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Quenelles research finds cost of Christmas dinner rises by a third

25th Nov 2025 - 05:00
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Quenelles research finds cost of Christmas dinner rises by a third
Abstract
The cost of a traditional Christmas dinner has soared by a third in the past five years, according to new analysis from food benchmarking service Quenelles.

With the festive season fast approaching - and catering teams across the country preparing their Christmas menus - Quenelles has crunched the numbers to reveal just how much the cost of key Christmas favourites has changed since 2020.

Mince pies have seen the sharpest rise, up 94% in price over the five-year period, followed by turkey breast roll (+83%), potatoes (+72%), pigs in blankets (+61%) and cranberry sauce (+41%).

Not all festive staples have followed the same upward trend. Brussels sprouts have increased by just 8%, while Christmas puddings are up by a modest 15%, suggesting that not every item on the festive plate has felt the full brunt of inflation.

Paul Wright, managing director at Quenelles, commented: “It’s been a turbulent five years for food pricing - from the pandemic to the cost-of-living crisis, inflation has created real challenges for caterers managing budgets. While some increases were expected, it’s eye-opening to see just how much more certain Christmas staples are now costing.

“Of course, the percentage increases vary depending what pack formats you look at – but the figures are based on the more popular pack sizes we typically see contract caterers and in-house catering teams purchasing, providing a realistic reflection of what’s happening on the ground.”

For further information visit: www.quenelles.co.uk.

Written by
Edward Waddell