Speciality Food September 2025

spice of gingerbread, the nostalgic notes of festive spice blends, and the bright zest of orange lifted by tart cranberries – all anchored by the buttery richness of classic Christmas bakes.” Evolving formats With a choice of desserts being preferable at many festive tables, the time has come to rethink the traditional family-sized Christmas pudding and cake, suggests Natalie. “The era of a single Christmas cake or pudding is fading, giving way to variety and sharing. Smaller formats; think bite-sized puddings, and dessert platters, are trending CHARLOTTE O’NEILL CARTRIGHT & BUTLER MATT WHELAN FIELDFARE ANNABEL DE CAPELL BROOKE ALGY’S FARM SHOP COMMENTATORS NATALIE DOUGLAS SPONGE CAKES JO EVANS FIGGY’S @specialityfood 30 while giving it an exciting update for today’s festive tables.” Festive flavours in 2025 Crowd pleasing flavours are back in the spotlight, but with inventive twists to keep things fresh, suggests Natalie. “Mint, orange, spiced gingerbread, and rich chocolate remain staples but 2025 sees them paired withmodern accents such as coffee. People want the comfort of familiarity, but with a little added surprise.” Charlotte O’Neill, commercial director at Cartright & Butler, agrees. “In 2025, customers are seeking the comforting flavours they grew up with – rich spices, sweet fruits, and buttery notes – yet with a modern flourish that sparks curiosity. Nostalgic festive tastes remain at the heart of their choices, but subtle twists and fresh interpretations are what make these seasonal bakes feel exciting and new,” she says. “This year’s festive flavour trends strike a perfect balance between comforting tradition and modern indulgence. Think the warming P assing around a slice of something sweet, fruity and gently spiced is one of the most traditional aspects of Christmas – almost nothing brings loved ones together like a sweet treat, after all – but many experts say that the tide is turning on classic formats and flavours, and we’ve all been at a table come Christmas Day where more people are turning away from the traditional pud in favour of more modern (and often lighter) indulgences to end their meal. That’s not to say that consumers are rejecting familiar festive fare altogether – in fact, they’re looking for exciting newways to enjoy them, says Natalie Douglas, director at Sponge Cakes. “Nostalgia and tradition remain at the heart of Christmas 2025, but they’re being reimagined with a modern flair,” she begins. “People are gravitating towards desserts that spark childhood memories, from chocolate mint flavours reminiscent of the after-dinner chocolates to spiced fruit cakes evoking the cosy glow of family gatherings. But these classics are appearing in fresher forms: lighter textures and refined presentations. It’s all about recapturing the joy of Christmas past, COMFORT BAKEDIN Festive-flavoured cakes and puddings are must-stocks at this time of year – we ask the experts what’s worth stocking and why WHY FROZEN FOOD IS THE MODERN GO-TO AT CHRISTMAS Matt Whelan, managing director at Fieldfare, explains why it’s worth stocking up on frozen indulgences for the festive season Frozen desserts are a smart, low- risk addition to any retailer’s festive range, but they can be particularly beneficial for farm shops or speciality stores where desserts might not be their core offering. With extended shelf lives and no pressure to shift stock quickly, frozen allows retailers to offer shoppers a premium dessert fixture without the worry of waste or short dated stock. For shoppers, dessert is often the one part of the festive menu they’re most likely to outsource, and frozen makes this effortless. Stocking the freezer with a few trusted options means they are ready for whatever the festive season brings, from planned dinner parties to unexpected guests. While Christmas is rooted in tradition, dessert is often where households like to break the mould. Fieldfare’s range caters to a range of tastes; from lighter options such as our Lovely Lemon Cheesecake, to more indulgent options such as our melt in the middle Salted Caramel Fondant or our new (vegan-friendly) Belgian Chocolate Tartlet, we offer something for everyone at the table. Our pick your own format offers households the freedom and flexibility to buy exactly what, and how much they need to suit whatever they may have planned to celebrate the occasion. So, whether shoppers are buying for one, or need to mix and match desserts to please the whole table, Fieldfare’s offering helps households celebrate on their own terms without waste or compromising on quality desserts. Fieldfare’s offering helps households celebrate on their own terms without waste or compromising on quality desserts