Stat of the month:
A fifth of Christmas office parties are likely to be alcohol-free this year.
Source: UK events firm Togather
October is always one of the busiest months as I help clients get ready for Christmas with their promotional plans and sales. It’s also a time for exciting new products as the supermarkets launch their festive ranges. These are always good to track as they provide an insight into overall consumer trends. I’ve rounded-up some of the more interesting product launches and trends below.
Vegan options making headlines
One interesting trend in the supermarket Christmas ranges is not just the number of vegan products but how tailored to the season they are. These vegan options are no poor relation to the main range. Check out Waitrose’s Santa Bao Buns for cuteness, their Plant-Based Sharing Wellington for heartiness and the No.1 Millionaire’s Torte for opulence. (Waitrose)
A lighter alternative to traditional mulled wine
Now this is a trend I can really get behind. Many find red wine too heavy and so white mulled wine is a lovely, fresh take on this festive favourite. Made and bottled in Germany, M&S’ White Mulled Wine is flavoured with pear, vanilla and mulled spice. Find out more here.
The rise of the alcohol-free office party
Interesting research from Togather highlights the trend that upwards of 20% of Christmas parties will be alcohol free this year. They also say that 74% of Gen Z-ers are conscious of the health impacts of alcohol, something that is leading to companies accommodating them with sober celebrations. More food for thought here. (Togather)
Aldi goes big in plant-based
How do you feel about breaded chicken doughnuts? Aldi’s UK Christmas range features a number of other attention-grabbing products such as Posh Prawn Toast and Wagyu Sliders. You can divine a lot about the market by looking at Aldi. They’ve gone big in plant-based with a footlong vegan pig in blanket, No Beef Fillet with Peppercorn Crust, and Roasted Vegetable Snowflakes. (The Grocer).
As we move into November, I’ll be highlighting some of the stand-out trends in the ready-to-drink sector. So keep an eye out on LinkedIn and Instagram.
If you’ve got a question about sales strategy, marketing activation, or generally growing your food or drink business, get in touch.