Speciality Food Magazine -November/December 2025

@specialityfood experiences are ramped up during late November and December, continues John. Evening wreath- making workshops with a local florist are being introduced at both Letheringsett and Norwich, while the retailers’ restaurants reflect the seasonal spirit - The Bay offering bubbles and oysters with a city view, and Benji’s Cafe servingmince pies and hot chocolate to warm customers’ cockles. Jarrolds aims to be a full-day festive destination, John adds. “Youmight arrive to choose or pick up a gift, then stay for tastings, live demos, or book a return visit for your children to see Santa in the toy department. “And our window displays are always full of seasonal promise, such Retailers across the UK share what makes the festive season magical for them– and their insider tips to help 2026 be the best yet and festive atmosphere provide the perfect backdrop to carefully curated ranges for foodies, gorgeous foods, gifts, drinks and hampers –many sourced fromNorfolk, but complimented with handpicked gastronomic highlights from around the world.” In order to captivate as many customers as possible, John says the business keeps its shopping and dining options open later – until 8pm– fromThursdays to Saturdays at the end of the year, “so our guests can take their time and linger a little longer”. “We work hard to create a space that combines shopping with hospitality, and it feels more like a full Christmas experience than just a food hall,” he adds. Christmas shopping opportunities in Norfolk are even greater this year, with the opening of Jarrolds Letheringsett – the brand’s second food hall and farm shop, located near Holt, with its own butchery (featuring locally rearedmeat from the Astley Estate), fresh local and organic produce, and hand-picked hampers, which continue to be very important to Jarrolds’ Christmas offering. “This year, our carefully considered collection of hampers includes a ready-to-order selection, presented in Jarrold’s signature boxes and traditional wicker baskets,” says Jim. “Each one is brimming with exceptional food and drink, featuring artisan products from our home county and beyond. “There’s also the option to create a more one-off gift too, through our bespoke hamper service, allowing customers to meander through the food hall, hand-selecting every itemwith that person inmind. It’s a service we offer to help customers create a thoughtful, meaningful gift for a client or foodie friend.” Regular tastings and food THE LAMBING SHED CHESHIRE “Everything here turns into a Christmas wonderland,” says Helen Brackley, marketing manager at The Lambing Shed in Knutsford, talking about their Yuletide plans. What draws customers in is the fact the shop truly celebrates local produce – particularly home-reared and locally-sourced meat, which form a focal point of most people’s Christmas celebration tables. “We want to really get customers excited about our butchery. We go to local farms HOWWE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS for our turkeys and geese, and the beef and lamb is our own.” The ‘homemade’ messaging gets even stronger at Christmas, Helen continues. “Customers really love that they can buy our own mince pies and sausage rolls – lots of things are made here.” This has been a marked year of change for the farm shop, which upped its ante in events to huge success this summer – growing its family market exponentially. “We did a massive sand pit in a converted barn, and it really took off! We got lots more followers, and more parents came in with their children.” This has informed 2026’s Christmas plans. “Off the back of that, we knew we wanted to do something that wasn’t just Father Christmas 22 C hristmas bells usually equal ringing tills. In Britain, we spend an average of almost £50 billion on food, drink and gifts in the weeks leading up to 25th December, meaning it’s still the most critical transaction period in retail. Get your marketing, merchandising, stock and staffing right, and you’ve got yourself a great formula for success. Read on SUFFOLK FOOD HALL SUFFOLK Rebecca Neale, marketing manager at Suffolk Food Hall, says it’s “so lovely” to share the Christmas season with customers. “It’s a key time for our butchery, with meat orders coming in, as well as for our greengrocers, which provides locally grown produce to make Christmas dinner extra tasty. Our bakery and deli also have the opportunity to make different products using festive flavours and seasonal ingredients, meaning customers have new products to try. It’s a time to be creative and offer customers a unique experience.” Once Halloween is out of the way, the food hall’s merchandisers flourish every corner with seasonal cheer, stocking it to the brimwith speciality products, from biscuit tins and chocolates to mulled wine, home decorations and gifting ideas. “We ensure Christmas flavours are available throughout the site,” Rebecca adds. “Including festive toasties and Biscoff hot chocolates in the cafe, as well as a dedicated festive menu in the restaurant. We also offer colouring competitions for children, and breakfast with Santa events.” This year the food hall will boost its Christmas presence with themed quiz nights and shopping evenings, as well as two new Christmas murder mystery nights, which have already attracted high levels of sales. “Our Festive Saturday on 29th November will also see new plans, including photo opportunities, live music and face painting.” Rebecca’s top tip: “Customer service always goes such a long way. At Suffolk Food Hall we are dedicated to providing customers with the highest level of service, and always aim to help, whether it be showing themwhere the hamper department is, advising them on meats for their Christmas dinner, or simply offering a bakery treat recommendation. All our staff are always approachable and knowledgeable. This can have a real impact on the experience customers leave your site with.” to discover what your peers will be doing during ‘turkey and tinsel time’ this year. JARROLDS’ FOOD HALL NORFOLK The food hall truly comes alive at Christmas, says John Adams, managing director for retail. “The vibrant buzz