Ah summer. We missed you. The lighter, longer evenings. The afternoon picnics that turn into dinners. The impromptu ‘fancy a BBQ tonight?’ texts sent the second the temperature creeps above 20 degrees. And, of course, the return of fresh summer salads and deliciously naughty freezer treats.
According to M&S, this summer is less about elaborate hosting and more about romanticising the small stuff — picky bits in the park, easy dinners outdoors and snacks that make staying in feel a bit more special.
With more than 500 new products landing in M&S Foodhalls this summer, these are the launches we genuinely think are worth the hype – and the ones we keep buying on repeat.
8 new M&S summer foods worth adding to your trolley immediately
1. Whipped feta dip
This whipped feta dip is, in one word, elite. Made with Greek yoghurt, barrel-aged feta and heaps of fresh herbs, it instantly elevates any picnic spread or ‘girl dinner’. I’ve mostly been eating it with crisps straight from the tub, which honestly feels like the correct (perhaps only?!) way to consume it.
2. Edamame & butterbean crush
For fans of picnics and picky bits, M&S’s new Edamame & Butterbean Crush is a creamy, protein-packed plant-based dip that feels lighter and fresher than your average supermarket dip. I demolished a pack of this over the weekend and can confirm it’s insanely good paired with the Nutrient Dense Super Seeded Crackers.
3. Chicken shish kebabs
With more of us opting for staycations in the UK this year (thank you, cost of living crisis), Mediterranean-inspired food is having a major moment. And just because we’re not sunbathing on the shores of Greece or Turkey this summer doesn’t mean we can’t eat like we are. These chicken shish kebabs channel those sunshine holiday flavours perfectly – making them ideal for easy summer dinners.
4. Jalapeño apple lime hot sauce
I’ll admit I’ve never been much of a hot sauce kinda gal, but this Jalapeno, Bramley Apple & Lime Hawwwt Sauce is a game-changer. It's genuinely delicious on halloumi tacos or poached eggs, and it also pairs perfectly with the viral high-protein Frittata Loaf created by nutritionist Emily English from her new book, So Good Express.
5. Top That seasoning
Seasoning blends are huge on TikTok right now, and this new crispy onion, sesame and poppy seed mix makes it ridiculously easy to level up everything from cottage cheese bowls and poached eggs, to roasted veggies, avo on toast and chopped salads.
6. Passion fruity mini pops
According to M&S’s summer food and drinks report, nearly two-thirds of shoppers say ice lollies and ice cream cones remind them of their childhood summers – which is exactly why nostalgic frozen treats are having a major moment right now. These new Passion Fruity Mini Pops are seriously fun, incredibly refreshing and made for hot-weather snacking.
7. 8-ingredient dark chocolate ice cream
For those wary of ultra-processed everything and ingredients lists so long they sound more like chemistry textbooks, then M&S's popular and ever-expanding 'only...ingredients' range (which literally lists every ingredient on the front of the pack) is worth knowing about. The new Only 8 Ingredients Dark Chocolate Ice Cream is made with just – yes, you guessed it – eight ingredients, and feels like a more mindful way to satisfy any dessert craving without compromising on the rich chocolatey flavour.
8. Choc cone ends
Basically the best bit of a Cornetto, these are the ultimate dangerous freezer snack – the kind you eat straight from the box at 11pm. Yes, they’re a treat, but here at Women’s Health, we’re big believers of the 80:20 rule – healthy eating for 80pc of the time, eating for the fun of it (aka choc cone ends!) for 20pc of the time.
