M&S is selling Valentine’s Day chocolate treats that shoppers say is like ‘something from Poundland or Ann Summers’
MARKS & Spencer has ignited a firestorm of controversy with its 2025 Valentine’s Day chocolate range.
The high-end grocer, known for its posh nosh, has rolled out a selection that’s as cheeky as it is sweet, sparking heated debates among shoppers.
At the centre of the storm is a milk chocolate banana dubbed ‘You’re Appealing’.
This treat, made from milk chocolate and filled with butterscotch biscuits, has left some customers chuckling and others shaking their heads.
Priced at £3.75 for 60g, it’s not just the taste that’s got people talking.
One unimpressed shopper took to Facebook to vent: “That’s very Poundland type of stuff.”
Another quipped, “Butterscotch? Wouldn’t it have made sense if it was banana flavoured chocolate?”
But not everyone was critical.
A third shopper simply declared, “That’s amazing.”
But the chocolate banana isn’t the only eyebrow-raiser in M&S’s love-themed lineup.
The retailer has also unveiled ‘Love Struck’, a solid milk chocolate cupid’s arrow.
This saucy sweet has similarly caused a ripple, with one amused shopper commenting: “Look at M&S getting their kink on.”
Another asked, “I’d like to know who came up with these in M&S product development?”
A third said: “Is it only me, or do these look like they should be sold in Ann Summers?”
CHEEKY CHOCOLATE
This isn’t the first time M&S’s Valentine’s range has drawn attention.
Last year, the retailer released an array of cheekily designed chocolates, including ones shaped like lips, an aubergine, a cherry, and a peach.
While the shapes might have seemed innocent, the aubergine emoji is often associated with male genitalia, and a peach is often used to represent a bum.
The promotion of the cheeky collection was just as playful, with M&S sharing a video on their Instagram page that showed a woman luxuriating among red silk sheets, suggestively eating the chocolates.
The post, filled with innuendo, teased, “Warning: the following video contains extreme levels of cheese (…not that kind!) and chocolate.
“Our naughtiest range ever deserved a naughty-ish vid right? Introducing the perfect gifts for Valentine’s Day.
“And get ready to put your phone away cause things are about to get TASTY around here. From oysters to whips and not forgetting an or two (who are we to judge ).
“So slip into something a little more comfortable and tuck right in (yes ok, we mean eating chocolate on the sofa in your pyjamas. Pop the kettle on too while you’re at it!)”.
The tongue-in-cheek approach received a plethora of reactions from the shoppers with a few feeling rather scandalised.
The full 2025 Valentine’s Day range is available to view on the M&S website and is already begining to hit stores.
So, if you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day gift that’s sure to raise eyebrows, head down to your local M&S.
You can find yours by visiting marksandspencer.com/MSResStoreFinderGlobalBaseCmd.
How to cut the cost of your grocery shop
EXPERTS at money.co.uk have shared some top tips to help you keep your supermarket spend down.
- Write yourself a list – Only buy items that you need. If it isn’t on your list, don’t put it in the trolley
- Create a budget – Work out a weekly budget for your food shopping
- Never shop hungry – You are far more likely to buy more food if your tummy is rumbling
- Don’t buy pre-chopped veggies or fruit – The extra they’ll charge for chopping can be eye-watering
- Use social media – Follow your favourite retailers to find out about the latest deals
- Be disloyal – You may want to go to different stores to find the best bargains
- Check the small print – It’s always worth checking the price per kg/lb/litre when comparing offers so you’re making a like-for-like decision as a bigger box won’t necessarily mean you get more
- Use your loyalty cards – Don’t be afraid to sign up for them all. They all work slightly differently – work out what bonus suits you better and remember to trade in your points for additional rewards
OTHER M&S NEWS
M&S has made a huge change by opening a first-of-its-kind store as part of a new trial in December.
The iconic British retailer opening its first-ever clothing-only shop.
For nearly 100 years, M&S has sold both clothing and fresh produce.
While M&S has operated standalone food stores since 1987, it has never sold clothes in standalone stores.
However, a recent boost in fashion sales has driven the company to trial its first clothing-only store.
The shop located in London’s Battersea Power Station opened to shoppers on December 4.
The new store features a curated selection of women’s and men’s clothing, focusing on premium lines and beauty products.
M&S chief executive Stuart Machin said the trial store would “showcase the best of M&S clothing and beauty at outstanding value”.
The shop includes items like lingerie, £99 cashmere jumpers, and pieces from the trendy Autograph line.
If this trial proves successful, M&S plans to open more clothing and beauty stores across the UK.
The new store now co-exists with M&S’s existing food hall at the Power Station, which opened in 2022.