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While the rest of the UK is thinking about their summer holidays, any good independent retailer will have a colder time of year on their mind already. It may be July but we’ve rounded up a host of NPD for the festive season. We’ve also spoken to a number of delis and farm shops about their plans and sought expert advice on a number of key categories

Compiled by Lynda Searby, Tanwen Dawn-Hiscox, and Michael Lane Illustrations by Jamie Coe

Ice cream might not be the obvious choice for a winter dessert, but Midlands producer Suncream Ice Cream has launched a new flavour that will be right at home on Christmas menus.

Mince Pie ice cream is described as a “delicate mixed spice ice cream, with hints of warm cinnamon and lots of inclusions, such as raisins, sultanas, currants, apples, cherries, mixed peel and of course pastry pieces”.

Containing 20% double cream, the ice cream can hold its own as a stand-alone dessert or accompany Christmas favourites including hot mince pies and Christmas pudding. It is available in 5 litre tubs, with 50 scoops per tub.

Ginger Bakers has created a Christmas pudding with a twist – adding sourdough to the mix to enhance the texture and flavour of its Fig & Orange Christmas Pudding. The dough is combined with figs, dates, orange peel, vine fruits and seasonal spices, including ginger, nutmeg and mixed spice, before being further enriched with rum and finished with a generous tot of Lakes Distillery orange cask whisky. Handmade in the Lake District, each 454g pudding serves four to six people and can either be steamed or microwaved. RRP £9.50; trade price £7.

Christmas songbook for its gift boxes. A Merry Little Christmas (RRP £22) contains 24 handmade chocolates, from Gingerbread, Mince Pie and Stollen to Mulled Wine, Brandy Butter and Hepple Gin. Joy To The World (RRP £42), meanwhile, is a selection of 48 chocolates, featuring Christmas Pudding, Rum Truffles, Caramels, Pralines and Fudge.

Julia Sutherland, founder of By Julia, says her Swedish style Gullane Glögg is the answer to delicious mulled wine without the effort. The mulling has all been done, blending spices and orange, so all that is needed is to add some red wine, heat through and serve. For Christmas 2022, By Julia has introduced a gift pack containing a 50cl bottle and two heatproof glasses.

With the launch of Seggiano’s vegan panettone, everyone can enjoy a slice of traditional Italian cake this Christmas. The ‘clean’ panettone is free from binders, stabilisers, preservatives and emulsifiers, instead using cocoa butter, candied fruit paste, natural vanilla, linseed flour and turmeric to add fragrance, moisture and colour to the dough, which is leavened using a 33-year-old mother yeast. RRP £13.85 for 500g.

While the speciality market is awash with Christmas chutneys, you don’t see as many festive marmalades. Sussex producer Deerview Fine Foods has combined oranges, a variety of currants, Christmas spices and brandy to produce its Christmas Pudding Marmalade. RRP £4.35 for 235g; trade price £2.68.

Butterbike has translated a festive biscuit favourite into nut butter format with the launch of Gingerbread Peanut Butter. The limitededition butter is generously spiced and scattered with crystals of chewy ginger and toasted nuts, resulting in a fiery, sweet and crunchy experience. RRP £5.50 for a 285g jar; trade price £3.58. Also new from the Devon producer is the Festive Peanut Butter Gift Box. With an RRP of £15 (trade price £10.50), the box showcases three bestsellers: Gingerbread Peanut Butter, Chocolate Peanut Butter and Rugged Peanut Butter.

Seasoned Pioneers has Christmas drinks covered with its Mulling Drinks Spice Mix Selection. The gift box contains all the spices that are needed to make Mulled Wine, Mulled Cider, Hot Toddy, Caribbean Sorrel Rum and Café Brulot and includes an easy-to-follow recipe. RRP £11.95.

is pitching its Famous Five Gift Box as the perfect introduction to its non-alcoholic ginger drinks. A selection of five varieties, the box also contains a recipe booklet full of ideas for cocktails, mocktails and baking. RRP £18.15; trade price £12.

Tayport Distillery’s Miniature Gift Box provides a selection of premium spirits crafted using Scottish ingredients. The 4 x 5cl miniatures - Wild Rose Gin, Scots Pine Gin, Blackcurrant Liqueur and Malt Barley Vodka - are presented in a black box with wood wool cushioning. RRP £22.

British retailers looking to add interest to their Christmas ranges will nd plenty of inspiration in the North West of Spain, where festive feasting is a serious business.

IF YOU THOUGHT Christmas was a big deal in Britain, then you obviously haven’t been to Castile & León. The region celebrates Christmas and New Year with gusto, but carries on the esta well into January. Three Kings Day on 6th January, which celebrates the Three Wise Men, is a huge event across Spain with ‘Los Reyes Magos’ bringing children presents the night before, along with big family meals and huge parades.

Castile & León takes the celebrations particularly seriously. Cities and towns are festooned with lights and and host colourful processions, while the region’s food and drink takes centre stage. Local farms, artisan food producers and vineyards are at their busiest, as families and friends come together for elaborate meals and celebrations.

