Christmas food prices are on the rise as festive treats cost up to 70% more, says Which?
Consumers are paying more for Christmas food this year, with festive chocolates costing 70 per cent more than last Christmas and the price of turkey up by around £15, according to new research from consumer giant Which?.
The organization analyzed the costs of key ingredients for Christmas dinners alongside popular seasonal treats such as mince pies, sparkling wine and chocolate. It found that while grocery inflation figures appear to have eased, price increases for holiday items are hitting consumers hard.
Chocolate products recorded the highest increase. A box of Lindt Lindor milk chocolate truffles at Asda has risen by 72 per cent, from £1.15 last year to £1.98, while Morrisons’ Lindt Teddy’s chocolate tree decorations have jumped 71 per cent, from £3.50 in 2024 to £6 this year. Lindt products topped the list of biggest increases, followed by items such as Terry’s dark chocolate orange, Galaxy sharing blocks and Kinder multipacks.
Of the entire chocolate category, Which? the amounts received had increased by an average of 14 percent per year. Reena Sewraz, retail editor at Whoth?, said headline inflation figures mask the reality consumers face. “Some items have increased by more than 70 percent compared to last year, which is something that will scare many households planning their Christmas shops,” he said.
Rising cocoa prices have been a major cause of high chocolate costs, with low yields in key growing areas blamed on extreme weather, including high temperatures and heavy rain.
While chocolate saw the largest percentage increase, turkeys delivered the biggest financial impact. A Tesco Finest medium crown bronze turkey rose by £14.95 to £68.77, an increase of almost 28 per cent. For all turkey products – including whole birds, crowns and small cuts – prices are increasing by an average of 4.7 percent annually.
Where is it? he said turkey prices were driven up by a combination of the bird flu outbreak and rising costs faced by farmers. The traditional base for Christmas dinner has lost popularity, as many consumers choose other options. This year, Waitrose has confirmed it will no longer sell frozen turkeys, following a similar move by Marks & Spencer last Christmas.
When you look at the big supermarket chains, Which one? found that Waitrose recorded its highest overall price increase in the run-up to Christmas, with prices up 6.2 per cent compared to last year. Asda was found to have maintained the lowest increase, at around 3 per cent.
Waitrose said some products discounted last Christmas had not been reduced this year, while Sainsbury’s said it was continuing its holiday promotions, including mince pies marked down from £1.25 and vegetable cuts available at Nectar prices in the final days before Christmas.
Where is it? He warned that while consumers may be relieved by easing inflation headlines, many families will still feel the pinch as they prepare for the holiday season.
