M&S launches new strawberries and cream sandwich just in time for Wimbledon

Daily Mail​

8 hours ago

Marks & Spencer has launched a dessert sandwich filled with strawberries and cream in a bid to get Brits hooked on 'sweet sandwiches'.
The high-end retailer, based in London, is charging £2.80 for the 'game-changing' limited edition Red Diamond Strawberry & Creme Sandwich.
The dish is filled with fruit and light whipped cream cheese on fluffy sweetened bread and is inspired by Japanese 'sweet sandos', also known as fruit sandwiches.
The east Asian nation's fruit sandwiches originated from the pop up of fruit shops opening near major train stations and business districts in the early 1900s.
As these businesses grew, many began to open cafes to allow the public to access luxury fruits at a reasonable by incorporating them into dishes such as parfaits, shortcakes and sandwiches.
M&S said that while its latest creation may be mistaken for a dessert, shoppers will find it in the regular savoury sandwich section.
It added that the sandwiches were available to purchase in stores now, with some customers claiming to have already tried it.
One person rated it a '100000/10' and said it was the 'best sandwich ever' while commenting on M&S' Instagram account.
Another said: ''I have tried this already and it is berry berry good.'
A third penned: 'Where are my car keys!!!! I need to get this NOW.'
A fourth commented: 'I might have to treat myself to one on the way to work tomorrow,' while another compared it to 'cake on the go'.
M&S said: 'Inspired by the Japanese sweet sandos, recently spotted popping up in London 's trendiest Japanese patisseries, our product developers have long dreamed of creating a dessert sandwich.
'With our exclusive Red Diamond Strawberries at their juiciest best, the time has finally come to create the ultimate strawberries and creme experience.'
M&S is saying its strawberries and creme sandwich is ideal for 'alfresco lunches, afternoon tea at home, summer picnics, courtside snack breaks or a sweet afternoon pick me up'.
M&S Food first sold freshly made sandwiches in the 1920s, and expanded sales with pre-packed sandwiches in the 1980s.
The retailer's food halls have sold four billion sandwiches to date.
One person rated it a '100000/10' and said it was the 'best sandwich ever' while commenting on M&S' Instagram account
Strawberries and cream are a popular British dessert often enjoyed in the summer months when the fruit is in season in the UK.
The combination is thought to date back to the Tudor era, where dishes of strawberries and cream would be served at Henry VIII's royal banquets.
It has also been made popular after being served at Wimbledon every year and is a popular snack with spectators.
Wimbledon announced are raising the price of their world famous strawberries and cream for the first time in 15 years.
The All England Club have taken great pride in freezing the price of strawberries at £2.50 per portion since 2010, but Mail Sport can reveal that will increase by 20p for 2025.
A spokesperson for the All England Club commented, 'We have taken the decision to slightly increase the price of strawberries this year from £2.50 to £2.70.
'We feel this modest increase still ensures that our world-famous strawberries are available at a very reasonable price.'
With tournament running costs increasing every year, the price hike shows even Wimbledon is not immune to the cost of living crisis.
The club sell around 140,000 punnets per year, meaning the new price will bring in an extra £28,000.
At £2.70 the event's iconic snack is easily the best value food on site. Wimbledon is also one of the very few sporting events which allows fans to bring in their own food and drink - including alcohol - so visitors on a budget can always bring in their own strawberries.
They would not be as fresh as those served up at Wimbledon, however, who only serve strawberries picked that morning and shipped in from the family-run Hugh Lowe Farm in Kent.