Roasted suckling pig (‘cochinillo asado’) from Segovia is a classic festive treat across Spain, and now increasingly in the UK. “It is the busiest time for us – Christmas accounts for 60-70% of our annual sales,” says Nora Illanas, marketing and communications at suckling pig specialist Tabladillo. “Enjoying suckling pig at Christmas is a tradition that has been rooted in Spain for decades. It is one of the favourite and most appreciated dishes.”

A family business with a history stretching back more than 50 years, Tabladillo has its own farms, processing plant and laboratories, where it produces a range of di erent products including whole, half and quarter animals, plus pre-roasted, convenience products.

“The traditional Segovian way of cooking suckling pig is roasted in the oven, adding only water and salt,” says Illanas. “The duration of cooking will depend on the portion of the product, which can vary from 45 minutes to three hours.”

The result is a world away from dry, overcooked turkey. The meat is juicy and tender with a clean, buttery avour and crispy skin. And it requires nothing more than a simple side salad.

Another company whose products are in much demand at Christmas is Santa Teresa Gourmet in Ávila. It is well known for a traditional sweet treat called Yemas – a cake-like confection made with egg yolks and sugar. But it also makes an eclectic range of other gourmet products, from membrillo to a traditional Scorpion sh pâté called Pastel de Cabracho.

They are all hugely popular at Christmas, according to export manager Julio Megías Fernández, who says the three months to Christmas account for 40% of annual sales.

“It’s very typical in Spain that every house has a platter with turron and other sweet specialities during Christmas. Our Yemas are a gourmet option. During Christmas, families gather and prepare very special dinners and lunches. The starters are very important and there is usually a cheeseboard with membrillo and Pastel de Cabracho to be spread on crackers.”

The exuberance of Christmas celebrations in Castile & León also bene ts TrufGourmet – a Soria-based company that specialises in fresh black tru es (tuber melanosporum), unearthed from its land, which comprises 17 hectares of holm oak trees. A team of specially trained dogs are used to sni out the pungent ‘black diamonds’ with the season starting at the end of November, just in time for a huge surge in demand for Christmas.

“Many lovers of good food choose to buy tru es to prepare special recipes with which to surprise their loved ones,” says owner Raquel Sanz, who likes to shave thin slivers of fresh tru e over a traditional festive dish of braised cardo (stalks of the cardoon thistle) and walnuts.

“In typical UK food, it could be rolled or grated in roast turkey or other meat, added to sauces or used on buttered potatoes,” she says, adding that there is no substitute for fresh tru es. “There is no company in the world that has managed to imitate the aroma of fresh tru es e ectively. Its aroma is very complex and contains more than 50 di erent volatile organic compounds, which is what makes it so special.”

With such a bounty of di erent avours on the Christmas table, the only remaining question is what to drink. Thankfully, Castile & León has a wine for every occasion from expressive whites and complex reds to rosés and sparkling wines.

Sixth generation winemaker Bodegas Yllera in Rueda has most angles covered, with more than 150 hectares of its own vineyards, while also working closely with an additional 900 hectares of vineyards, across Rueda, Ribera del Duero and Toro. The company makes a variety of styles with grapes including Verdejo, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Tempranillo.

At Christmas, corks pop more freely and Yllera’s sparkling wines are in great demand. Wines such as Yllera Family Collection, which is made in the traditional method from Verdejo grapes. It is aged in bottle for at least 24 months until it develops abundant bubbles and elegant avours of green apple and toasty biscuit notes.

“The Christmas season represents 80% of our sparkling sales,” says export manager Andreea Irimia. “There is always a toast with dessert at family meals.”

The company also makes an unusual Frizzante range. Partially fermented in stainless steel tanks, before being bottled with a crown cap, rather than a cork, the gently sparkling wines are low in alcohol at 5.5% ABV and have a delicate sweetness. White (Verdejo), rosé (Verdejo and Tempranillo) and a sparkling red (Tempranillo) are all available under the Frizzante brand, and are designed to be drunk very cold as an aperitif or with desserts.

From suckling pig to sparkling reds, there’s plenty of festive inspiration to be found in Castile & León.

w: tabladillo.es e: gdediego@tabladillo.es

w: santateresagourmet.com e: export@santateresagourmet.com

w: trufgourmet.com

w: grupoyllera.com e: export@grupoyllera.com

For more information, contact:

These delicious crown-shaped all-butter pastries are sprinkled with icing sugar and are wonderfully sweet and rich. They are made by Nazaré Hojaldrería in Castrillo de la Ribera, León – a family business that specialises in puff pastry treats and biscuits made with real butter, eggs and top quality flour. w: nazaremayorista.com e: jlosada@hojaldresnazare.es

Deer have roamed Spain for centuries and have attracted growing interest as a more sustainable alternative to beef. Segovia-based Deer Farmers Group is at the forefront of the movement rearing European red deer in open air parks in a semiextensive system. The meat, which is leaner than beef, is sold fresh but leg muscles are also salted, smoked and aged to create charcuterie called Cecina de Añojo de Ciervo. w: venisondeer.es e: marugan@venisondeer.es

