December 22nd 2024.
Stephen Fitzgerald is the mastermind behind all the delicious and innovative food products at Marks & Spencer. From charming biscuit tins to enchanting gin snow globes and elaborate charcuterie Christmas trees, M&S always seems to be leading the way when it comes to seasonal food trends, elevating the buffet and dinner tables across the UK. As the head of product development at the retailer, Stephen is responsible for deciding what ends up on the supermarket shelves and ultimately, our plates every Christmas.
Stephen considers himself incredibly fortunate to have one of the best jobs in the world. Designing scrumptious and delightful food is not just a job for him, it's an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. He firmly believes that the food they create must be nothing short of delicious. This is their main aim and they strive to achieve it every day. Stephen has been working at M&S for 12 years, starting as a development chef. He has seen the company evolve and grow during this time, and has been a crucial part of its success.
Christmas is a time when everyone wants to indulge a little more than usual. Stephen knows this and works tirelessly to come up with new and exciting treats for customers. However, there is one essential rule that the team follows when creating products for the holiday season. There has to be a balance between traditional and novel, as Christmas is a nostalgic time of year when people want to hold on to their food traditions, but also crave something new and interesting. The team's motto is to change only one thing, and not two, as too much change can be overwhelming for customers. They gently guide them towards change, rather than forcing it upon them.
One of the new additions to the Christmas range in 2024 was the Turkey Feast Lasagne. This dish replaced the traditional beef mince with a slow-cooked turkey ragu, sausagemeat, and cranberry stuffing, all layered between egg pasta and a rich bechamel sauce. Stephen likes to take a classic dish, like lasagne, and put a unique twist on it. In this case, they added elements from their popular Turkey Feast sandwich, while keeping the familiar format. Stephen acknowledges that this may not be the most authentic Italian lasagne, but it has been a hit with customers.
Another twist on a classic in the Christmas range is the Brussels Sprout & Leek Gratin. This dish combines British Brussels sprouts with a creamy white wine sauce, leeks, cavolo nero, vintage cheddar, and mozzarella, topped with crispy onions and ciabatta breadcrumbs. Stephen and his team wanted to create something for those who may not be fond of sprouts. They aimed to strike a balance between a traditional cauliflower cheese bake and Brussels sprouts, and the result was a delicious and unique product.
While customers are just now discovering the Turkey Feast Lasagne and Brussels Sprout Gratin, Stephen and his team are already looking ahead to the Christmas range for 2025. They start working on festive food up to a year in advance, which means that every day feels like Christmas in the test kitchen. However, it's not just the food that takes time to perfect, the packaging can also take months to design and create. For example, the light-up tins, such as Santa's Workshop and the snowing chocolate box, require a lot of innovation and can take up to 18 months to come together. Stephen and his team are dedicated to creating magical and memorable experiences for customers, and their hard work and attention to detail truly shine through in their products.
Meet Stephen, the mastermind behind the delicious food offerings at Marks & Spencer. From delightful biscuit tins to unique gin snow globes, M&S always stays ahead of the game when it comes to seasonal food trends. Stephen, who is the head of product development at the retailer, plays a crucial role in deciding what ends up on the supermarket shelves and our plates every Christmas.
At 53 years old, Stephen considers himself lucky to have one of the best jobs in the world. His passion for designing mouth-watering food is evident in the products that make it to M&S's holiday range. "Our main aim is to create food that is not only amazing but also incredibly delicious," he shares.
And when it comes to Christmas, indulgence is the name of the game. However, Stephen, who has been with M&S for 12 years, knows that he can't go overboard with creating new treats for the festive season. There is one essential rule that the team follows - balance. "Christmas is all about nostalgia and tradition, but people also want something new and exciting," he explains. "We have a motto - change one thing, but don't change two. It's important not to overwhelm our customers."
Take, for example, the Turkey Feast Lasagne, a new addition to the Christmas range in 2024. Instead of beef mince, it features a slow-cooked turkey ragu, sausagemeat, and cranberry stuffing, sandwiched between layers of egg pasta and a rich bechamel sauce. "We wanted to put a twist on the classic lasagne by incorporating elements from our popular Turkey Feast sandwich," Stephen says. "It's a familiar format with a new and exciting flavor combination."
Another twist on a classic is the Brussels Sprout & Leek Gratin. This dish combines British Brussels sprouts with a creamy white wine sauce, leeks, cavolo nero, vintage cheddar, and mozzarella, topped with crispy onions and ciabatta breadcrumbs. "Sprouts are a staple at Christmas, but not everyone loves them. So we wanted to create a dish that would appeal to everyone," Stephen explains. "We took inspiration from cauliflower cheese and combined it with Brussels sprouts, and the result is amazing."
While most of us are just discovering these new dishes, Stephen and his team are already working on the Christmas range for 2025. They start developing new products up to a year in advance, which means they get to enjoy the festive spirit every single day in the test kitchen. And it's not just about the food; the packaging also takes months to perfect. "Our light-up tins, like Santa's Workshop and the snowing chocolate box, are a result of months of innovation and hard work," Stephen reveals.
In the end, it's all worth it when they see the joy and excitement on their customers' faces. And as we eagerly wait for the next Christmas range, one thing is for sure - Stephen and his team will continue to surprise and delight us with their delicious and innovative creations.
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