I went shopping in M&S and there was a queue of customers for popular item

M&S is known for its innovative food creations, regularly launching products that spiral into viral sensations — from the strawberry and cream sandwich to loaded dips and the Dubai-style pistachio chocolate bar. However, there appears to be another popular food item flying off shelves this month as we approach Easter — and I saw first-hand just how much people want them.

The cult-favourite Speckled Egg Cookies returned on January 28, and shoppers have been going wild ever since. While passing through the M&S Foodhall in Glasgow’s Silverburn, I noticed a small queue forming around the bakery section. I soon discovered they weren’t waiting for bread or croissants — they were standing by for the shelves to be restocked with a fresh batch of the cookies, which are baked in store throughout the day.

Priced at £3.25 a bag, the cookies are packed with white and milk chocolate buttons, and generously scattered with pastel speckled chocolate eggs.

M&S describes them as: “These limited-edition treats are the latest addition to our viral cookies line-up, so hop to it and try one soon!”

And it’s not just shoppers in store who are clamouring for them. Social media has been flooded with videos of people on a mission to get their hands on a bag — with some even waking up as early as 6am to beat the rush.

One TikTok user, who posts under the handle @frintonfive, shared a clip of herself stationed by the bakery section with the caption: “Getting barricade for M&S Speckled Egg cookies.” An M&S staff member commented beneath the video: “We sold over 200 bags today.”

Meanwhile, food content creator @livnewman__ also posted a review, telling followers: “The M&S Speckled Egg Cookies are finally out. I feel like we’ve been waiting all year for these, literally counting down the days. So yes, I woke up at 6am just to go and get these, and the shelves were pretty stocked, to be fair.”

After hearing what all the fuss was about, I decided it was time to track them down myself. I headed to my local M&S at lunchtime, only to find the bakery shelves completely cleared. At least there were no queues this time.

When I asked a member of staff — and even the in-store baker — I was told they had already sold out for the day and wouldn’t be getting any more in.

Determined to avoid another wasted trip, I checked online for stock availability at nearby stores and picked one that claimed the cookies were “Freshly baked – Ask in store.”

So off I went — this time a little earlier in the day. But when I reached the bakery section, I was met with the same fate: not a single Speckled Egg Cookie in sight. The shelves were completely bare.

It seems these cookies really are like gold dust — entirely dependent on which store you visit and what time you get there.

I refuse to give up on my quest for the Speckled Egg Cookies. But given just how popular they are, I may have to accept defeat and wait until next year.