FESTIVE SPENDING

RESEARCH: FESTIVE SPENDING

BRITS PLAN TO DIG DEEP AFTER STRESSFUL YEAR

NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS AROUND A FIFTH OF SHOPPERS PLAN TO SPEND MORE ON FESTIVE FOODTHIS CHRISTMAS AFTER A YEAR TO FORGET.

For many, this Christmas won’t be the typical get together with the wider family, or travelling to reunite with loved ones – but after nine months of intermittent lockdown, a quarter of UK households (24%) are committed to making sure that this year will be the perfect Christmas with over half (53%) seeing food and drink as the core of that perfect Christmas.

New research by European bakery specialists St Pierre, the European bakery expert, revealed that 27% of UK homes believe that this year’s festive menu is more important this year than ever before and one in five households (19%) are planning to spend more on food this festive season. Of those planning to spend more, 47% are doing so because of “the challenges of 2020” and 51% are spending more on food because they need “something to look forward to”.

More than one in 10 shoppers will spend up to £100 per head more on food this year, despite 34% of respondents revealing that they were worried about Christmas because of financial constraints this year.

On a positive note for local retailers, lockdown has reignited a passion for food for many (29%) – with a quarter (24%) admitting that food is more fun now and 38% feeling more confident in the kitchen as a result. That might go some way to explaining why 43% of the UK’s home cooks are genuinely “looking forward” to cooking over Christmas.

So, what should UK retailers be stocking up on?

1. BRITISH FAVOURITES

Turkey remains top of the menu, with 64% keeping it on the shopping list. Pigs in blankets are also popular with 60% of households planning to indulge this year. Stuffing (60%), gravy (65%) and Yorkshire pudding (51%) complete the wish list for Christmas dinners.

2. CHRISTMAS MARKET INSPIRATION

With more than half the country (51%) usually attending Christmas markets, around 11% will be taking inspiration from traditional market menus, 9% will be replicating the Christmas market experience and 8% will be serving Christmas hot dogs. Mulled wine is also a key winter tradition, for a quarter of Brits (24%)

3. BOXING DAY OCCASION

Boxing Day has become a food event in and of itself, with almost one in five (18%) opting for a curry, using the Christmas leftovers. What’s more, a whopping 53% look forward to the leftover sandwich each year

4. EUROPEAN BAKERY

Tasty European treats have also become firm favourites on the UK Christmas menu. One in seven of us (15%) will enjoy Panettone this year, a further 18% will get stuck into some Stollen, while 19% will devour croissants and 23% will plump for sweet pastries.

5. CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST

Christmas morning looks different on breakfast tables across Britain, but the research reveals a few firm favourites, including the classic breakfast sandwich (21%), the full cooked breakfast (18%) and ever-reliable cereal (26%).