As Christmas 2023 approaches, supermarkets have identified key trends in festive food and drink with a focus on plant-based options, innovative flavours, and social media-driven dining experiences.
- Despite challenges faced by vegan retailers, supermarkets anticipate strong performance for plant-based foods this Christmas, with Waitrose and Tesco leading the charge.
- Social media influences like TikTok have elevated the popularity of graze and charcuterie boards, leading supermarkets to create unique offerings for festive gatherings.
- Traditional Christmas staples, including turkey, are being reimagined, with supermarkets offering diverse centrepiece options to cater to various preferences.
- The demand for no and low alcohol drinks continues to rise, prompting supermarkets to expand their offerings in this category for the festive season.
In the run-up to Christmas 2023, major supermarkets, including Tesco, Waitrose, and Asda, have been showcasing their selections of festive food and drink trends, highlighting a strong emphasis on plant-based options. Despite the broader industry’s struggles, Waitrose reports a significant increase in interest, with ‘plant-based’ searches up 115% from the previous year. Tesco’s diverse Plant Chef range features over 100 products, tapping into global culinary inspirations.
Social media has increasingly become a trendsetter in the culinary world with platforms like TikTok propelling the popularity of grazing boards. Asda and Tesco have responded by introducing exciting products such as Asda’s Specialty Cheeseboard and Tesco’s Mediterranean olive-inspired creations, designed to resonate with modern festive experiences.
While turkey remains a cornerstone of Christmas festivities, supermarkets are diversifying their centrepiece selections. Tesco offers a wide range of turkey options and unique dishes like a steak pie topped with pigs in blankets. Meanwhile, Waitrose focuses on sustainability with its Shimmering Salmon Mousse, utilising Scottish salmon trim to minimise waste.
The trend towards no and low alcohol beverages has seen substantial growth, with supermarkets expanding their offerings in response to a cultural shift towards moderation. Waitrose and Co-op, among others, are offering a broader range of non-alcoholic options to meet this rising demand.
Innovative dessert options are also gaining traction, exemplified by Asda’s showstopper chocolate and honeycomb dessert, designed to offer a memorable dining experience. Waitrose’s diverse selection, including a Golden Bûche de Noël and a florentine-inspired panettone, further showcases the creative directions in festive dessert offerings.
Supermarkets are embracing the evolving food and drink preferences this Christmas, blending tradition with innovation to meet consumer demand.
