Whether it’s Christmas lunch, dinner or even leftovers, Aussies’ top picks for supermarket Christmas foods have been revealed in new research from Canstar Blue, with insight into how the cost of living has impacted Christmas spending too.
A Canstar Blue survey of 3,000 shoppers right after Christmas 2023, asked shoppers to rate supermarket foods on a range of qualities, with the ultimate award given to the supermarket that delivered the best in overall customer satisfaction.
Aussies named Woolworths as the top choice for both leg ham and turkey, while Aldi claimed the award for Christmas pudding and pavlova base. IGA earned the award for fruit mince pies.
How are Aussies spending their Christmas?
Aussies will spend, on average, just over $250 on their Christmas food, with Christmas Day lunch the most popular time for festivities, followed by dinner on Christmas Day and then dinner on Christmas Eve.
Despite the summer heat, 63% of Australians will still choose to cook traditional foods, such as ham and turkey, while 53% will eat seasonal Australian foods, such as fresh fruit and seafood. Just under one-fifth (19%) will eat the food that reflects their culture.
The Christmas Eve supermarket rush shows no signs of slowing, with 42% of Aussies admitting they like to buy their Christmas food at the last minute to ensure it is as fresh as possible. Meanwhile just over one-fifth (21%) prefer to bake or cook all the food they serve themselves.
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Gift giving, not food, most likely impacted by increased cost of living
The increased cost of living has, unfortunately, made a dent in Christmas cheer, with almost half (47%) of Aussies admitting they intentionally spent less over Christmas so they could put money towards other cost-of-living bills.
Canstar Blue analysis shows that this cost-cutting impacted Christmas gifts, not food, the most.
Research shows the average amount Aussies spent on their food last Christmas was $264, on par with the previous year’s spend of $266. Gift giving, however, took a hit, with the average spend on gifts dropping 20% to $499 compared to the year before.
This suggests that while there is Christmas cost-cutting, Aussies will prioritise food and drinks over presents.
Canstar Blue spokesperson Eden Radford said the survey results show just how much Aussies care about serving top-notch food at Christmas.
“The holiday season is a wonderful time of year, and with these Christmas food awards, Aussies will know where to go to get the top-rated food to enjoy with family and friends,” she said.
“Shoppers appreciated the freshness and lower cost of Woolworths’ leg ham and turkey products, while the quality and taste of Aldi’s Christmas puddings and pavlova base helped deliver them the win. Finally, plenty of shoppers found the fruit mince pies from IGA both delicious and at a great price.
“While every household will have their own traditions, there’s no doubt that delicious food will be a key theme across them all.
“For some, spending on Christmas may look a little different as they face bills, costs and expenses that unfortunately don’t take a holiday themselves. Despite this, there are still plenty of ways to bring a little Christmas cheer without breaking the bank.”
Canstar Blue’s tips to enjoy Christmas on a budget:
- Compare your Christmas food prices: Take a few minutes before you hit the shops to compare prices on your list and see which stores could help you save more.
- See what you can swap: Try swapping items on your shopping list for lower cost supermarket brands that will still deliver on quality, and help keep costs down.
- Set a gift spending limit: Set a budget for gift giving – this will help manage your own budget, but also help align everyone’s expectations on Christmas Day.
- Get smart with Secret Santa: There are online tools where you can share lists among family and friends – this way each person won’t just get a gift, but exactly what they want.
- Ask guests to contribute: If you’re hosting this Christmas, ask guests to bring a plate or drinks. It lightens your load, but they may also love the opportunity to contribute too.
- Feed your freezer with leftovers: If you have the space, consider freezing Christmas leftovers so as not to waste any uneaten food.
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