Founded in 1958 in Cervera, Palencia, Pastas y Hojaldres UKO is best known for its sweet and salty puff pastry bows, called Socorritos. Made with just five ingredients: flour, butter, eggs, icing sugar and salt, the beautifully packaged confections are a popular treat over the festive period. w: pastasyhojaldresuko.com e: direccion@

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without good cheese, which is where Queserías Chillón comes in. Cheesemakers since 1890, the Toro-based company makes a range of raw sheep’s milk cheeses, including Teodolindo, which is aged for more than 30 months. The hard cheese has a crystalline texture and intense flavour. w: quesoschillon.com e: info@quesoschillon.com

Dairy avoiders won’t have to pass on the brandy cream this Christmas, thanks to The Coconut Collab. The company is claiming a market first for its plant-based Br&ndy Cre&m, which, as well as being dairy-free, is also free from gluten, soya, alcohol and palm oil. RRP is £1.75 for a 220ml pot.

A Christmas ham-curing kit is the latest foodie gift idea from Ross & Ross Gifts. The kit comes in a tube, which contains everything you need to cure your own Christmas flavoured ham, including a curing mix, a roast ham glaze and an instructions booklet. RRP £17.50; trade price £9. Salmon curing kits and Christmas roast seasonings are also available in this tube gifting format.

York-based Choc Affair has launched six festive flavoured bars, each with its own foil design. Choose from Pear & Anise Dark Chocolate, Roasted Winter Fruits Dark Chocolate, Apple & Cranberry Milk Chocolate, Cherry Bakewell Milk Chocolate, Christmas Pudding Dark Chocolate and Gingerbread Oat M!lk Chocolate. Trade price £19.80 (£1.65 a unit); RRP £3.25 - £3.50.

The Bay Tree’s Christmas Selection (RRP £30) includes Ginger Biscuits, Dark Chocolate Mint Creams, Cheeseboard Chutney, Christmas Pickle, Boxing Day Chutney, Jingleberry Marmajam and Festive Fruit Jam. For individual gifting, the Christmas Day Cracker, priced at £5.50, is an affordable stocking filler. It contains 100g jars of Cranberry Chutney and Sticky Caramelised Onions.

Slated as “the ultimate gift for foodies”, Adamas caviar gift sets come in a range of different options with RRPs from £115 to £500 (pictured set RRP £150). Choose from a single tin, or a selection of three different caviar varieties. The selection comes with two mother of pearl spoons and a tin opener, and there is space under the caviar for Adamas’ branded ice pack.

Blue Goose Coffee claims to be launching the UK’s first ever eco coffee pod advent calendar this Christmas. Featuring eight ethically sourced and organic coffees in certified home compostable capsules, the calendars are crafted from FSC paper and vegetable inks and are packed by hand by Devon Disability Collective. They are available for delivery from October 2022 with an RRP of £30.

The Welsh Saucery has launched a festive gift box featuring three of its accompaniments: Christmas Pudding Chutney, Festive Onion Chutney and Cranberry, Orange & Port Sauce. RRP is £15.

Delicioso’s new Double Deluxe Spanish Hot Chocolate and Churro Gift Set (RRP £10.45) contains two bags of hot chocolate (original and cinnamon flavoured) as well as everything that is needed to make ‘churro’ (Spanish doughnuts), including a piping bag and full instructions.

Firetree has released a drinking chocolate collection, two coffee chocolate bars and five limited edition bars that “explore exotic chocolate experiences”, including its first ever plant-based volcanic oat m*lk chocolate. Firetree’s chocolates are crafted using volcanic cocoa beans.

Looking for gift recommendations or the ultimate alternative cheese board for your customers this Christmas? Owner of Two Belly cheese and bottle shop in Bristol, Dominic Pulsford has got you covered.

Made in the classical light acidic Wensleydale style, it’s got a real soft creamy centre with a little bit of crumble and quite a lot of moisture, which gives a real lightness.

Pair with something nice and easy going – like a Kernel table beer, which has those light, fresh, hoppy flavours that go well with the light acidity of the cheese, brought down a little bit by its earthiness.

Sparkenhoe is the only raw milk farmhouse aged Red Leicester out there. People are usually put off by Red Leicester because of what they’ve tried in supermarkets, but this is like nothing they’ve tasted before. It’s less astringent than a cheddar, with round, nutty, deep flavours. Pair this with an aged Orval – a big round brown beer with yeast at the fore.

Orval is one of the original Trappist beers; it’s very youthful and doesn’t have much hop, which is the opposite of what we’ve done with the pale ale.

St Cera is made on the same farm as Baron Bigod, with the same milk, in the style of an Epoisses. You’re going to get a bit of whip, runny, creaminess. It’s pungent on the nose but then it really settles down. I would pair this with our Two Belly Blend Pet’ Nat’ cider blended with Ross-on-Wye. It has wonderful fruity flavours; it’s uncompromising, dry, with a little bit of funk on it, and immediately lends itself towards something like a washed rind cheese.

