Marks and Spencer makes major change to bread in 200 UK stores – full list | UK | News

Marks and Spencer has made a major change to the breads sold in its 200 UK stores as part of its aim to halve food waste.

The retailer turns unsold loaves of fresh bread into frozen garlic bread, which can then be purchased from freezers in selected stores. Baguettes and bouillons baked daily that are not purchased by the end of the day will be cut and filled with creamy garlic butter before being frozen rather than thrown away.

Customers can choose from a range of breads with a 30-day extended shelf life, including sourdough, baguette, West Country cheddar and red Leicester garlic cob. The frozen garlic bread products are priced at £1 for the baguette or £1.80 for a two-pack and £2 for the garlic bouillon and are now available in 200 M&S stores across the UK following a successful trial in eight stores.

M&S said the “reinvented” products were part of its 2030 target to halve food waste. The products are also sold in 100% widely recycled packaging made from translucent paper or paper with small plastic windows to help customers recycle more.

M&S highlighted frozen garlic bread loaves in a post on its Instagram page last week, saying: “We’re turning our unsold bakery loaves into something delicious! Need some fresh garlic bread to pair with dinner tonight?”

“In selected stores, we buy our daily cooked baguettes and bouillons, which are not sold at the end of the day, fill them with creamy garlic butter and freeze them, ready for you to take home and eat!

“Choose from our classic garlic baguettes to sourdough and even our cheesy western cheddar and red leicester garlic cob. Our frozen garlic breads, available in our in-store bakery, are one of the ways we’re committed to reducing food waste in store. You can pick up one of our frozen garlic breads in selected stores NOW!”

During the trial period, M&S tested the entire process, from behind-the-scenes operations to customer interaction, and following the positive response, all 200 stores have now started using shelf-side signage to engage customers in the concept of reducing food waste.

David Moon, head of the WRAP collaboration, added: “Bread is the second most wasted food item in the household, with nearly a million loaves thrown away every day.

“Bread, a product with a short shelf life, can also become surplus at the end of the trade. This initiative from M&S offers a simple solution to a real problem, turning surplus product into a brand new product to be enjoyed again and preventing food waste.”

“We welcome the widespread promotion from M&S, a signatory of Courtauld 2025, and the retailer’s clear message to shoppers that every effort is being made to prevent food being wasted. Freezing bread at home is an excellent way to give loaves new life.”

There are 200 Marks and Spencer stores listed that currently sell frozen garlic bread loaves: