I want the packaging to feel really organic and homely yet still have that touch of sophistication and high quality that Marks and Spencer customers expect.

I think the use of brown recycled stock is a great idea as it supports Marks and Spencer's values and also gives that organic feel.

French Picnic Foods

I have researched into some typically French foods and found what I feel would be appropriate on a picnic menu:

Green Bean Tomato Salad with Herbs

Salade Niçoise is one of the great dishes of Southern France. It's the centerpiece of a summer party that's all about sunny Mediterranean style.

A Niçoise salad isn't complete without the traditional accompaniments. Serve this with Niçoise tuna steaks, mixed olives, anchovies, hard-boiled eggs and steamed potatoes tossed with olive oil and herbs.

Ratatouille

A Ratatouille is a vegetable stew from the Provence region of France. It is made of eggplant, zucchini, tomato, onion, garlic and seasonings -- usually basil and thyme.

The ingredients are cooked together until tender, or they may be cooked separately and then combined. Ratatouille can be served hot or cold as an appetizer or side dish.

Duck Liver Pâté/Foi Gras:

Foie gras (French for "fat liver") is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. It is a popular and well-known delicacy in French cuisine. Its flavour is described as rich, buttery, and delicate, unlike that of an ordinary duck or goose liver. Foie gras is sold whole, or is prepared into mousse, parfait, or pâté.

Quiche Lorraine

Quiche Lorraine is the original form of quiche, from the French region of Lorraine. It is an open savoury pie, filled with a cream and egg custard, and usually containing pork in some sort or other.

Selection of French cheese

• - Roquefort
• - Cambert and Brie
• - Boursin
• - Reblochon
• - Pont l'Evèque

Croissants

Brief and spinach 

Strawberries and Grapes

Punitions (French Shortbread Cookies)

French Baguette 

Olivier cornichons

The French traditionally serve cornichons (pickled baby cucumbers) and other crunchy sour pickles as a contrast to rich foods such as cheese and terrines.

Terrine:

French forcemeat loaf similar to a pâté, made with more coarsely chopped ingredients.

Crudités:

Traditional French appetizers comprising sliced or whole raw vegetables which are sometimes dipped in a vinaigrette or another dipping sauce. Crudités often include celery sticks, carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus spears; sometimes olives depending on local customs.

Black olive tapenade

Black olives are the authentic choice for Provençal tapenade, though it's the capers (tapeno) that give this full-flavoured paste its name. Great with crudités, it can also be used as a topping for hard-boiled eggs, or as a garnish for grilled meat or fish.

Tarte Tatin:

A traditional French pastry dessert - An upside-down tart in which the fruit (usually apples) are caramelised in butter and sugar before the tart is baked.

Leek and Roquefort Cheese Tartlets

Verrine Fraicheur: 

Cucumber, Yogurt and Smoked Salmon

Smoked Salmon and Lemon Crème Fraîche Finder Sandwiches

Savoury Tartine

Ricotta cheese, Avocado, Eggplant, Cherry tomatoes, Chives, Lemon, radish, Piquillo Peppers

Red Bell Pepper and Tomato Salad

Parisienne Seafood Salad with  shrimp, scallops, crab, green onions, garlic, lemon and lime

Green Olive and Almond Tapenade

Golden Onion Tart with Gruyère and Thyme

French bean and chorizo salad

 

Apricot Brioche 

Mushroom and Tarragon Pate

Bread:

Onion and bacon fougasse

Pan bagnat loaf stuffed with salade nicoise

Olive fougasse

Mini chocolate pithviers:

Traditional pithiviers are French pastries with an almond filling - these have an added chocolate twist 

Smoked Salmon and Dill Crepes

Red Pepper Gougers - Delicate miniature cheese puffs

French Picnic Tart with Potatoes, Red Pepper, Sage and Gruyere 

Palmiers: Puff pastry cookie

French Imagery

M&S Paris Store

Marks & Spencer Chief Executive, Marc Bolland, was yesterday joined by model, actress and the current face of Autograph, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, to unveil M&S’ new flagship store at 100 Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris.

The store trades over 3 floors and is 1,400 square metres in size – it’s our first store in France in the 10 years since our previous stores closed down. Last month we also launched our first international website, www.marksandspencer.fr, serving customers across France…and keep your eyes peeled for further stores around the French capital.

Located on Paris’ premier shopping street, the new aspirational store offers customers the very best of M&S’ stylish womenswear and lingerie, as well as a specially chosen selection of food. 

Following the opening, Marc Bolland said: “We’re delighted to officially return to France today with our new store in the heart of Paris. We’ve had numerous requests from consumers in France for our food and clothing, so we’re pleased to be back serving French customers once again.

“Our new store on the Champs-Élysées allows us to showcase M&S’ products to customers across the capital. Our French website allows customers throughout France to order our products in their own language and currency. We’ve already had a great reception from customers this morning.”

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley – looking fantastic in a spring season Autograph dress – added: “It’s been a pleasure to be part of Marks & Spencer’s much anticipated return to France today and I’m proud to be associated with this iconic British brand. Parisians are internationally renowned for their effortless style and the M&S Autograph collection embodies the same chic sense of fashion.”