There’s quite a lot of tannins in West Country Cider to cut through the sweetness of the cheese, but you’re also going to get a little bit of acidity which will cut through the richness.

Harbourne Blue is a goats’ blue with a little bit of funk on it. The fact that it’s a rindless French-style cheese with a nice intensity will balance with a little bit of lightness, so pair it with a Georgian orange wine that’s got quite a few days on the skin, something quite bold. Unlike a red wine, orange wine is going to match up quite nicely with the sweetness in the cheese, but it is quite crisp and light.

1924 Blue Cheese is an original recipe from Roquefort made with half cows’ milk and half sheep’s milk. It’s really rich and oozy, which will match it up with the rich intense flavours of an iced cider.

Almost like a dessert wine, iced cider was developed in Canada, where the winters are very harsh. You often get early frosts before you pick the apples, so they freeze on the tree, and by pressing them you get a higher intensity of fruit juice full of fructose.

Italian bakery Loison has unveiled its Christmas collection, which includes a new Panettone with Green Pistachio Nuts from Bronte and Matcha Green Tea from Uji, Kyoto. The Pistachio Matcha Panettone marries an Italian tradition with a thousand-year-old Japanese ritual. It combines a creamy filling made from brightgreen PDO pistachio nuts from Bronte with raisins and white chocolate icing enriched with matcha green tea powder, finely chopped green pistachios and whole green pistachios. The Pistachio Matcha Panettone is included in three of Loison’s collections: Genesi (1kg and 500g), Gold (750g) and Latta (1kg).

Pitched as a great alternative to traditional cured salmon, ChalkStream’s sides of trout gravalax are hand filleted, pin boned and trimmed, before being dry cured in a traditional marinade of salt, sugar and dill. The trout fillets are then dressed with rum, black pepper and a sprinkling of fresh dill. RRP £30 for a side (600g); trade price £16.90.

Meaning ‘small quantity’ in Tunisian, the Kemia Hamper from Zeet is an assortment of appetisers that are served as an aperitif or an accompaniment to alcoholic drinks in Tunisian bistro counters. With an RRP of £40, the hamper contains 500ml Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 100g Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Jam, 2 x 100g Organic Tapenade, 210g Spicy Gordal Olives and 210g Organic Caspe Broken Olives.

Freda’s limited-edition Winter Fruit & Spice Peanut Butter is back by popular demand for 2022. The Cornish producer recommends slathering it liberally on toasted fruit loaf or hot waffles. RRP is £4.30 per jar; trade price £2.75.

Speciality & Fine Food Fair Event Manager Nicola Woods looks ahead to the Christmas and some of the drinks products, trends and consumer behaviours set to make a mark this festive season.

It’s hard to believe how much the world has changed since last Christmas, with global travel and hospitality now back to something approaching pre-pandemic levels (albeit with a few hiccups).

For many consumers this festive season will be a first reunion with family and friends after a difficult three years, and this is certain to affect buying habits and the types of drinks products making their way into people’s homes.

Shoppers will likely be divided between the desire to celebrate and the rising pressures of the cost-ofliving crisis, however the holiday season is a reason to splash out and we may well see a continuation of the global buying trends that have been noticeable in the drinks sector, as reported by the IWSR.

The market research agency has seen a rise in Irish, American and Japanese whiskies and agave spirits, all making strides into the luxury drinks market and hinting that consumers are continuing

to seek out exciting new flavours and brands in their drinks choices.

The at-home luxury experience will be a key factor in drinks choices for this year’s festive season, from premium ready-to-drink products to festive cocktails to new and exciting spirit choices.

In the no and low market, too, consumers will want to mark the holiday season with premium alternatives to festive drinks staples, such as sparkling wines and spirit alternatives. IWSR research has found that ‘blended drinking’ is becoming more commonplace, with particularly Gen-Z and Millennials switching between alcoholic drinks and lower alcohol alternatives over the course of a single evening.

The Platinum Jubilee saw not only a boost for retail and hospitality, but a huge number of limited-edition products hitting the market to celebrate the occasion. As drinks brands are increasingly shifting from a customer-centric approach to an occasion-centric approach, we may well see more drinks brands introducing festive products and flavours. To check out the drinks brands on offer at Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2022, head to

Hilton Macarons is offering Christmas Classic macarons in red, white and green with six festive flavours including brandy butter, mulled spice and orange chocolate. They are available in boxes of 6, 12 or 18, and are made by hand in Suffolk using natural fillings.

Seamoor Coffee’s Roasters Selection gift boxes allow coffee lovers to try a variety of origins, processing styles and roasrs whilst learning more about coffee. The box contains four 100g taster bags of in-season coffees, along with information cards about each coffee. RRP £25.

Cranberry & Chilli Relish, which balances the sharpness of cranberry with fresh orange and a hint of chilli, is What A Pickle!’s first limited edition flavour. The Ludlow producer’s popular Chutney for Cheese will also take on a festive label from September to December. This cheeseboard companion is based on peach, apple and onion with some warm spices and a subtle chilli kick.

