Sweet Pleasures
Established companies such as Hotel Chocolat continue to confirm chocolate as one of the most popular choices for food gifting. An innovative at-home hot chocolate machine from Dualit allows consumers to craft barista-grade drinks. Hotel Chocolat’s trademark is here for the luxury status.
Companies like Biscuiteers in London have elevated the biscuit to a canvas of confectionery artistry. The London-based boutique company shows that biscuits could be both delicious to eat and beautiful to look at. Biscuiteers came with a mission to offer something distinct in the market: hand-iced biscuits that stood out for their artistry and personality. Recognising the importance of experience, they expanded their range to include do-it-yourself kits. They also have a Diwali collection that connects the sweetness of the festival with the intricate designs.
Cutter & Squidge, a UK bake company, has defied logistics by delivering perfectly formed cakes through the mail. The bakery in London has redefined the landscape of online baked goods delivery. Founded in 2013, the company began as a small market stall and swiftly blossomed into a renowned destination for cake enthusiasts.
Nestlé Christmas News
Nestlé Confectionery announces its Christmas 2023 line-up, made up of classic holiday treats and brand-new winter wonders. As the company notices on its webpage, Quality Street has introduced a new bar with two favourite flavours fused together. The new Quality Street Collisions Hazelnut & Caramel Chocolate Sharing Bar brings together indulgent caramel, a smooth hazelnut filling, and crunchy hazelnut pieces all encased in milk chocolate. Also this Christmas period, Quality Street fans can find a new-shaped The Purple One sweet, available exclusively in a limited number of The Purple One Bags.
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In the world of After Eight, a new treat is arriving in time for the festive season. The After Eight Winter Fondant Bag is made up of iconic London landmark-shaped mint fondant sweets. Returning once more is After Eight Gin & Tonic & Mint, featuring a gin and tonic-flavoured mint fondant enrobed in rich dark chocolate.
White chocolate fans will be keen to try the new Milkybar Speculoos. It is the creamy-tasting, smooth white chocolate that fans know and love, dotted with crunchy caramelised biscuit pieces.
Popular vegan Food
Even if some vegan food retailers have been struggling this year, the supermarkets still believe plant-food options will perform well this Christmas. Brand of British supermarkets Waitrose has confirmed that 2023 will be its biggest year for vegan food yet with searches for ‘plant-based’ on its website is up 115% on last year. Now it has an offer of vegan festive food. Highlights include a triple nut roast with sweet potato, lentils, chickpeas, almonds, brazil nuts and a clementine and apricot chutney graze, as well as a plant-based beef Wellington.
The centrepieces from Tesco include a mushroom and chestnut festive wreath, and a ‘no-turkey’ crown with herb stuffing. The brand is also focusing on the trend with a festive Build Your Own Christmas Olive Tree twist, which features Mediterranean olives and sundried tomatoes arranged in a tower. It will also be rolling out a range of new flavours in addition to its traditional cheeses, such as a wensleydale with cranberries, pomegranate and orange, and a sticky toffee cheddar truckle.
Demand on low alcohol Drinks
At Waitrose, no and low alcohol drink sales have grown by 20%, notices the food webpage Grocery Gazette. The research by drinks giant Diageo found that two fifths of UK adults want to moderate their drinking. Waitrose master of wine and head of beers, wines and spirits Pierpaolo Petrassi says: “We expect this year to be the biggest year to date for sales and are preparing for strong demand at Christmas.”
Even if we are living in the digital age, the food remains as ever a tangible link to the pleasures of home and the joy of sharing. Especially Christmas is time of maintaining traditional values and embracing contemporary trends to craft an authentic connection between the product and the consumer. The trajectory of the food-gifting sector is distinguished by the artful combination of taste and presentation, recognising the emotional resonance of a shared culinary experience. Let´s enjoy it.
