Food and drink purchasing manager Alice Bexon commented: “It’s essential for operators to consider the latest trends for the busy Christmas period sooner rather than later.
“Whether it’s exploring delicious traditional dishes or finding new festive flavours, it is important to think about all factors when it comes to creating an appealing seasonal offering to stand out in a very competitive market.”
Its top five trends are as below:
Stepping away from tradition
While the traditional turkey and Christmas pudding are much loved and expected by many diners, other consumers are looking for something a little less mainstream. Foods such as festive-themed burgers are becoming more commonplace, while a twist on the typical turkey tradition sees smoked and barbecued options increasing in popularity
Booze-infused dining
Prosecco-based marinades and other booze-infused options are increasingly popular, such as mulled wine and cider, port, brandy, rum and gin. Fruity flavours including pomegranate, orange and mulled cranberries are also expected to perform well and satisfy customers’ festive cravings this year
A time for sharing
Small plates and sharer portions are also becoming more commonplace with many people moving away from the traditional three-course Christmas meal in favour of a more social-style event. Bite-sized foods (like stuffing balls, pigs in blankets and festive skewers) can be achieved simply, while retaining seasonal favourites
A tipple with your turkey
As the number of adults becoming teetotal increases – and more than a quarter of 16-24 year olds not drinking at all - Christmas is a time for mocktails too. Juices are an increasingly popular base for occasion drinks with insight showing that traditional mixers such as lemon and lime are slowly being pushed out for more seasonal and unusual flavours (i.e. peach and rhubarb).
Premium pricing
It’s not just the offering that needs to be attractive to consumers but also the pricing. While a premium price higher than that of an everyday menu tends to be accepted at Christmas, the dining experience can be enhanced by simply and cheaply including some added extras into Christmas packages