Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Marks & Spencer to sell own-brand halal ready-meals

MARKS & SPENCER (M&S) is set to become the first major British food retailer to launch its own range of halal ready-meals.

The latest move by the company has come in response to the growing demand from Muslim customers in the UK.


Next Wednesday (6) onwards, customers will be able to shop for halal versions of six dishes across 36 selected M&S stores from Bath to Wycombe Marsh.

The list of six dishes include: Chicken arrabbiata, chicken and mushroom tagliatelle, chicken and leek bake, chicken hotpot, chicken jalfrezi, and chicken tikka masala.

The new halal-prepared meal range will help M&S to deliver a better-localised offer in 36 M&S food stores across the UK.

It will also be sold by M&S’ international franchise partner Al-Futtaim in other markets, including Singapore and Dubai.

Stuart Machin, Managing Director of M&S Food, said: “…M&S Food is changing to become more relevant, more often to families across Britain, and our new halal meal range is a great example of how we are broadening appeal so that more customers can enjoy our delicious, quality food.”

Colleagues across M&S that follow a halal diet have been instrumental in driving the development of the range.

The employees said that there was a contemporary generation of British Muslims who wanted favourable meal options without always having to resort to vegetarian ranges.

Simon Pollitt Khan, a store manager at the M&S Temple Fortune branch in north west London, said he approached the company about the growing demand for halal food.

“Whilst some major retailers are starting to stock halal meat, there are still very few opportunities to eat different flavour foods - such as Italian or more traditional British dishes - in a convenient halal format,” he said.

Marks & Spencer started over 130 years ago. It now has 1,035 stores across the UK earning just under £6 billion from food sales.

“...Customers will be able shop a range of six Halal Food Authority (HFA) certified prepared meal across 36 selected M&S stores. M&S food technologists and its product development team have worked with HFA and M&S suppliers to deliver Halal certified versions of its prepared meals”, the company said in a statement.

The new M&S halal-prepared meal range has a distinctive orange packaging design and logo.

Earlier this year, M&S began stocking a range of Shazans-branded halal chicken products in selected stores and has seen a strong response from local customers.

In the last 12 months, M&S has launched a series of new ranges that have made a commercial impact, such as its plant kitchen range.

In September, M&S also launched Cook With - a range of over 100 time-saving ingredients that make it easier to serve a quick dinner.

More For You

‘All options on the table’ as Britain
prepares for likelihood of US tariffs

Sir Keir Starmer with Jonathan Reynolds

‘All options on the table’ as Britain prepares for likelihood of US tariffs

BRITAIN is likely to be hit by US tariffs despite making “rapid progress” over a trade deal with Washington, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Tuesday (1).

He spoke as US trading partners around the world braced for an expected fresh raft of tariffs from president Donald Trump, in addition to levies already imposed on steel and those set to take effect this week on cars.

Keep ReadingShow less
single-use vapes-iStock

Analysis by Material Focus estimates that 8.2 million vapes are discarded or littered each week in the UK—equivalent to 13 every second. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Shops told to clear single-use vapes before ban starts on June 1

SHOPS across the UK have until 1 June 2025 to sell off remaining stocks of single-use vapes before a nationwide ban comes into force.

The legislation, confirmed last year, follows a government consultation that showed strong support for restricting their sale and supply.

Keep ReadingShow less
Primark-London-Getty

During his 15-year tenure, Marchant expanded Primark’s store network to more than 450 locations across 17 countries in Europe and the United States. (Photo: Reuters)

Primark chief Paul Marchant steps down after misconduct probe

PAUL MARCHANT, the head of fashion retailer Primark, has resigned with immediate effect after admitting to an "error of judgment" in his behaviour towards a woman in a social setting.

Associated British Foods (AB Foods), Primark's parent company, announced his resignation on Monday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jaguar’s bold gamble: Can it woo young, wealthy drivers with a £123k EV?

Jaguar’s bold gamble: Can it woo young, wealthy drivers with a £123k EV?

JAGUAR’S ambition to seduce younger, richer drivers was on full display in Paris with a presentation of its newest prototype, the Type 00, which promises all-electric luxury... at a steep price.

The low-slung, muscular-looking concept car presented to European reporters last Friday (21) prefigures a production model expected mid-2026 at a base cost of €150,000 (£123,472.8).

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Trump-Getty

Trump has suggested the possibility of a 'great' trade deal that could help the UK mitigate the impact of tariffs he has pledged to introduce. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer, Trump talk trade deal progress in 'productive' discussion

KEIR STARMER and Donald Trump spoke on Sunday about ongoing UK-US trade negotiations, with Downing Street describing the talks as "productive."

Since leaving the European Union, the UK has been working to secure a trade agreement with the United States. Successive British governments have pursued a deal, but it has remained elusive.

Keep ReadingShow less