OUT OF STOCK
M&S customers devastated as essential range goes missing from shelves in major shake up
Keep scrolling to find out if your favourite product has been axed
M&S SHOPPERS have shared their devastation after noticing a beloved range missing from shelves.
Eagle-eyed shoppers have raised concerns after some of the supermarket's vegan "Plant Kitchen" range is not in its usual spot.
1
Disgruntled customers have taken to X, formally, known as Twitter, to flag the issue with M&S.
One user wrote: "@marksandspencer why have you got rid of most of your Plant Kitchen range? I’ve noticed most of it has disappeared in most stores with the exception of the odd ready meal or frozen thing"
Another shopper was confused as to why the entire range was missing from their local branch.
They said: "@marksandspencer Finsbury Park has got completely rid of their vegan/Plant Kitchen section."
Read more on Money
Meanwhile, a third shopper said they were "distraught" after noticing its vegan "Sweet n Sour" ready meal was no longer available at their branch.
M&S launched its Plant Kitchen range in 2019 following a rise in veganism and meat alternatives.
It has become a fan favourite among shoppers as some Brits remain conscious about their consumption of animal products.
But despite concerns from shoppers, the range is not being axed completely.
Most read in Money
The popular retailer has confirmed to The Sun the Plant Kitchen range is instead undergoing a major revamp.
An M&S spokesperson said: "We are currently working through a big project to relaunch our Plant Kitchen vegan range.
I tried M&S festive food range, there's 450 new products from blinged up pigs in blankets & turkey lasagne to hot honey
"We have not changed the number of vegan products per se, but are in the process of changing their design, upgrading the product quality, launching some key new lines while removing a few others and changing their position in store."
As part of the revamp, some products will no longer be in a designated vegan section and will be spread across the store instead.
For example, a plant-based burger will now be sold alongside beef products.
M&S said this is to support customers who are looking to reduce meat in their diet and try meat-alternative products.
But this has not impressed some customers with one describing it as a "terrible" idea in a Reddit post.
While another joked: "Suddenly realising I'm incredibly lazy and can't be bothered to walk around the entire store to find the few ready meals I can actually eat."
A third customer described the change in lay out as "ridiculous".
Meanwhile, some of M&S's vegan products are undergoing a refresh, meaning their recipe or packing is being changed. These include:
- Plant Kitchen Lasagne - returning in January
- Plant Kitchen stonebaked vegan chicken pizza - replaced with Plant Kitchen BBQ Veggie Pizza
- Plant Kitchen Margherita Sourdough Pizza – currently removed but returning
- Plant Kitchen Wood Fired Hot and Spicy pizza – currently removed but returning
It is not clear when some of these items will be making a return but The Sun will update this article when it receives confirmation.
M&S has also launched four new vegan items which include:
- Plant Kitchen Battered Sweet & Sour Cauliflower
- Plant Kitchen Mushroom Bolognese
- Plant Kitchen Spinach & Cannellini Bean Ravioli
It is not unusual for M&;S to change product ranges.
Earlier this year the store said it would axe some of the treats from its Colin and Connie sweet range as part of a product relaunch.
Over the summer, M&S scrapped its Colin and Connie "Together Forever" sweets.
M&S also confirmed that it is quietly axing the Colin The Caterpillar Fizzy Rainbow sweets.
The sweets were rainbow in colour with a sour sugary coating.
What else is new at M&S?
Thankfully, it is not all doom and gloom for M&S shoppers as the retailer confirmed it will bring back an iconic drink this Christmas.
The supermarket's original snow globe gin liqueur will make a return for the holidays after a hiatus.
Previously, the gin came in two flavours - Clementine and Spiced Sugar Plum - but this year, only the Clementine one will be sold.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The store has started rolling out its entire Christmas range to shoppers, which includes hot honey over halloumi in blankets brie brulee, and Turkey Feast dip.
M&S's food-to-order range for the holidays is also now open for online orders and collection between December 22 and December 24.
Why are products axed or recipes changed?
ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.
Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.
They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.
There are several reasons why this could be done.
For example, government regulation, like the "sugar tax," forces firms to change their recipes.
Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.
They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.
For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.
It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.
Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.
Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.
While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.
Topics