Searches on Waitrose.com for ‘Christmas entertaining’ are up 74% compared to last year
Pre-orders for gammon and pork on Waitrose Entertaining up 44% and 43% compared to last year
Pre-orders on Waitrose Entertaining for venison up 26% compared to last year
Discover this year’s wonderful new creations from our Christmas Entertaining range, which includes seasonal centrepieces, starters, desserts, sides and party food to help our customers create the most delicious and convenient Christmas yet!
Let’s get started
Customers will be able to ‘wow’ their guests from the minute they sit down with a scrumptious first course that’ll set the scene for the rest of the GOOD feast to come.
Searches on Waitrose.com for ‘Christmas starter’ are up 82% when compared to 2022, showing that many of us have already thought of which dishes will be kickstarting the Christmas menu.
Sam Cooke, Waitrose Product Developer, said: “Add a touch of sparkle to your Christmas spread with our Shimmering Salmon Mousse, a design inspired by vintage copper moulds. This light and creamy mousse is made with Cherrywood Scottish Smoked Salmon which is available all year round – we even make use of salmon trimmings in this mousse as another step in our mission to reduce food waste. Serve it as a showpiece starter at your Christmas table, or just scoop onto crusty bread or a cracker for a delicious breakfast celebratory bite.”
Shimmering Salmon Mousse £15 – Tender Scottish smoked and poached salmon mousse with a shimmering bronze lustre finish. Treat your guests to something special this Christmas.
No.1 Duck Parfait with Mushroom & Truffle Centre £15 – A velvety smooth, rich parfait made with duck liver and duck fat, with a decadent mushroom and truffle centre. Makes an extra-special starter served with crisp melba toast or crusty bread, and a fruity chutney.
4 Portobello Mushroom Thermidor Vol au Vents £16 – Savoury portobello mushrooms in a creamy wine and brandy sauce, topped with extra mature cheddar,encased in delicate puff pastry.
Sliced Side of Smoked Salmon £45 – A mild, oak smoked Scottish salmon side, sliced and ready to serve on a gold-coloured board.
Lamb and venison
Our lean, tender British venison is at its seasonal best at Christmas, and our customers know this too with pre-orders on Waitrose Entertaining for venison up 26% versus 2022 and searches on Waitrose.com for ‘Christmas venison’ up 50 % compared to last year. Our venison is supplied by farmers who share our values on animal welfare and are all farmed to the highest standards of animal welfare.
It’s not only our venison which is proving popular as searchers on Waitrose.com for ‘Christmas lamb’ are also up 189% this year, as our customers are looking to enjoy lamb throughout the year and not just at Easter.
No.1 British Venison Rack (from £55) – This elegantly French-trimmed whole rack of venison has a rich gamey flavour. The tender and succulent texture naturally contains just enough fat to keep the meat moist and juicy as it cooks.
No.1 Douglas Fir Smoked British Half Rack of Venison (from £34) – The earthy flavour of this venison is enhanced by cold smoking in the wood of Douglas fir trees, which naturally grow where deer roam. Pour over the sweet, gamey venison jus when serving to bring out the full flavour of the dish.
Slow Cooked British Bone-In Lamb Shoulder with Cranberry & Shallot Jus £42 – This British whole lamb shoulder has been slow cooked on the bone for 10 hours with garlic and herbs for ultimate tenderness and flavour. Serve with the deeply savoury, fruity jus made with redcurrant jelly, cranberry and shallots.
Boneless Leg of British Lamb with Apricot & Rosemary (from £24) – A whole boneless leg of lamb with apricot and orange stuffing, garnished with dried apricots and rosemary.
Prime gammon and pork
Our customers know that our British, outdoor bred pork will be a hit this Christmas with Waitrose Entertaining pre-orders for gammon and pork up 44% and 43% compared to last year.
Michael Baker, Pork Farmer for Waitrose, said: “We give them a good quality of life, with lots of space to roam. Our team here on the farm put in a lot of hard work and dedication, looking after the pigs the way we do. It’s very satisfying to see the result of all that hard work – healthy, contented stock.”
No.1 Free Range British Pork Crackling 10 Bone Rack (from £39) – A 10-bone, French-trimmed, British pork rack sprinkled with sea salt and black pepper for extra crispy crackling.
