
M&S Love Sausage: Discontinued Status, Reviews & Where to Buy
There’s a specific kind of British Valentine’s ritual that involves a certain heart-shaped sausage, and if you’ve found this article, you’re probably mourning its absence. The M&S Love Sausage—9 inches of pure viral awkwardness—sold out year after year from 2019 until its last confirmed sighting in 2023.
Length: 9 inches · Weight: 450g · Flavors: 4 varieties · Status: Discontinued 2024 · Launch Context: Valentine’s special
Quick snapshot
- Heart-shaped pork sausage wrapped in smoked bacon (Good Housekeeping review)
- Launched in 2019, sold 33,000 packets in 2020 alone (The Independent news report)
- Last confirmed availability: February 9, 2023 (Good Housekeeping review)
- Whether M&S has any plans to bring it back
- Exact nutritional breakdown from primary sources
- Current reseller availability and pricing
- Pre-2019: Initial launch as Valentine’s special (YouTube promotional review)
- 2023: Last confirmed return, available February 9 (YouTube promotional review)
- Feb 2024: No sausage mention in £25 Valentine’s deal (YouTube promotional review)
- No evidence of Love Sausage in M&S 2026 lineup (M&S official Valentine’s food ordering page)
- Alternative Valentine’s meal deals fill the gap (M&S official Valentine’s food ordering page)
- Fans can monitor M&S for future seasonal announcements (M&S official Valentine’s food ordering page)
The table below compiles the documented specifications from verified sources.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Love Sausage |
| Brand | M&S Food |
| Length | 9 inches |
| Weight | 450g |
| Shape | Heart-shaped |
| Composition | Pork sausage wrapped in bacon |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Debut Year | 2019 |
What is love sausage?
The M&S Love Sausage is a heart-shaped pork sausage wrapped in smoked bacon, designed specifically for Valentine’s Day breakfast. Good Housekeeping describes it as “the UK’s obsession”—a big, thick, heart-shaped tube of pig parts wrapped in bacon that became a viral sensation the moment it hit shelves in 2019. The product spawned countless social media posts, with fans cracking two eggs into the center for a breakfast-in-bed presentation that doubled as Valentine’s content.
Origin and description
M&S launched the Love Sausage in 2019, and it sold out in minutes. The Independent reported that M&S press materials stated “Customers couldn’t wait to get their hands round one.” Its viral status led to annual returns through 2023, making it an enduring Valentine’s feature in UK M&S stores.
Connection to M&S Valentine’s range
The Love Sausage was marketed as the centerpiece of M&S Valentine’s offerings, recommended for serving on buttered muffins or crumpets. The brand’s own marketing called it “the UK’s obsession” continuing yearly, and it featured prominently in their seasonal food campaigns.
Who makes M&S sausages?
M&S works with select British suppliers for their sausage range, with Finnebrogue Artisan identified as a key producer. The M&S Archive traces their sausage history back to 1884, when provisions including sausages and bacon first appeared in their stores. Today, M&S maintains strict quality standards, sourcing British free-range pork for their premium sausage lines.
M&S suppliers like Finnebrogue
Finnebrogue Artisan has been associated with M&S sausage production, supplying premium products that meet the retailer’s specifications for British free-range pork content. The Love Sausage specifically contained 56% Cumberland sausage in its standard form, with variants like the Spice Up Your Love Sausage featuring 80% pork content.
Quality standards
M&S positions its food quality as a core differentiator. Their Valentine’s products, including the Love Sausage, were no exception—premium pork, British sourcing, and distinctive shapes that justified the Valentine’s premium pricing. The Spice Up Your Love Sausage variant was also gluten-free, including red peppers in its chorizo-style formulation.
The pattern shows M&S typically keeps supplier relationships opaque, making Finnebrogue’s documented involvement notable.
Where to buy M&S love sausage?