Northern Ireland’s Long Meadow Cider has added Spiced Apple Juice to its range of apple juices, ciders and vinegars. Juice from homegrown apples is infused with winter spices, oranges, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg to produce a drink that can be served as a winter warmer. RRP £3 per bottle for 750ml; trade price £21.60 for a case.

Game On has partnered with The Bay Tree to bring four of its savoury jellies to the speciality food trade. Redcurrant Jelly with Mint & Chilli, Cider Jelly & Sage and Red Wine Jelly with Thyme & Juniper Berry, Orange Jelly with Chilli & Cardamon are designed to go with game, meat and cheese. Trade price £15.60 for a case of six; RRP £3.95 per 205g jar.

new Bee Friendly assortment of dark chocolates and truffles offers an ethical gifting option - 10p from every box sold is donated to the Conservation Trust and the packaging is 100% recyclable and produced using renewable energy. The plant-based selection contains 12 chocolates and truffles made from single origin Colombian cocoa. RRP £10.

Dr Honey has elevated honey to gifting status with the launch of two gourmet lines in 100g jars for the festive season. Acacia Honey with Truffle melds the floral sweetness of the honey with earthy, aromatic truffle, while Acacia Honey with Gold features 23 carat edible gold flakes.

Retailers looking for wine with a difference should check out Wicklow Way Wines - Ireland’s only fruit wine producer. The winery’s Móinéir, Blackberry and Raspberry are all made entirely from berries rather than grapes and retail at between €22-25 a bottle.

Retail design and merchandising specialist Eve Reid, of Metamorphosis Group, looks at how shopkeepers should present themselves and their stock during the festive season.

Consumers are undoubtedly trying to tighten their belts at the moment, but the sales will come for food & drink retailers at Christmas – they’ll just have to be more price conscious. That doesn’t mean everything has to be cheaper but make sure your pricing is clear, via signage and ticketing, and present the options for gifting at several price points.

Have a conversation with customers in store about what their budgets are.

This will reassure shoppers that you are “in touch” with them and their needs.

With people potentially looking to spend less in December, how you present and package your gifting items will be key.

Try to stock lines that can be sold either for the Christmas table or as presents with a change of presentation. It’s not just classics like chocolates, panettones and cheese accompaniments – think creatively.

Something as simple as three craft beer cans in a nicely branded cardboard tube can work as a costeffective option and still be an excellent gift.

After last Christmas and with the cost-of-living in sharp focus, retailers are understandably frightened of ordering in too much Christmas-specific stock. You don’t have to order in oodles of it – just keep orders manageable – because plenty of people do still like the traditional element of Christmas.

It’s a good idea to find stock that will work beyond 25th December but make sure that you can make them look festive by adding bows, ribbons and tags.

It goes without saying that you should be decorating the space surrounding your stock too.

When thinking about colour schemes for decorations and gift-packaging, you can go beyond the usual red and green. Purple is a big thing this year, even now that Jubilee celebrations have finished, and its appeal will carry on for the rest of 2022.

Metallic colours are also going to be massive this Christmas with lots of packaging suppliers already preparing a raft of gold and silver items.

Completing this year’s trend trio is the “botanical” look, which taps into conscious consumers’ focus on nature. Consider those muted greens and browns, classy Nordic Christmas trees and eco-friendly materials, when sourcing packaging and decorations.

Daniel Williams, Project Manager, Godfrey C. Williams & Son, Sandbach, Cheshire

.Catalogues from big wholesalers started coming through to Godfrey C. Williams & Sons in Sanbach as early as March, so the family-run business had sent off orders by May Bank holiday. “For the smaller, local companies selling local cheese and meats, we’ll go closer to the time, like October-November,” fifth generation grocer Daniel Williams tells FFD.

Christmas for the past two years has been a bit of a guessing game, so it will be this year.

They expect customers will prioritise value for money, so the Williams’ have cut back on premium products.

“We will still be sticking with statement pieces for Christmas,” he says, like the Tenuta Marmorelle limoncello Panettone, and a good range of English wine, both of which have done well.

Other items will be dropped, like the salt and pepper gift packs they previously stocked but can now be found in TK Maxx.

“Not that we classify TK Maxx as a direct competitor,” he laughs, “but it’s little things like that where you have to plan ahead against.”

As customers also look to increase support for local producers, the shop will turn to Cheshire and nearby Shropshire for cheeses, apple juice, chutneys, biscuits and chocolates. Hampers will likely be dominated by local items too.

Like-for-like counter cheeses have changed in recent months, which will be reflected in their Christmas orders.

“We don’t tend to stock Brie de Meaux on the counter on a regular basis now because they’ll all go for a Baron Bigod,” says Williams. “For Roquefort, we’ve switched over to Mrs Bells Blue or Leeds Blue when we can get it. We get Tunworth instead of petit Camembert.”