Juniper-Smoked Spiral Crackling British Gammon (from £44) – One for the crackling lovers. A bone-in, outdoor bred British gammon joint that is hand-scored and smoked over juniper wood chips for great crunch every time.
On the side
Searches on Waitrose.com for ‘Christmas sides’ are up 23% this year, showing us that our customers love all the trimmings when it comes to their Christmas Day main course, and this year we’ve got a fantastic selection of moreish sides that will complement your main course perfectly.
22 Piece PlantLiving Festive Cocktail Sausage Selection £8 – From sensational side dishes to the ultimate seasonal party platter, our versatile collection of sausages is perfect for any festive fridge. It features succulent, savoury plant-based turkey cocktail sausages, sweet maple, date and chestnut cocktail sausages and juicy, spiced mushroom chorizo sausages, swaddled in crisp puff pastry.
No.1 Free Range Pigs in Blankets & Pork Stuffing Balls £10 – 12 Pork chipolatas made from selected cuts of shoulder and belly meat from free range pigs sired by pedigree Hampshire boars, hand-wrapped in dry-cured smoked streaky bacon, and 12 stuffing balls made with free range pork sausagemeat and seasoned with sage and onion.
24 Piece British Outdoor Bred Garnish Pack £8 – 12 juicy outdoor bred British pork sausages with seasoning wrapped in dry cured smoked maple bacon, and 12 outdoor bred British pork, creamy brie and cranberry stuffing balls. Because no festive meal is complete without all the trimmings.
British Pork Jewelled Stuffing Wreath £12 – A truly show-stopping trimming. This stuffing wreath is studded with cranberries, candied clementine and blood orange, and finished with candied oranges and bay leaves.
Icing on the cake
This year, our customers are planning to round off their festive celebrations with a sweet treat, as pre-orders for our Waitrose Entertaining Cakes are up 20% versus last year.
For more than 25 years, we have worked with the renowned Fiona Cairns bakery in Leicestershire where it’s all hand on deck in the run-up to Christmas. Every cake is handmade, from the smallest cupcake to the most lavish celebratory creation. Their baking experts design and make the cakes using premium ingredients, icing them to perfection with stunning decorations.
Fiona Cairns, said: “That includes thousands of holly leaves, plus 12,000 carrot noses for our Smiling Snowman Cake and Festive Cupcakes, both of which celebrate happy childhood memories.”
Smiling Snowman Cake £28 – A triple-layer golden sponge filled and hand-decorated with raspberry jam and vanilla buttercream. Covered in soft white icing and finished with a buttercream crown, shimmering malt balls and sugar decorations
Festive Trio of Mixed Cakes £38 – Impress your guests with this festive trio of assorted cakes: a golden sponge with raspberry jam and vanilla buttercream, covered with soft icing; a chocolate sponge with chocolate buttercream, covered with soft icing; and a rich fruit cake, laced with brandy and covered with marzipan and icing. All are finished with handmade edible decorations to delight young and old alike.
Classic Iced Fruit Cake £32 – An all butter cake packed with vine fruits and laced with brandy, topped with marzipan and iced with handmade decorations. An elegant and very festive cake that’s perfect for teatime – or anytime.
Notes to Editors
Orders need to be placed by 15th December for delivery or collection on the 20-24th December.
For more information please contact:
Cameron Addison – cameron.addison@waitrose.co.uk
About the John Lewis Partnership
The John Lewis Partnership owns and operates two of Britain’s best-loved retail brands – John Lewis and Waitrose. Started as a radical experiment over a century ago, the Partnership is now the largest employee-owned business in the UK, with over 74,000 employees who are all Partners in the business. The Partnership is purpose-driven, existing to create a fairer and more sustainable future for our Partners, customers, suppliers and communities. Our Purpose not only inspires our principles, drives our decisions and acts as our guide to be a force for good, it steers us to do things differently and better – all in service of creating a happier world for everyone and everything we touch.
Waitrose & Partners has 331 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 59 convenience branches, 27 shops at Welcome Break locations, and Waitrose.com – its fast-growing online shopping business, consistently rated highly by independent research. The retailer combines the convenience of a supermarket with the expertise and service of a specialist shop – dedicated to offering quality food that has been responsibly sourced, combined with high standards of customer service. As part of an employee-owned business, all Partners have a say in how the business is run.
Dining and Cooking