These typically include items like crisps, dips, crudites, pastries, and charcuterie. The retailer aims to cater to all courses, including dessert, with its new offerings.
The Strawberry & Creme Sandwich has previously divided opinions. While some customers praised it enthusiastically on social media, a taste test by the Daily Mail described it as "more like a dessert than a sarnie" and awarded it three out of five stars. Some customers found the cream cheese filling less sweet than expected, a sentiment M&S may be addressing with the richer Chocolate, Strawberry and Pistachio Sandwich.
The association of strawberries and cream with Wimbledon dates back to the late 19th century, when British strawberries were a luxury item for spectators. The fruit's peak ripeness in late June and early July aligns with the tournament's timing.