While they will continue to stock cheeses at the higher end of the price spectrum, Williams understands that customers are reluctant to buy anything above the £4.00 per 100 gram mark, spare the odd exception.

“Giving a cheese a try always helps, we’ve always got Buffalo Blue by Shepherds Purse on for £4 per 100 grams but you can’t get much of it around,” he says.

Meanwhile, Sharpham Brie, Cornish Yarg, Waterloo, Rosary Goats all gravitate around the £2.50 per 100 grams mark. “That’s great value for the quality of cheese it is.”

Shane Godwin, Managing Director, Macknade,

Macknade Food Halls in Ashford and Faversham have navigated the past two years by striving to be both flexible and attentive. In 2020, Christmas was more or less cancelled, then last year “footfall was up and people were spending money on fine food, which was great,” MD Shane Godwin tells FFD.

Festivities will still go ahead in 2022, as Britons are enjoying more quality time with friends and family. However, buying patterns already show that the cost-of-living crisis will have an effect.

“People are making sure they get the value out of what they’re buying so the higher end range is becoming a little more pressed,” he says, “so ultimately we’re restricting our range in that top end.”

Instead of buying a kilo Panettone or a large Christmas pudding, people might opt for the smaller versions. “They’ll be thinking, ‘what do I actually need,’ but still getting a little bit of what I want with those indulgences.”

Not all the changes brought about in the past two years will disappear, however, as the trend towards more online sales continues in that direction.

“It’s not completely to do with any reaction to Covid,” Godwin says, “it’s just the reality that people like the convenience of being able to buy online, and we’re lucky because we’re strongly positioned to deliver high-quality items,” differentiating them from multinationals with more buying power and operational finesse.

To counter the effects of Brexit, Covid, and now, the war in Ukraine on the supply chain, Macknade’s Christmas orders have focused on local, artisan products, so far sparing them the news that items won’t be delivered.

“But ultimately, it’s the price that we’re still nervous about,” he adds.

Striking the right balance between absorbing rising costs and passing them on to customers has been the company’s biggest challenge in recent months, involving a case-by-case approach of swallowing as much as possible within the margins.

With this in mind, “we’re confident that we will still have a successful Christmas, we’re just at this reaction time in the businesses, making sure that we are driving our customers in to get what they need - and getting the full range of produce in.”

Drivers Pickles’ Happy Christmas gift box brings together three of the producer’s most popular festive lines: Christmas Pickle (350g jar), Chunky Piccalilli (350g) and 1906 Pickled Onions (550g). Available direct or via Cress & Co, Cotswold Fayre and Holleys. RRP £13.95.

Ouse Valley Foods has chosen Cranberry, Blackcurrant & Port Conserve, Redcurrant Jelly and Stem Ginger Jam to star in its Christmas gift pack. The trio has an RRP of £17.50 and is available to the trade priced at £11.06 per 227g jar via Cress Co, Infinity Foods and Love for Local.

Bar Buoy has put a local spin on the Dark’n’Stormy cocktail, creating the Devon Stormy, mixed with Two Drifters Dark Rum, agave syrup, orange bitters, Angostura bitters and ginger tea. The bottled cocktail producer expects this to be one of its bestsellers this Christmas, along with Bramble and Espresso Martini.

Based in Rye, East Sussex, Carla’s Foods produces over 60 sweet and savoury spice & herb blends and mixes that can help home cooks elevate a variety of dishes. New for Christmas 2022 are the Bread Sauce Mix and the Christmas Spice Mix.

Burren Balsamics has created two balsamic jellies with the Christmas cheeseboard in mind. The Northern Irish producer says White Balsamic Jelly complements soft washed rind or blue cheeses, while Balsamic Jelly is a match for the robust flavours of an aged Comte, mature Cheddar or Parmesan.

Turkey Seasoning

An all-round herby seasoning for juicy roast turkey and a tasty, savoury gravy.

Artisan herbs, spices and seasonings hand-blended in East Sussex

Vegan Christmas pudding has become its best seller - second only to its traditional Christmas pudding.

Founder Alison Lilly attributes this to veganism becoming mainstream, along with an increase in gluten intolerance.

“It can be really difficult to cater for all of the family’s tastes and needs so I am really proud of this pudding which contains the finest vine fruits, apples, apricots, almonds and ginger. These are blended with vegan, gluten free ale and brandy, which leaves you with a moist, scrumptious pudding suitable for everyone at the table,” she says. The pudding contains a minimum of 50% fruit and just 5% added sugar. It is available in 120g and 454g sizes.

BoTree’s Christmas Collection is billed as the ultimate set of winter spices to bring festive flavours to the kitchen. The collection includes six spices, including Great Taste 2-star winners Buffalo Ginger and Royal Cinnamon, as well as Sweet Allspice Berries, Pemba Clove, True Star Anise and Bourbon Vanilla Bean Powder. RRP £33.49; trade price £23.44.

