Marks & Spencer has launched a new Chocolate, Strawberry & Pistachio Creme Sandwich in the UK, supported by a £900,000 investment from long-term supplier partner Greencore Group in a dedicated nut production facility at its Northampton manufacturing site.
The new sandwich went on sale in M&S Foodhalls on 24 June, just ahead of the Wimbledon tennis championships. The investment enables Greencore to produce nut-containing food-to-go products safely and at scale, while supporting M&S’s strategy of expanding product innovation and manufacturing capabilities across its food business.
The launch follows the success of last year’s Red Diamond Strawberry & Creme Sandwich, which sold more than one million units in five weeks.
What is the M&S fortress factory strategy?
The M&S fortress factory strategy is a long-term manufacturing partnership model in which dedicated supplier facilities are aligned closely with M&S’s product development and growth plans. The approach is designed to encourage suppliers to invest in new capabilities, increase production capacity and support differentiated product innovation.
Greencore’s Northampton site is one of these dedicated facilities and plays a significant role in M&S’s food-on-the-move category.
At a glance
- M&S launched a new Chocolate, Strawberry & Pistachio Creme Sandwich on 24 June.
- Supplier partner Greencore invested £900,000 in a dedicated nut production facility.
- The new facility is located at Greencore’s Northampton manufacturing site.
- The investment allows safe, large-scale production of nut-containing products.
- Last year’s Red Diamond Strawberry & Creme Sandwich sold more than one million units in five weeks.
- The facility also supports production of M&S’s recently launched Bang Bang Chicken Wrap.
- M&S and Greencore are exploring additional food-to-go products containing nuts.
Why did Greencore invest in a dedicated nut production facility?
The investment was made to create specialist manufacturing capabilities for products containing nuts, an ingredient that requires strict production controls to manage allergen risks.
The new facility enables M&S and Greencore to develop and manufacture nut-based products consistently and at commercial scale, opening the door to future innovation across the retailer’s food-on-the-move range.
Why is the new sandwich important for M&S?
The launch highlights M&S’s focus on premium seasonal products and limited-edition innovation within its convenience food business.
The Chocolate, Strawberry & Pistachio Creme Sandwich combines British strawberries, Fairtrade dark chocolate sauce and roasted pistachio crème served on cocoa-enriched bread. The product builds on the strong sales performance of last year’s strawberry sandwich and demonstrates continued investment in differentiated food offerings.
How important is the food-to-go category for M&S?
Food-to-go is one of M&S Food’s most important growth categories, covering sandwiches, wraps, salads and convenience meals.
Dedicated manufacturing partnerships allow the retailer to develop exclusive products and respond quickly to changing consumer preferences. Investment in production capabilities also helps suppliers introduce new ingredients and formats that may have previously been difficult to manufacture at scale.
What does this mean for the wider supermarket industry?
The investment reflects a broader trend across the supermarket sector, where retailers are increasingly working with strategic suppliers to build dedicated production capabilities.
Premium convenience foods, seasonal products and limited-edition launches are becoming increasingly important drivers of differentiation and customer engagement. Retailers are also investing more heavily in supplier partnerships to improve innovation, supply chain resilience and speed to market.
The move also highlights growing demand for premium food-to-go products featuring indulgent ingredients such as pistachio, which has become increasingly popular across desserts and confectionery categories.
What happens next?
The new nut production facility gives M&S and Greencore additional flexibility to develop future food-to-go products containing nuts and other premium ingredients.
For the wider industry, the investment demonstrates how long-term retailer-supplier partnerships are evolving beyond simple supply agreements and increasingly becoming vehicles for manufacturing investment, product innovation and category growth in the UK convenience food market.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on information released by Marks & Spencer on 24 June 2026 regarding the launch of its Chocolate, Strawberry & Pistachio Creme Sandwich and supplier partner Greencore’s £900,000 investment in a dedicated nut production facility at its Northampton manufacturing site. Additional industry context has been added by Global Supermarket News for editorial purposes.
