Editor’s Christmas half dozen

It’s always challenging to pick through all the great end-products that we receive information on. Quite frankly, there are usually a lot of great products left on the table. So, we’re creating an Editor’s half dozen list of end-products we believe sum up Christmas 2021. We will add to this list – so keep an eye out for future blogs with the latest launches on them.

This years’ festive season will be making up for the somewhat hindered celebrations of last year, predicts Laura Taylor, from allmanhall, an independent food and catering-related procurement specialist. Consumers will be looking to make this festive season extra special, with food and drink playing a big part.

As December approaches we can look forward to the coming festivities and the opportunity to enjoy the wide array of festive and seasonal produce on offer.

Nomo is placed on the list as the vegan and free-from chocolate brand, is not just appreciated by consumers, it has achieved a magnitude of success at this year’s Free From Christmas awards. The inaugural awards recognises and celebrates seasonal free-from products. All products that enter the awards are blind tasted by a specialist judging panel featuring chefs, manufacturers, dieticians, and allergy reactors. Nomo’s cookie dough reindeer is the newest member of the Nomo collection (pictured above) and picked up a gold award. Nomo’s iconic classic advent calendar, a stalwart of Nomo’s Christmas range which won the silver award, returns to shelves once again this year.
The Raw Chocolate Company has launched this luxurious tin of vegan organic Spiced Chocolate Almonds. It is an ideal Christmas gift and snack, comprising Raw Chocolate Company’s Spice Chocolate Almonds are: made with 100% organic ingredients, sweetened with Coconut Blossom Sugar and Cacao Butter, and prepared with festive mixed spices including Cinnamon, clove, allspice and nutmeg.
Given the ongoing situation with Covid-19 safe management measures at workplaces, businesses can still reach out safely and send thoughtful gifts to partners, staff, and friends this festive season with Awfully Chocolate. Organisations looking for a special way to celebrate Christmas can look forward to Chocolate bakery and gift shop Awfully Chocolate’s customised corporate gift selection. You can choose from Awfully Chocolate’s exclusive collection of chocolate gifts including the newest seasonal Christmas Chocolate Bars in flavours like Smoked Salt, Mint & Cacao Nibs and Buttered Waffles. Awfully Chocolate customers may also choose from entirely new collections like the Chocolate & Coffee Collection comprising Espresso, Java Chip and Matcha Latte, and the Single Original Chocolate Bars collection.
Selection by Pidy’ is a premium range of ready to fill shortcrust tartlets. Aimed at catering professionals across Europe, the range is perfect for creating canapes and desserts. The pastry uses a special plant-based coating that ensures that it remains moisture resistant, thus allowing caterers to prepare well in advance. Consisting of eleven different tartlets in either a neutral, sweet or chocolate shortcrust pastry, they are available in a variety of contemporary shapes and sizes. Using a traditional French recipe, these delicious tartlets are crafted with ingredients including free-range eggs and pure butter.
This year couldn’t end without sustainability in mind. Bacardi, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, has announced that this holiday season its gift packs will contain 50% less plastic than last year. The gift packs will remove a total of 147 tons of single-use plastic used annually through new designs, which remove the need for plastic, and by replacing plastic inserts or trays with sustainable alternatives made from cardboard certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The plastic-free designs include gift packs for many of the company’s iconic brands like Bacardi Reserva Ocho, Grey Goose vodka, Bombay Sapphire gin, Bombay Bramble gin, Martini Fiero and Dewar’s 12 Year Old Blended Scotch whisky.
Festive brews can be made a lot easier thanks to a new winter selection box from Totally Natural Solutions. Brewers looking to create a festive brew this Christmas, but unsure how to add new aroma and flavour profiles will be putting the new limited edition selection box from Totally Natural Solutions straight to the top of their Christmas list. Aimed at brewers who are keen to develop products and flavours, this new winter selection pack contains the brand’s best-selling Natural Sensations range of winter fruit flavours and spicy notes to help brewers create a variety of unique festive beers this winter. The pack contains 6 x 15ml TNS Natural Sensations extracts including Cherry, Apple Strudel, Vanilla, Chocolate, Plum and Ginger. Each hop oil is a natural liquid which is fully soluble making it perfect for festive brewing regardless of batch size.