Group gatherings driving festive food trends

Christmas 2025 is set to be defined not just by tradition, but by the size and scale of social reconnection, with group gatherings acting as the primary engine for festive food trends.

According to predictions from AHDB, the drive for bigger celebrations is directly fuelling demand for both traditional indulgence and unprecedented convenience in the kitchen.

The data confirms that the festive period is becoming more socially ambitious. An AHDB/YouGov Pulse survey from November 2025 revealed that a significant 80% of consumers are planning their Christmas celebrations to be the same size, if not larger, than their gatherings in 2024.

This push for expanded hospitality is substantial, with nearly two-fifths of all get-togethers likely to feature six or more people. This simple fact — that more people will be sharing more meals — dictates the entire outlook for food spending and product innovation.

Crucially, despite an anticipated pinch on overall spending, food remains a non-negotiable priority.

Charlotte Forkes-Rees, retail and consumer insight analyst at AHDB, highlighted this resilience, noting: “Despite nearly half of consumers planning to cut back on overall Christmas spending, food remains a ‘protected spend’ in the eyes of consumers, similar to children’s gifts and Christmas trees.” This ensures that celebratory meals will remain a central focus and a protected line item within festive budgets.

The focus on large groups is reshaping what consumers eat and when they eat it. While turkey is expected to predictably remain the protein of choice for the main Christmas Day meal, its dominance is being challenged by the sheer number of additional celebratory meals.

The research shows that 75% of consumers plan on having at least one additional celebratory meal beyond Christmas Day. At these numerous secondary occasions, turkey is likely to take a less central role, creating a significant opportunity for other proteins, with beef, lamb, pork, and gammon all expected to increase their share on plates. This signals a diverse and extended festive eating period that goes well beyond the 25th of December.

The push for hosting large groups is also intensifying the demand for convenience. With multiple meals to plan, prepare, and serve, the stress of festive cooking becomes a major factor.

Charlotte Forkes-Rees addressed this pivot to convenience, explaining: “Convenience is set to play a bigger role this Christmas, with one in five consumers admitting they find festive cooking stressful.” This stress, driven by the logistics of catering for extended family and friends, is anticipated to create a growing demand for ready-to-cook options that save precious preparation time. Consumers are willing to pay a premium for solutions that “save time without compromising on taste or quality.”

Technology is also playing a role in this convenience-driven trend. The air fryer, which has become a kitchen staple, is set to be integral to managing the pressure of group cooking. Forkes-Rees noted: “Air fryers will also remain a kitchen staple, with 41% of consumers planning to use one for at least part of their merry meal to help ease the pressure on Christmas Day chefs.” This appliance helps spread the workload away from the main oven, a necessity when catering for a higher head count.

Finally, the indulgence associated with celebratory gatherings means good news for the dairy sector. The desire for traditional desserts and accompaniments remains strong. Eight out of ten consumers are planning on eating the same amount or more cheese over the festive period than they normally would. Furthermore, traditional desserts like Christmas pudding, mince pies, and Christmas cake are top contenders for the final course, with essential dairy accompaniments like custards and creams deemed essential by around a third of consumers.

Ultimately, the 2025 Christmas food landscape is being architected by the size of the guest list. Larger, more frequent group gatherings are simultaneously driving demand for high-quality, traditional indulgence and for revolutionary cooking convenience, reshaping everything from the star protein on the plate to the appliance used to cook it.