A very modern Christmas While Christmas traditions are firmly entrenched, this year will see some exciting new product development as wider food and drink trends slip their Santa's hats on. 'Newstaglia' will be making big waves this festive season, with many new F&B launches embracing the old with the new in a modern take on nostalgia. Emma Leys, marketing communications specialist for GNT UK, says this will be most prominent in the bakery, confectionery and snacks aisles – think mulled wine jelly sweets and pigs-in-blanket flavoured crisps.
"This Christmas is all about indulgence and escapism," agreed Sophie Lyons, marketing manager at plant-based specialists Meadow. "We're seeing applications that take the likes of the British Christmas Pudding to the next level with the addition of ingredients such as the Belgian speculoos biscuit, cinnamon biscuit crumb and caramel sauce. "What's more, following the resurged popularity of blonde and caramel chocolate, traditional Christmas desserts like the Yule Log are having a blonde chocolate ganache makeover.
" Sainsbury's is among the retailers to play with its after-dinner delights, with its Belgian chocolate cheesecake, which is surrounded by a high wall dark chocolate biscuit base, chocolate brownies and a salted caramel sauce. It has also donned its shelves with its Golden Forest dessert – this comprises a blonde chocolate mousse, white-chocolate coated shortcake biscuit balls and a hidden centre of ginger spiced cara.