Just Delicious in Harrogate has cooked up a Christmas Chutney that is packed with cranberries, dates, prunes, Bramley apples, apricots, and red onions, slowly cooked in cider vinegar to mature and with lots of added spice. This tangy chutney can be partnered with cold meats, cheese or pork pies. RRP £4.75; trade price £22.50 for 6 x 180g jars.

African-inspired snack brand Chika’s has created two new sweet almond snacks for the festive season. The baked nuts are available in two varieties – Irish Cream and Sweet Cinnamon – with an RRP of £3 for a 100g sharing bag.

If you thought it was all about turkey, think again. Ben Black talks us through the cuts that sell best on the counter at Brace of Butchers, in Poundbury, Dorset.

Lockdown Christmases saw us sell a really unusual amount of chickens because people didn’t need a huge bird. We still sell a plenty of whole ducks but it tends to be repeat customers rather than new ones.

Goose is declining in popularity – we only did 15-20 orders last year – and the novelty of three-bird roasts has worn off – but there was one year after a TV special when every man and his dog wanted one.

We still sell a good volume of turkey, and this increases by 20 or 30 more birds every year but it’s nothing compared to the growth we’ve seen in other meats.

We’ve doubled the volume of ribs of beef we’ve sold in the last few years. We do all of ours carvery-trimmed, so they still cook on the bone but carve easier.

We also make our own Beef Wellingtons. We noticed that during lockdowns, we sold lots of wellingtons for two or four because people didn’t have any guests or family round. But customers who’ve had them – now they’ve got family back round the table – are ordering Wellingtons for 8 or 10 people.

For the margins you make (the deli makes the mushroom duxelles and pastry), the effort is worth it.

Hams are still popular but pork shoulder is a good seller and that seems to be driven by Boxing Day. If you’ve got loads of people coming round, you can put a shoulder of pork in the oven, slow-cook it and then everyone has pulled pork. It’s easy to cook and doesn’t take a lot of monitoring – and it goes along way.

It might be just us but we sell a substantial amount of stewing venison. Some people are making pies and other people are making casseroles to serve on Christmas Eve after Midnight Mass.

In the same way that pork shoulder gives people an easier time in the kitchen, there are other slow-cooking options.

We get a lot of people wanting to buy legs of lamb for Christmas day, but we tend to recommend lamb shoulders. If you don’t cook leg exactly right, it can be a bit chewy and disappointing. With shoulder, you can put it in on low and enjoy a drink with your guests.

Cocoa Bean, Damask Rose Buds, Lemon Verbena, Lavender & Greek Mountain Tea Damask Rose Buds & Lemon Verbena Red Amaranth & Lemon Thyme

Kykeon (Traditional)

Kykeon (Modern) & Chamomile Mountain Mint & Olive Leaf

Adopting the same meticulous approach reserved for tea and coffee, and applying it to herbal infusions, Nazani Tea was born. Partner with the UK’s only luxury herbal brand based on transparency and ethical sourcing for the finest collection of caffeine-free infusions. The Nazani Tea family is here to work alongside you to ensure your clientele or guests experience the most exclusive and memorable infusions either in or out of the home.

DELICIOUS HAND-ICED BISCUITS

Here at Original Biscuit Bakers we create unique and delicious biscuits for every occasion. Each biscuit we produce is lovingly crafted before being hand iced by a team of talented artists.

This Christmas we have designed an abundance of festive treats that everyone will love. Our biscuits make enchanting stocking fillers, wonderful secret Santa gifts or simply a delectable treat to be enjoyed with a warm glass of cocoa on a cold and starry night.

www.originalbiscuitbakers.co.uk

- @originalbiscuitbakers - @originalbiscuitbakers - info@originalbiscuitbakers.co.uk

Frozen food specialist Fieldfare is taking the faff out of party food with new desserts and savoury lines. Individually portioned desserts include Melting Chocolate Fondant, Salted Caramel Fondant, White Chocolate Fondant and Vanilla Panna Cotta. The melting fondants can simply be heated in the microwave from frozen and panna cottas just need defrosting.

Tapping into the trend for easy, vegetarian and plant-based solutions, Fieldfare’s new range of savoury products takes in Mac ‘n’ Cheese Bites, Pea & Mint Fritters, Mozzarella Bites and Sweetcorn & Chilli fritters.

Original Biscuit Bakers’ hand-decorated gingerbread biscuits are available in a variety of designs for the upcoming festive season: snowmen, santas, gingerbread houses, Christmas trees and penguins. Presented in an attractive counter display case, they are supplied in a case size of 12 with trade prices between £0.92-2.14 and RRPs of £1.25-3.25. These can be purchased via Cotswold Fayre, The Cress Company and Holleys Fine Foods.

Easy Bean has given its Chickpea Crispbread a new look in preparation for the festive season. Handmade in Somerset using locally sourced butter, organic buttermilk and naturally gluten free chickpea flour, the seed topped crispbreads are equally at home on a cheese board or sharing platter or in a Christmas hamper.

