M&S introduces new meals merchandise to assist Britons enhance their mind well being – and it will solely value you £1.50

Marks and Spencer has set out to encourage the UK population to eat to improve brain health.

In addition to choosing a diet aimed at nourishing the body holistically, the supermarket has released a new item claiming to improve the brain’s cognitive function.

To satisfy an increased demand for health products in January – a time when many work on fitness resolutions – the store launched its biggest ever health collection this month, with around 70 new products.

Featuring in the new line is the Brain Food Brain Ball, described by the chain as ‘a mixed berry ball, filled with almond butter and coated in raspberry powder’.

High in iron and zinc, the product, currently priced at £1.50 on Ocado, is said to be a ‘smarter snacking choice’ for hungry customers.

While the product has just launched this month, it has been in the works for 12 months, with Kathryn, the Director of Product Development at M&S, and her team holding the responsibility of introducing innovative health products.

‘January has always been the month in the retail world for health,’ Kathryn said in a new ITV documentary, Inside M&S at New Year.

She added: ‘Everybody starts to reset again in January, but the reality of it is, people are looking to put goodness into their life on a daily basis.’

‘We get our inspiration from all over the world in terms of what’s happening, it’s a constantly moving environment, which is incredibly exciting.

‘But we really need to make sure that we lead the way on new trends in the market because our customers absolutely expect that.’

She added: ‘I think a range targeting brain health is on the top of everybody’s agenda because they want the best cognitive function and it’s been talked about in the media.

‘So, although any new product…is risky, I think it is the right time to launch a range,’ Kathryn concluded.

Kathryn’s team member Martha devised the development of the new Brain Food Brain Ball.

Despite the process of finding ingredients to match health claims being challenging, Martha settled on a recipe of dates, almonds, and berries, with a nut butter filling.

Elsewhere, the documentary revealed the team’s development process behind a variety of other health focused products, including a blueberry yogurt pot with spirulina and a latte with Lion’s Mane – a mushroom touted with various health benefits.

It comes after a savvy mother shared a hack to get a free treat from Marks & Spencer on your birthday. 

Sharing the revelation on TikTok, Jo, who goes by the username ThisMumCooks, shared the new way M&S customers can get their hands on a free birthday sweet treat.

‘M&S have started giving away free gifts on your birthday and what’s even better is you get an entire month to pick it up,’ she said at the beginning of the video.

Jo, who boasts a popular social media following for her tips of cooking, budgeting and finding the best deals, gathered 290,000 views on the video with customers keen to nab a free birthday goodie. 

She explained that shoppers keen to nab a free gift need to ensure they are signed up to the M&S Sparks app.

Similar to other supermarket’s rewards schemes, such as Tesco Clubcard and Sainsbury’s Nectar, the luxury retailer offers their own Sparks scheme to those who are signed up.

Customers should ensure that they fill in all their details, including their birthday, so they can ensure they make the most of the offer. 

For those who are signed up to the rewards scheme, they will be able to select from a variety of treats anytime during their birthday month – but there is a possible catch.

Jo urged customers to ‘be careful’ since ‘if you’re birthday is at the end of the month, you may end up missing out’.

‘So how do you get it? You get it via the Sparks app – which is definitely worth doing now,’ she explained.

For those whose birthday’s land towards the end of the month, they will need to ensure they access the gift on the day or earlier on in the month – since the freebie is only available during that month.

‘I’m off the Marks and Spencer’s to go and pick mine up and see what we can get,’ she said in the clip, before going inside to select for the array of celebratory treats. 

Heading down to the Trafford Centre food haul in Manchester, the TikToker revealed a sprawling selection of delicious sugary treats that are available as part of the freebie.

She explained that customers celebrating their birthday can choose their free gift from a wide variety of sweet treats.

‘In regards to the free birthday gift, you can get anyone of these tubs of mini bites and there are so many to choose from.’

And for those with a taste for chocolate, birthday celebrators can also pick up an alternative truffle treat.

Jo explained: ‘Or you can pick a box of Swiss chocolate truffles and they’ve even thought of those who have intolerances or want a plant based version,’ she added, revealing a generous selection of chocolates.

The retailer offers both dairy-free and vegan versions of the truffles, so everyone can find something to enjoy on their big day.

‘I chose the dark chocolate truffles,’ revealed the mother, showing off the orange swirled box of sweets. 

‘Like I say, if your birthday is at the end of the month, you only have your birthday month to pick it up .

‘You can pick it up from the first, even if your birthday is on the 31st,’ she confirmed.

An M&S spokesperson told Metro: ‘As part of Sparks, our customer reward scheme, we are delighted to be offering Sparks customers a birthday treat to help them celebrate.

‘Customers will see this in their Sparks hub at the start of their birthday month. To make sure you don’t miss out be sure to update your date of birth in your Sparks profile.’

On the M&S website the Sparks FAQs section adds: ‘The more you shop with Sparks, the more likely you are to be in with the chance of a free treat, or having your shopping paid for by us.

‘Make sure you also opt in to receive Sparks marketing messages to get the most out of Sparks, as we’ll send you an email and/or a message via the M&S app every time a new treat arrives. 

‘Check your marketing preferences in your M&S account to choose how you would like to hear from us.’

Inside M&S at New Year will air at 9pm on Wednesday on ITV.