The traditional holiday meal does not have to be expensive.
The costs of Christmas dinners have increased by 5% in the last year. The cost of essential ingredients such as stuffing, pigs-in-blankets and other meats has also increased by 7%.
The supermarket war has had a positive impact on food costs. Aldi, Lidl, and other supermarkets offer ingredients for an eight-person main Christmas meal at less than PS 12.
Assosia is the exclusive data provider of Guardian Money. They have revealed that a large, frozen turkey costs PS3.70 per kilogram. This is a 3% increase over last year. This comes out to PS29.60 for an 8kg bird. A supermarket’s price for a pig-in-a-blanket pack has increased 19p, to PS2.88. A 190g Bisto gravy tub costs PS2.95 now (an increase of 35p or 13%). In 2022, it will cost PS2. The price of 170g Paxo stuffing with sage, onion and sage has increased by 17p to PS2.57. This is a 51% rise compared to 2022.
Good news! Prices have decreased for certain items like frozen Maris Piper and Yorkshire potatoes. The price of some items has dropped, such as frozen Maris Piper potatoes and Yorkshires. A 2kg is priced at PS1.84 while a 2kg is priced at PS1.11. Assosia says that the price of nine major food items has increased by 5% in comparison to last year. Prices are based on the pre-promotional price at four supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons.
After several years of increasing living costs, many households find it difficult to maintain their Christmas budgets. The latest official data for October measured UK inflation to be 3.6%. Prices for gas and electricity have increased more slowly than a year ago, while food prices are up 4.9%.
Britons are looking to save money.
According to the Park Christmas Savings Survey, over a third will not send physical Christmas cards because of increased postage prices. Even the Christmas dinner menu reflects this trend. In a survey of 5,000 homes, one-third of households used budget-friendly alternatives, such as supermarket brand names or simple menus to reduce costs.
The supermarkets are full of deals.
The supermarkets are aware of the budget restrictions and have started a massive campaign to promote their products in the aisles. Approximately one-third of the products on sale.
Fraser McKevitt thinks that the Christmas promotions of the next decade will be among the biggest ever. He is the director of consumer insights and retail at Worldpanel.
Aldi, Lidl and other supermarkets are competing to attract budget-conscious consumers.
Giles Hurley has set the bar high with his promise that Aldi will sell the “cheapest christmas dinner in the UK”. Aldi CEO Giles Hurley said that they wanted to “eliminate the guesswork” of affordability and offer the lowest price on Christmas dinner vegetables, turkeys, and trimmings.
Aldi offers a “full Christmas feast” for 8 people at PS11.75 or PS1.47 per person. Fresh British Turkey 3kg costs PS9 (2.95/kg) while vegetables are only 8p. This tactic has been criticised by growers as unfair. This offer is valid from 19 to 24 December.
McKevitt stated that supermarkets “are really aware of the fact that people struggle with their living expenses and that they want to be able to offer the most deals at Christmas.”
Fresh or frozen turkey? What is healthier for you: Frozen or fresh turkey?
Worldpanel tracks prices as well, and their data shows that the average Christmas dinner cost for four people decreased by one penny between PS32.46 and PS32.46.
The cost of the bird, which is the most expensive part of the typical Christmas meal, has dropped by 4%. It now costs PS13.52. The cost of trimmings, however, has increased. The price of four portions of potatoes increased by 1%, to PS1.67. Cranberries rose by 10%, to 86p. And the cost for stuffing mixture rose by 7%, to PS96p.
Many people will be surprised to read that frozen birds are cheaper. The UK poultry industry is fighting an “unhealthy bird flu” season that has impacted the Christmas supply.
Paul Kelly, managing director of KellyBronze in Essex, which produces turkeys that are free-range, believes supermarket price cuts distort the reality. The prices have not gone up. They’re losing money because they are loss-leading retailers.
“We stopped trying to compete years ago, because they make so much money on turkeys.” They think that selling turkeys for a low cost will attract customers to their store.
It is possible to purchase a frozen item at a lower price than last year. 70% of Britons prefer a freshly prepared turkey. KellyBronze customers pay between PS 95 and PS 100 for each turkey. Most households are concerned with quality.
Kelly states that the increase in operating costs of 4.8% was due to increased taxes on business and higher labour costs. It can’t help but pass on the costs to its customers. “We cannot afford to not do it.”
Retailers are increasingly promoting their own-label product lines.
McKevitt, a spokesperson for Worldpanel, is an expert in the field. She said that the inflation rate of grocery prices in November was 4,7%. McKevitt claims that people are buying less. Food is being purchased in the same quantity, but at a lower price.
Own-label products are more popular in supermarkets than big-brand items. To achieve this, supermarkets will invest in high-end items such as Tesco Finest or Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference. It allows the customer to feel like they are still being taken care of.
According to analysts, smart shoppers should be more selective when looking for products of the highest quality at the lowest price.
You can also read reviews on The Filter, a Guardian website which provides reviews and the Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI)’s holiday taste test.
Some brands that are cheaper, such as those used in mince pies and other traditional foods, have been able beat the more expensive ones.
GHI has named Waitrose as the winner in its test of over 700 festive foods. PS14 No.1 Pistachio & Cherry Stollen Wreath and PS3 No.1 Golden Mince Pies With Limoncello are two of the winning foods. The judges said that they had an “acidic” taste from the citrus liqueur.
Asda, a retailer without frills, came second and won several awards. Asda was praised for its Exceptional Yule Logs, Heritage Slate Turkey Crowns and wines. Iceland won the fiercely contested “classics” mince pie category. Its PS3 Luxury All Butter Mince Pies won.
Callum Black is deputy director at GHI Testing. He says that the cost of living has a big impact on the Christmas dinner. In the article, it is also mentioned that “cheaper alternative meats” are used at Christmas lunch.
Black: “While large glazed gammons are common, large, high-quality cuts of pork are on the rise, from racks to sirloins trimmed. This is an affordable and delicious option that tastes great cold, in a Boxing Day Sandwich.
Katherine Scott, director of marketing at Park Christmas Savings, sums up the current situation. We’re witnessing a more thoughtful and intentional Christmas. Women still do the majority of planning and budgeting. Women have found clever ways to reduce the cost of holidays while still enjoying themselves.
The Feast app from the Guardian is a guide to a festive holiday.
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This new feature will help you to stay organised. Add ingredients to your shopping list from any recipe and remove them once you’re done.
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