Didier Goubet has collaborated with renowned jam maker Stéphan Perrotte to create a range of Grape Vine Jellies from organic Bordeaux cépages grapes. There are three alcohol-free jellies in the collection: Sémillon, which can be paired with cheese platters; Merlot, which complements a duck magret and CabernetSauvignon, for spreading on scones or desserts. RRP €7.90 for 210g.

Whisky and generous quantities of cream are combined in The Norfolk Nog, a light, delicate whisky cream that can be served on ice or poured over ice cream. RRP is £22.50.

Flower & White’s brand-new Christmas range features a host of confectionery items, such as Mallowettes (choc-enrobed mallows, decorated by hand), Double Dipped Pretzels in two moreish flavours (White Chocolate & Raspberry and Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel), and Salted Caramel Chocolate Popcorn.

The brand’s classic meringue range will also be receiving some festive additions: Meringue Glitter Balls, Meringue Baci and flavoured Baby Chocolate Meringue Kisses.

Retailing at £4.49 (100g packs) these sweet treats will be available to order this month.

Northern Ireland’s producers can o er independent retail and foodservice buyers plenty of festive cheer this year. Here are some brands to consider getting on the shelves this winter

NORTHERN IRELAND IS renowned for its lush green landscape and warm, friendly people. This happy confluence results in a host of rich, luxurious products that ooze hospitality and are perfect for the festive season. Whether you’re looking for the perfect cuppa with a sweet treat on the side, or a local beer or spirit to accompany your cheese and charcuterie board, Northern Ireland’s food and drink producers have the answer. Invest Northern Ireland works with businesses to enhance supplier capability, support marketing outside Northern Ireland and develop new customer relationships in Great Britain and beyond.

The business development team is at hand to help the trade find the right products to boost sales at Christmas and throughout the year.

Northern Ireland’s only producer of free-range charcuterie products, Corndale was set up in 2012 with only four pigs but now farms upwards of 500 pigs per year. The range is made with “whole animal” ethos, and includes chorizo, salami, coppa, lomo, bresaola, & ‘nduja. Corndale Farm supplies leading retailers and foodservice operations across the UK and Ireland.

Within the Premium Pantry range from Burren Balsamics, is the innovative range of Pearl Bursts. These are created from Burren’s own Infused Balsamic Vinegars in three flavours. The Citrus White Balsamic Pearl Bursts (a combination of Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit and Orange) are the perfect accompaniment to smoked salmon canapés, but also work well on top of a lemon posset or added to a mojito cocktail.

The two other flavours are the multi-award-winning Blackberry & Thyme and the newly launched Irish Peat Smoked White Balsamic Pearl Bursts. RRP £7.50 for a 50g jar.

Dart Mountain’s array of cheeses, chutneys, drizzles and biscuits takes a little more time to create than usual. Its brand and pack design reflects the handcrafted nature of the eight cheeses, four chutneys and three drizzles – all of which will add value to retailers’ cheeseboard offerings this Christmas. All lines are available in convenient size and pack options. Buyers should contact Dart Mountain directly for Christmas Offer specials or if interested in stocking the range on an ongoing basis.

Premium Snack brand Forest Feast could make gifting easy this Christmas. Handcrafted in Co. Armagh using only the finest Belgian chocolate, its threestrong range comes in a luxury gift tube. This format is perfect as a last-minute gift, teacher present or stocking filler.

The Salted Dark Chocolate Almonds, Salted Caramel Milk Chocolate Almond and Valencia Orange Dark Chocolate Hazelnuts all suitable for vegans, gluten-free and come in 6 x 140g shelf-ready boxes (RRP £5).

Hotties Chocolate, a small-batch luxury hot chocolate brand based outside Belfast, is launching a new range of vegan hot chocolates – made using ethically sourced cocoa beans. After a successful launch last year, this exciting new challenger brand is jumping on the success of its first vegan hot chocolate by adding 2 new flavours: Dark Orange and Dark Raspberry.

Hotties’ 1kg catering bags (33 cups per bag) for foodservice start at £17.99, and for retailers, there are 250g bags (trade £6.00, RRP £9.95).

Founded in 2005 by Oscar Woolley & Anne Rooney, Suki Tea is an award-winning boutique blender which sources, blends and packages tea from all over the world at its plant in Belfast.

The perfect Christmas treat, Bushmills Black Bush X SUKI loose leaf tea pyramid, is a blend that bursts with aromatic, warm spices and a finishing flavour of sweet, dried fruit, mirroring the big robust flavours and velvety smooth character of Black Bush.

Tins of 12 pyramids have an RRP of £8.50 (wholesale £4.95).

Symphonia’s festive gift packs are perfect for the gin-lovers of the world. Packs include Irish Dry Gin, Irish Apple Gin and Fruit Cup. All of these award-winning spirits are sustainably produced using only local ingredients – including the famous Armagh Bramley Apple. The unique distillation method ensures that even the most delicate flavours are preserved to give these spirits a distinctive edge. 200ml sets have an RRP of £40 and 50ml packs retail for £20.

To find out more about how Invest NI could help you contact Michelle Charrington or Drew McIvor

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