A shopper thought it was ‘ludicrous’ when they opened the M&S festive food catalogue and saw a turkey that ‘roamed on cherry orchards and meadows’ being sold for £150
Shoppers are furious after seeing the price of a Marks and Spencer Christmas turkey in its festive food catalogue. Many people would consider Christmas dinner as the main event of the festive season.
There is a lot of pressure on whoever cooks the Christmas dinner, especially when it comes to cooking and serving a turkey. Some families drop a huge amount of money on a turkey bigger than any normal dinner plate, to feed dozens of people, while others may be trying to keep costs low and settle for a frozen supermarket bird.
But when one Reddit user opened the M&S Christmas food catalogue and saw a turkey being advertised for £150, they couldn’t help but fume. The bird costs £33.33 per kg and is 4.5kg in weight.
They said: “I am wrong in thinking that £150 for a single Turkey is a ludicrous price?”
The product description said: “Free to roam on cherry orchards and meadows, this exceptional festive centrepiece has been slower-grown for tenderness and then dry hung for up to 10 days to intensify its rich, complex flavour. Hand-prepared by our butchers, it includes giblets to use in your own stocks and gravies.”
Hundreds of people responded to the shoppers question, with a carvery owner weighing in on the price. They said: “I run a carvery for a living, the price of wholesale turkey has gone up but that is a big turkey at 14kg, ours are around £30 for a 5kg which is direct from a butchers, means they are marking up around £60. Last year Morrisons were selling similar sized ones for £120 I think.”
A second added: “For that price I would want the turkey to have been blessed by the Pope, and have had the best foods whilst it was alive.”
Another said: “I think perception of what things should cost is skewed by the four quid supermarket chicken you can get that can’t possibly have been raised well, or for long. Don’t get me wrong, 150 quid is definitely a brand tax too, but we’re all aware of that sort of mark up.”
A second said: “I’d argue this bird is a little overpriced for an equivalent product. I can get a 5kg bronze turkey for £110 from a butcher I trust – having had it before I can’t imagine for a second this one is £40 worth better, but maybe it is. Ultimately if you go to a supermarket you are paying some costs towards advertising, rents etc.”
A third added: “It is silly. Personally I’m not the biggest fan of turkey. Yes, I know how to cook, yes I know how to make it juicy, but it’s just not worth the effort, for what is a pretty boring meat. I always just get several chickens, which works out cheaper and simpler.”
A fourth joked: “That’s not just any Turkey, that’s a perfect every time Marks and Spencer’s turkey.”
Many shoppers jumped to the defence of M&S by pointing out there are many different price points available in every supermarket or butchers.
One said: “Yeah to honest, you are wrong – it’s sort of reverse elitism. Turkeys. like most things, come in different grades to suit different budgets, just like cars. Just because something’s out of your (or my) price range doesn’t make it ridiculous.
“There are literally cheaper options on the same page, and of course other shops will have lower grade birds too. I don’t think Marks plan to sell millions of them, but £15 – £18 per serving, for what sounds like a really tasty turkey doesn’t seem that crazy to some. It sounds absolutely bloody delicious.”
A second added: “That is a specialty bird designed for people who don’t even look at price tags. In our unequal world, there are plenty of people who are like this. Gold leaf on their steak for £250 anyone? Plenty!”