Marks and Spencer picky tea dip is ‘best I’ve tasted – I couldn’t stop eating’

New research shows the UK’s favourite supermarket for picky bits is M&S, with a standout range of dips, deli items, pastries and sharing nibbles

When the sun is shining and temperatures rise, there’s only one thing for it – a picky tea. And now, Marks and Spencer has officially been named the UK’s top supermarket for picky bits, with fresh research revealing shoppers are opting for it over competitors such as Tesco and Iceland when it comes to summer grazing platters and snack spreads.

A YouGov poll found that 44% of Britons picked M&S Food as their preferred choice for picky bits, placing it well ahead of other retailers. The results emerge as the store recently celebrated National Picky Bits Day on June 27, with singer Diana Vickers and podcast co-host Chiara “Ki” Hunter helping revive the beloved Picky Bits song in a fresh campaign.

The timing proves ideal, as picky teas continue to surge in popularity throughout the UK. In fact, 43% of M&S customers report enjoying a picky tea at least once weekly, replacing traditional evening meals with an assortment of dips, deli items, pastries and sharing nibbles.

With football season, garden get-togethers and warm weather entertaining now in full flow, M&S reports that appetite for grazing-style fare has reached unprecedented levels. Among this summer’s star offerings is the new Topped Chicken Tikka Dip (£3.75), which reimagines the retailer’s beloved chicken tikka flavours as a creamy yoghurt-based dip crowned with marinated chicken, coriander and pickled red onions.

It’s accompanied by the Topped Mezze Dip (£3.75), brimming with roasted aubergine, tomatoes, labneh and Kalamata olives for a Mediterranean-influenced showstopper.

Dips are becoming especially fashionable this year as consumers adopt the trend for ‘snackification’, transforming sharing platters into complete meals. M&S has broadened its selection, with offerings including the Creamy Greek Style Dip (£2.50), brimming with feta, olives, tomatoes and herbs, alongside vibrant Flip & Dip pots (£3) in Creamy Basil and Creamy Red Pepper varieties that are designed to be inverted onto a plate for an effortless entertaining solution, reports the Express.

For those assembling a comprehensive grazing board, there are numerous other impressive additions. The Mini Fuet sausages (£4) have already shifted more than 132,000 packs since launch, while the Turkish Grilled Pepperoncini (£4) deliver a smoky, fiery punch.

The Dinky Cheese & Onion Pains au Fromage (£4) provide buttery pastry stuffed with cheese and onion filling, while the Chorizo & Cheese Tortilla (£4) introduces genuine Spanish flavours to any spread. No nibbles selection would be complete without something to scoop up all those dips, and M&S’s Ultimate Dipper Tortillas (£1.25) have been specifically crafted for precisely that purpose, with their extra-large shape rendering them perfect for loaded dips and sharing platters.

For those who remain devoted to Tesco, there are equally appealing nibbles to select from on the site. They stock a range of options available including Tesco Walnuts (200g) for £2.75, Propercorn Sweet & Salty Popcorn (6 x 14g) for £2.10, and Go Ahead Forest Fruit Crispy Fruit Slices Snack Bars Multipack (4 x 43.6g) for £1.25.

Iceland also stocks a range of alternatives for those who prefer to shop there. They offer a multipack of Walkers Prawn Cocktail Crisps for £2.15 or an Iceland Classic Dip Selection (400g) for £2.60.

Back to M&S, where the dips have been garnering rave reviews from shoppers. One buyer of the Topped Chicken Tikka Dip said: “Really enjoyed this dip with plenty of flavour to it. Also good in a wrap with added chicken and lettuce.”

Not everyone was entirely convinced, however, as one shopper noted: “This dip is nice, good texture, my only criticism is it could do with a bit more chicken on it.”

Another wrote: “The best dip I have tasted from M&S, I just couldn’t stop eating it.”

A third person commented: “Wow, this tastes amazing, lovely tikka flavour and huge pieces of chicken throughout. So good with crackers.”