Christmas dinner prices are expected to remain steady this year, despite the recent increase in food costs, according to experts. The Worldpanel by Numerator market research firm revealed that the average cost for a turkey and accompanying items for a party of four is £32.46, slightly lower than last year’s £32.57, even with an overall grocery price inflation rate of 4.7% last month.
Supermarkets have intensified their promotions to attract Christmas shoppers, recognizing that budget-conscious families will be seeking affordable holiday food essentials. The report by Worldpanel indicates that the price of frozen turkeys has actually decreased by 3.6% to £13.52 compared to last year. Additionally, parsnips are now 0.4% cheaper at 71p for a set of four items.
However, certain items have seen price increases, such as cauliflower up by 4.2% to £1.22, carrots up by 5.5% to 52p, Brussels sprouts up by 3.6% to 92p, potatoes up by 1.1% to £1.67, and gravy granules up by 5.1% to £2.23. Other items like stuffing mix have risen by 6.9% to 96p, while cranberry sauce costs around 10% more at 86p for four servings. The report also mentioned that Christmas pudding prices have increased by 0.8% to £3.34, and sparkling wine is now 1.7% pricier at £6.51 per bottle.
Discount retailer Aldi has maintained its prices, offering a main festive meal for eight at less than £12, equivalent to under £1.50 per person. This promotion, available from December 19 to Christmas Eve, includes festive vegetables that can be discounted to 8p as part of Aldi’s Christmas Super Six deal.
Worldpanel by Numerator noted that over 31% of supermarket purchases last month were made on promotion, slightly higher than the previous year’s 30%. Fraser McKevitt, the head of retail and consumer insight, highlighted that retailers are striving to attract shoppers during this crucial time. Despite ongoing financial challenges for many households, consumers are still willing to spend on small indulgences during the holiday season.
Although chocolate prices have increased by 18.4% compared to last year, many households purchased confectionery advent calendars in November. Additionally, a significant number of shoppers bought Champagne or sparkling wine in the past month.
Online grocer Ocado achieved a record market share of 2.2%, with sales up by 15.8% in the last three months. However, physical stores continue to dominate the grocery sector, with Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd projected to be the busiest supermarket shopping days due to Christmas falling on a Thursday this year.
Lidl experienced the largest market share growth, gaining an additional 0.5 percentage points to reach 8.1%. Meanwhile, Aldi’s sales increased by 4.1%, maintaining a 10.5% market share. Sainsbury’s saw a 5.1% sales growth, reaching a market share of 16%, while Asda struggled with a 4.3% decrease in takings, holding an 11.5% market share.
Leading the industry, Tesco reported a 4.7% sales increase to nearly £10.2 billion in the three months ending November, with a market share of 28.3%.