The Love Sausage was exclusively available in UK M&S stores during Valentine’s periods. Unlike standard M&S products, it never appeared in the regular online catalogue—only in physical stores during its limited seasonal runs.
Current stock status
There is no evidence of Love Sausage in the current M&S lineup. The M&S official site shows no product page for the Love Sausage, and the 2026 Valentine’s ordering page contains no mention of the product as of May 2026. Searches on M&S.com for “Love Sausage” return no results.
Alternatives if discontinued
The M&S £25 Valentine’s Day meal deal serves as the current seasonal alternative, offering a complete Valentine’s dining experience without the novelty sausage. For fans seeking similar heart-shaped foods, the market has seen occasional competitor imitations, though none match the original’s viral cultural cachet.
What this means: shoppers hoping to replicate the Love Sausage experience have no direct replacement to turn to.
Is M&S love sausage discontinued?
The evidence points strongly toward discontinuation. No official M&S announcement confirms this, but the pattern is unmistakable: the Love Sausage appeared from 2019 through 2023, with 2023 being its last confirmed availability on February 9. By 2024, M&S promoted a £25 Valentine’s meal deal with no mention of the sausage at all.
Timeline of availability
The Love Sausage launched in 2019, sold 33,000 packets in 2020, returned with a spicy variant in 2021 (available only February 10-14 in selected shops), became a bestseller by 2022, and appeared one final time on February 9, 2023. The Independent’s search for “M&S Love Sausage 2024” returned no relevant results, and the absence of 2024 reviews or sales data indicates likely discontinuation.
Reasons for axing
M&S has not publicly stated why the Love Sausage was discontinued. Possible factors include: manufacturing complexity of the heart-shaped mould, seasonal demand volatility, or a strategic shift toward complete meal deals rather than individual novelty items. The product’s viral status made it famous, but fame doesn’t guarantee profitability.
What this means: the Love Sausage follows a common retail pattern where seasonal novelties have a finite shelf life regardless of their cultural impact.
What is the M&S Valentine’s meal deal?
The M&S Valentine’s meal deal is a £25 package offering a complete romantic dinner for two. In 2024, this deal replaced the Love Sausage as the seasonal centrepiece, featuring multiple courses without the novelty sausage element.
Love sausage role in deal
The Love Sausage was never officially part of a Valentine’s meal deal—it sold separately as a standalone novelty item. M&S positioned it as a Valentine’s morning breakfast treat, distinct from their evening meal offerings.
Menu details
The 2024 £25 Valentine’s meal deal included starter, main, sides, dessert, and drinks—a complete Valentine’s experience. YouTube coverage confirmed the deal’s existence with no mention of the Love Sausage, suggesting a deliberate shift away from the novelty product toward more traditional romantic dinner offerings.
M&S Love Sausage: Specs and Variants
The documented variants show that M&S experimented with at least four iterations before the product line ended.
| Variant | Pork Content | Special Features | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Love Sausage | 56% Cumberland sausage | Heart-shaped, bacon-wrapped | Feb 9, 2023 |
| Spice Up Your Love Sausage | 80% | Chorizo-style, chili glaze, gluten-free | Feb 10-14, 2021 |
| Smoky Style | Not specified | Smoked bacon wrapping | Multiple years |
| Standard Varieties | Not specified | 4 total varieties | Annual |
Should You Still Look for the Love Sausage?
Upsides
- Viral cultural moment that lived up to the hype
- Premium British free-range pork quality
- Instagram-ready presentation for Valentine’s content
- Proven bestseller in its peak years
Downsides
- Appears discontinued with no confirmation of return
- No official nutritional data from primary sources
- Limited availability window (days, not weeks)
- Precludes easy price comparison or bulk purchasing
The catch: without stock appearing anywhere in verified M&S channels, even dedicated fans face a dead end.
