The biggest scratch cooking and baking boom in decades – which was sparked by the first lockdown earlier this year – will continue into Christmas.
That’s the prediction from Tesco which said it is already seeing soaring demand for traditional festive home cooking and baking favourites such as goose fat, turkey gravy, mincemeat and seasonal baking kits.
The forecast is backed up by a survey 2,000 British consumer interviewed as part Tesco’s Christmas Report 2020, of which 85% revealed that they would cook at least part of their dinner from scratch. A third stated that Christmas, this year, had never seemed more important.
Early November sales data from Tesco for seasonal cooking ingredients bears testimony to the prediction. Goose fat sales were up 100% versus the same time last year, mincemeat (for mince pies) rose 80%, puff and shortbread pastry climbed 90%, whole cloves (for mulled wine) were up by more than 60%, and free from seasonal baking kits jumped 50%.
Tesco Cooking Ingredients buyer Paul Curtis said: “This year has seen the biggest boom for scratch cooking and baking in living memory and as we move into the Christmas season, that trend shows no sign of abating.
“We’re already seeing high demand for typical ingredients used in baking seasonal treats and staples such as mince pies, gingerbread and biscuits for the festive feast as customers look to stagger their shopping time and avoid the Christmas squeeze.
“Judging by sales in the last few weeks and the continuing high demand we’ve seen for ingredients likes herbs and spices since the first lockdown started, many people will be putting their hearts into cooking up a feast this Christmas.”
