M&S just rediscovered a Christmas classic in its archives – and brought it back

The latest seasonal arrivals have landed in M&S Foodhalls, and there's plenty of big festive flavours and fun nostalgic twists in the mix.

The biggest news is the return of the nostalgic Big Six biscuit assortment (£5), packing six customer favourites inside a retro St Michael-inspired carton. New for this Christmas, the box has been reimagined from the M&S Archive; we personally love the retro 1950s look.

Shoppers can expect 21 biscuits inside the red and yellow carton, with these six varieties:

• Milk Chocolate Fudge Cream
• Milk Chocolate Sandwich Finger
• Jam Sandwich Cream
• Outrageously Chocolatey Marbled Whirl
• All Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie
• Outrageously Chocolatey Milk Chocolate Shortcake

Martha Coakley, M&S Lead Product Developer for Biscuits & Savoury Snacking, said: "The best festive treats feel generous, nostalgic and made for sharing. The moment we rediscovered the original Big Six biscuit carton in the M&S Archive, we knew we had to bring it back, filled with the biscuits our customers love today.

Together with our delicious chocolate and biscuits, we've created products that are perfect for gifting and bringing people together throughout the festive season. For me, that's what this time of year is all about!"

Shoppers can also expect the return of Caramel Crunch (£10), which proved a hit with UK shoppers last year. These crunchy morsels are made in small batches with sustainably sourced Swiss milk chocolate, golden caramel and crunchy cornflakes. Anything crunchy and covered in chocolate gets my vote, so these will be going straight into my virtual basket.

Another new product for Christmas 2026 is the Collection Single Origin Chocolate & Stem Ginger Panettone. This definitely sounds like a level up from your standard sweet loaf – baked in Italy by the Di Gennaro family over 56 hours with Alpine butter from Piedmont for rich, creamy depth and a feathery texture. Candied ginger and chunks of 75% single-origin Dominican Republic dark chocolate are also studded into the bread for an aromatic, bittersweet finish. Lulu Grimes went to the M&S Christmas food preview and claimed this as her favourite new product, saying: "It should tear into giant shreds when eaten, and this one does. Sublime."

You can also expect lots from panettone flavours, such as:

• The Classic Panettone (£12.50)
• Cranberry & Orange Panettone (£3.75)
• Double Chocolate Panettone (£3.75)
• Lemon & Orange Panettone (£3.75)
• Collection Italian Nocciolato Panettone (£20)

Harry Peak, M&S Lead Product Developer for Bakery, said: “Panettone has become a much-loved part of seasonal celebrations, so this year we wanted to offer something for every occasion, from traditional favourites to delicious new twists. We carefully select the perfect ingredients to make every panettone extra delicious.

Our new Chocolate and Ginger flavour is a personal favourite, particularly for brunch, with slow-fermented sourdough, warming ginger and intense single-origin dark chocolate.

Each of our panettones has been created to bring a real sense of theatre to the table, whether it is being shared with guests or given as a thoughtful gift.”

With its general Christmas food launch revealed earlier this month, M&S keeps on giving shoppers more reason to stock up, plan gifts or get into the festive spirit early.

For more festive shopping inspiration, discover the equivalent releases from Waitrose, Morrisons and Tesco.

Next, check out our round-up of the best Advent calendars for 2026

*Please note that prices may vary in selected stores.