M&S Love Sausage Timeline
Three distinct phases mark the Love Sausage’s journey from viral launch to likely discontinuation.
| Period | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-2019 | Initial launch as Valentine’s special | Good Housekeeping |
| 2020 | 33,000 packets sold, averaging 4,700 per day | The Independent |
| 2021 | Spicy variant released (Feb 10-14), 80% pork content | YouTube Review |
| 2022 | Became a bestseller per M&S statements | Good Housekeeping |
| 2023 | Last confirmed availability (Feb 9) | Good Housekeeping |
| 2024 | £25 Valentine’s deal, no sausage mention | YouTube |
| 2026 | No evidence in current M&S Valentine’s lineup | M&S Official Site |
What We Know vs What We Don’t
The available evidence paints a clearer picture for some facts than others.
Confirmed facts
- Discontinued in 2024 per absence of evidence across M&S channels
- 9 inches long from documented social media posts
- 450g pack size from verified product mentions
- Heart-shaped pork sausage wrapped in smoked bacon
- Sold 33,000 packets in 2020, averaging 4,700 per day
- Last confirmed availability: February 9, 2023
What’s unclear
- Future return plans—M&S has not announced anything
- Exact calorie count—primary source nutritional data unavailable
- Current reseller stock—third-party availability unverified
- Reason for discontinuation—M&S has not commented publicly
- Whether the heart-shaped mould exists in storage for a future revival
The Love Sausage’s viral success may have been its undoing—once a novelty peaks in cultural awareness, retailers often pivot before the novelty expires.
What People Said About the Love Sausage
“It’s what you’ve ALL been waiting for… the LOVE SAUSAGE IS BACK.”
— M&S, via Instagram (2023)
“Customers couldn’t wait to get their hands round one.”
— M&S Press Release (2020)
“An enduring feature of Valentine’s Day, last year the Love Sausage became a bestseller YET AGAIN and the UK’s obsession is set to continue.”
— M&S (2022)
M&S has not issued a formal discontinuation statement. The absence of Love Sausage in current seasonal catalogues and on the M&S official site is the strongest available evidence of its exit—but the brand has revived products before.
For M&S Valentine’s shoppers: the choice is narrowing
Without a confirmed product page or seasonal listing, the Love Sausage appears to have left the building. No third-party retailer carries it, and M&S has offered no hint of a 2026 return. The £25 Valentine’s meal deal fills the gap for romantic dinners, but for fans seeking that specific heart-shaped breakfast experience, alternatives don’t really exist—which is exactly what made the original worth writing about.
Related reading: Chicken and Ham Pie Recipe · How to Make Peppercorn Sauce
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in a M&S sausage?
Primary source nutritional data for the Love Sausage is unavailable. Standard M&S sausages range approximately 250-350 calories per sausage depending on size and ingredients. For precise figures, M&S would need to publish a product-specific label.
What sausage is best for cholesterol?
Lower-fat sausage options with high-quality protein sources are generally better for cholesterol management. Look for reduced-fat pork sausages, chicken sausages, or plant-based alternatives. M&S offers several healthier sausage variants, though none carry specific health claims.
Which are the best supermarket sausages?
Taste tests consistently rank M&S, Waitrose, and some premium butcher brands highest. The Love Sausage placed 7th in one YouTube sausage ranking—but the Spice Up Your Love Sausage scored 8.3/10 from the same reviewer.
Do over 60s get a discount at M&S?
M&S offers a Sparks 60+ discount for members over 60, providing personalized offers and early access to sales. This applies across food, clothing, and home categories, but specific Valentine’s deals may have limited availability.
What is the healthiest sausage to eat for weight loss?
Chicken sausages, reduced-fat pork options, or lean beef sausages under 200 calories each support weight loss goals. Avoiding high-fat bacon wrapping and monitoring portion sizes matters. M&S offers several lighter sausage options in their regular range.
What sausage is good for diabetics?
Sausages with lower sodium, minimal added sugars, and high protein content work better for diabetic meal plans. The Spice Up Your Love Sausage was gluten-free with 80% pork content, but diabetics should check labels for specific sugar and sodium levels.