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UK Christmas Dinner Costs Ease Slightly as Chocolate Prices Surge

Heavier promotions kept grocery baskets in check despite 4.7% inflation, with cocoa shortages driving a sharp rise in chocolate prices.

Overview

  • An average Christmas dinner for four now costs £32.46, down a penny year on year, according to Worldpanel data for the 12 weeks to 30 November.
  • Frozen turkey prices fell 3.6% to £13.52, though several trimmings rose, including potatoes, sprouts, cranberry sauce and stuffing mix.
  • Promotions accounted for about 31.2% of supermarket spending as retailers competed for festive trade and sought to shield shoppers from price pressures.
  • Chocolate prices climbed 18.4% year on year after poor West African cocoa harvests, prompting manufacturers to shrink products or alter recipes.
  • Tesco leads with a 28.3% market share as Sainsbury’s, Lidl and Ocado gain and Asda’s share slips to 11.5%, with the busiest shopping days expected on 22–23 December.