5 Upcoming Christmas Food Trends for 2021

The festive season is quickly coming around, so time is running out to prepare! We’re already seeing popular Christmas food creep onto the supermarket shelves and before we know it, our TV’s will be full of Christmas gift ideas and delicious food. Whether you’re looking to produce custom labels in time for the festivities or are bringing out a new range of tasty gift ideas, we delve into the predicted Christmas food trends for 2021 so you can get ahead of the crowd and wow your customers.

1. Shopping big

After an unusual Christmas in 2020, many families were disappointed to not be able to spend the big day with their loved ones. This year, traditions can commence as usual as 2021 sees us get back to normal in full force with no restrictions in sight. This is expected to have an impact in Christmas food trends, with many people looking to have big family gatherings which will require large quantities of the most popular Christmas food. Party food and nibbles are expected to be widely available, catering to a December surrounded by family and friends.

2. The rise in online

Unsurprisingly, the recent pandemic has seen a boom in online ordering. With many of us having had to adapt to ordering our supermarket shops online and fighting for a delivery slot, lots of consumers have adopted this as an ongoing shopping style. As well as being a convenient option, there tends to be a wider range of products for us to choose from and this will be no different during the festive period. Consider adapting your food labels to your online audience, snapping some enticing product imagery and catching the eye as people scroll by.

3. Meat free alternatives

With a humungous rise in vegetarianism and veganism over the last few years, it’s no surprise that there is a rise in meat-free alternatives on the shelf. This Christmas, we’re expecting many of the traditional popular Christmas foods to also be available as plant-based alternatives to meet growing demand, changing Christmas food trends as we know them. From traditional turkey alternatives to vegan sweet treats, the festive food market is becoming much more inclusive so we can all indulge in our favourite snacks guilt free.

4. Keep it local

Many of us are doing our bit to shop more locally, supporting smaller businesses who need our custom more than ever. The closure of all shops and restaurants during Covid-19 was a big hit for businesses all over the country, causing many to close their doors for the final time due to financial struggles. We’re expecting one of the main Christmas food trends this year to be shopping from independent businesses, trying new foods and enhancing the community feel to spread a bit of festive cheer.

5. A green touch

Consumers are making much more eco-friendly decisions nowadays, doing their bit to reduce their environmental footprint. With many people indulging over the festive period and buying excess food and treats, it is a big season for wastage. This year, we’re expecting to see an increase in more sustainable labels and ethically sourced foods, helping us make better decisions without compromising on our favourite treats.

Preparing Your Most Popular Christmas Foods

If you’re looking to adapt your range to suit the 2021 Christmas food trends or are considering launching a festive campaign, now is the time to start! Here at Labelnet, we can help bring your packaging to life with a range of food and drink labels, ranging all the way from luxury confectionary labels to stunning wine labels. Whether you sell edible gifts, luxury foods or traditional alcohols, get in touch to see how you can upgrade your labels right in time for Christmas. Add an extra bit of festive sparkle through hot foiling or embossing, making use of our additional embellishments to help make your labels stand out from the rest.

To get your labels in time for the Christmas rush, ordering as soon as possible is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. We’ll work with you to produce a festive design in line with your brand image and send out a free sample pack so you can test the quality for yourself, visualising them against your own packaging.