We may only be a day into August, but some UK supermarkets have already started unveiling their festive food ranges for 2023.
And no, we’re not kidding.
Although we didn’t want to bring up the ‘C’ word nearly five months before the festive season is actually upon us, a handful of UK supermarkets have left us with no choice, because despite the fact August has literally just arrived, and the school summer holidays have only just started, Tesco, Asda, and more have already started releasing details about their Christmas food and drink ranges.
Considering July was a classic Greater Manchester wash-out, though, and the weather forecast for the foreseeable future looks to be much of the same, maybe there’s no harm getting in getting into the festive spirit a little earlier this year?
We’re going to bet at least a few people answered yes to that, and thankfully, there’s some real mouthwatering treats on the menu to make these early releases worthwhile.
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A sneak peak at what’s on offer at Tesco this Christmas / Credit: Tesco
Over at Tesco, you won’t just find the traditional turkey and Christmas pudding on the lineup this year, as instead, there’s inventive alternatives like a Slow Cooked Sloe Gin Duck, Pigs in Blankets Topped Steak Pie, pear-shaped Pork Liver Pâté, Monkfish & Chorizo Wellington, Prawn Snowballs, and even a whole range of festive-themed Bao buns.
For those with a sweet tooth, Tesco is serving up a Winter Orange Cheesecake and Mulled Berry Meringue Wreath, both from the ‘Finest’ range.
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There’s also a giant Christmas tree-shaped chocolate brownie to tuck into too.
Tesco is one of a handful of UK supermarkets to have already unveiled its 2023 food offering / Credit: Tesco
Can Asda rival that? Aside from the classics, the supermarket retailer is also teasing shoppers with a wide range of new festive delicacies this year.
These include Porchetta, a Speciality Cheeseboard, and a Charcuterie Ultimate Grazing Platter, all from the ‘Extra Special’ range, and a whopping 57 new vegan and 35 new Free From products too.
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When it comes to desserts and sweet treats, shoppers are spoiled for choice once again, with some of the stand-outs being a Chocolate & Honeycomb Avalanche Dessert, the Brown Butter & Spiced Dark Rum Mince Pies, and a trio of black forest-themed treats.
Some of the treats Asda is offering up this Christmas / Credit: Asda
There’s a Black Forest Yule Log, the Black Forest Stollen Bites, and the undeniably showstopping Black Forest Woodland Cake.
Although the retailer doesn’t have much of a presence in Greater Manchester, Waitrose has also unveiled its 2023 festive food range, and it’s expected that we won’t have long to wait now until the majority of other major supermarket chains also get into the Christmas spirit.
Stockport County’s Christmas dinner in a cup returns for 2025 as part of new festive food range
Danny Jones
We can’t believe it’s rolled around again already, but with the festive period well underway and the big day just a few weeks away, Stockport County have brought back their viral ‘Xmas dinner in a cup’for 2025.
Better still, the County Courtyard has seen some new Christmas specials added to its food menu, too.
The local football club are absolutely flying in League One at the moment, having spent plenty of time at the top of the table already and still well and truly contesting those promotion/play-off spots.
If you’re a Stopfordian, that’s plenty of cause for celebration right there, but with the Christmas dinner in a cup also up for grabs once more, the holiday season literally couldn’t taste any better right now.
For those who’ve never seen it before, it’s exactly what it says on the tin – well, cup: a little Sunday dinner in a County-branded takeaway coffee cup, complete with a healthy pour of gravy and pretty much all the trimmings you could hope for.
Yes, including sprouts, because all of you who still don’t touch them need to grow up already.
Currently priced at just £4.50, not only does it contain virtually all the major food groups (barring the customary matchday pints, of course), it might just be one of the healthiest and best value-for-money bits of footy scran around – certainly in Greater Manchester, anyway.
But, as mentioned, that’s not all this year; Stockport are also serving up the new festive hot dog and even a ‘leftover Christmas curry’ in a bowl, which might even be more warming on a cold night at Edgeley Park than the Xmas dinner in a cup or clinging onto a flask of Bovril.
Anyone else craving that curry with a cheeky bit of bubble and squeak now?
It’s also worth noting that you’ll only be able to get one of those on Boxing Day, by the way, when the Hatters host Lincoln City in the league.
As for the rest of it, County fans can get their hands on this seasonal scran for the first time this year at the weekend when Dave Challinor’s side take on Barnsley at 12:30pm, and two of the three specials will then be served at home every game over the holiday period.
Speaking of random Christmas food creations, there’s another limited-time-only and potentially divisive example that we’ll also be sampling this December…
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper… for some reason
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has launched its latest Christmas creation, and this one’s arguably wackier than anything else it’s brought out before.
There’s absolutely no denying that pigs in blankets are a staple of festive feasting, with millions of the little delicacies consumed throughout the UK each Christmas, but have you ever wished you could turn the taste of those pigs in blankets into a lickable wrapping paper to wrap all this year’s gifts in? Yeah probably not… Aldi‘s made it though.
It’s anticipated that more than 561 million pigs in blankets are going to be eaten over the festive period, new research has found, which is an average of 10 per person.
But if you just can’t bare to leave the taste of pigs in blankets behind, Aldi’s new wrapping paper is set to give shoppers a fun and tasty twist when it comes to gift-giving.
The limited-edition wrapping paper is inspired by Aldi’s very-own range of pigs in blankets, and is described as capturing the smoky, savoury flavour and smell of the festive treat, with stickers that peel back to reveal a truly unique ‘lickable’ experience.
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper / Credit: Simon Jacobs/PA Wire (via Aldi UK)
Not only does the novelty wrapping paper taste and smells like pigs in blankets, it also looks the part on presents too with its pastel pink design, festive holly, and snowflake patterns.
“Pigs in Blankets are a highlight of the festive season… so we wanted to create something special to celebrate the Christmas classic,” commented Julie Ashfield, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, as the new creation launches.
“This unique, lickable wrapping paper is the perfect way to spread extra joy on Christmas Day.”
Want to get your hands on it then? Unfortunately, it won’t be as simple as popping to your nearest Aldi store and picking up a roll, as with a creation as unique as this, there’s only going to be limited stock and a special shopper competition to win it.
To be in with a chance of winning, you simply need to email [email protected] with your full name before the deadline at 11:59pm on 1 December.
Emily Sergeant -
1st August 2023 
