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ALDI’S RECORD £1.65BN CHRISTMAS AS SHOPPERS SEEK UNBEATABLE PRICES

Aldi has recorded its best-ever Christmas, with sales of £1.65 billion (+3% vs. 2024) in the four weeks to Christmas Eve, as millions of shoppers turned to the UK’s lowest-priced supermarket to make their money go further during the festive season.

The supermarket said that price had been the biggest priority for shoppers in 2025, with customers seeking ways to celebrate on a budget without compromising on quality. Ahead of the big day, Aldi committed to beating rivals on the price of a traditional Christmas dinner – part of a £325m investment to lower hundreds of prices throughout the year.

The UK’s fourth-largest supermarket saw total sales increase by over 5% in the week leading up to Christmas, as customers spent around £500m with the discounter. Aldi said 22^nd December marked its busiest trading day – as millions of customers flocked to stock up on seasonal items ahead of the big day.

Aldi colleagues handled over 57m transactions over the four-week period to Christmas Eve, its highest ever number.

Demand for its Specially Selected premium own-label range also increased by over 12%, showing that customers were still keen to treat themselves but in a way that offered better value for money.

Popular products included award-winning festive lines such as Aldi’s Specially Selected The Ultimate Wagyu Fat Roast Potatoes, Specially Selected Double Wrapped Pigs in Blankets, as well as Specially Selected White Chocolate Ganache Pinecones.

Shoppers also celebrated with a glass of fizz, with Aldi selling over 5.5m bottles, or 33m glasses, of sparkling wine over the festive period.

Aldi also saw strong demand for home-grown produce, with sales of British-sourced meat and vegetables up as customers supported British during their Christmas shop at Aldi. As a result, shoppers bought 56 million potatoes, 37 million carrots, and half a million turkeys – all sourced from Aldi’s long-standing British supplier partners.

Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “This Christmas proved once again that a great quality Christmas can still be affordable.

“We delivered a Christmas without compromise, offering customers award-winning British products at unbeatable prices. We’re grateful that more people than ever chose Aldi for their Christmas shop and trusted us to deliver both quality and value during what remains a challenging time for many. I’m immensely proud of our amazing colleagues who, once again, went above and beyond to deliver a wonderful Christmas for our customers.

“As we move into 2026, our focus remains unchanged – keeping prices low and quality high, so that every household in Britain can enjoy amazing food all year round.”

Aldi has been named the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket by consumer champion Which? for the past four years and also retained its Christmas Retailer of the Year crown at the Quality Food Awards 2025 for the sixth consecutive year.

Meanwhile, Aldi also continued its partnership with Neighbourly to support those in need during the festive season, donating an estimated one million meals to local charities, food banks and community groups across the UK.

CRANBERRY CHAOS! BRITS REVEAL THE MOST-FORGOTTEN CHRISTMAS DINNER ESSENTIALS

Cranberry sauce has been named the UK’s most commonly forgotten Christmas dinner item – followed by cream and stuffing.

New research commissioned by Aldi shows nearly a quarter (23%) of those who cook Christmas dinner have forgotten a key item before. Among those who’ve been caught out, 44% realised on Christmas morning – and 31% only noticed once cooking was already underway.

It seems many are also cutting it fine with festive prep, with more than half (55%) aiming to finish their Christmas dinner food shop a few days before, while 27% try to get it all done by Christmas Eve.

With so much to remember at this time of year, Aldi has revealed the definitive Christmas Dinner Missed List featuring the items most likely to slip off the shopping list, in a bid to help shoppers avoid making the same mistakes this year

The top 10 most-forgotten Christmas dinner items are:

• Cranberry sauce
• Cream
• Stuffing
• Christmas crackers for the table
• Gravy granules
• Carrots
• Cheese
• After-dinner mints
• Wine
• Custard

Festive overwhelm plays a big part in the nation’s forgetfulness, with 36% claiming there are too many things to remember and 29% not writing a clear list or setting out with a plan.

Rachel Geary, Communications Director at Aldi, said: “Christmas dinner is the most hyped meal of the year.

“While people sometimes miss an item when there’s so much to think about, there’s nothing worse than getting to Christmas Day and realising you’ve forgotten something.

“That’s why we’d urge shoppers to take a tip from Santa and check their lists twice, just to make sure they don’t miss anything off their Christmas shop.

“If you’re hosting, the best trick is to start early and build your shop around the staples, then add the finishing touches. Write a clear list and keep a couple of freezer back-ups – it can really take the stress out of the big day.”

When something is missing, a third of people (33%) say they’ll improvise with a replacement – with creative swaps like using mayonnaise instead of butter or crushed biscuits in place of breadcrumbs. Meanwhile, more than a quarter (26%) admit they simply hope no one notices, and one in 10 households have even argued over a forgotten item.

The research also revealed the nation’s must-have Christmas dinner components. Roast potatoes took the top spot (79%), followed by turkey (66%), carrots (62%) and pigs in blankets (61%). In a surprising festive twist, Brussels sprouts (59%) were deemed more essential than gravy granules (51%).

With many shoppers already planning their festive food shop, the research comes as Aldi unveils its 2025 Christmas range, including Specially Selected Ultimate Slow Cooked Wagyu Shin, Lamb Guard of Honour and Ultimate Salmon Wellington, alongside showstopping desserts such as the Centrepiece Pistachio Tiramisu.

The supermarket recently announced a pledge to offer the UK’s lowest-priced Christmas dinner, reinforcing its commitment to affordability at a time when many households are watching their budgets closely.

SO WRONG IT’S RIGHT: ALDI LAUNCHES BALLYCASTLE, WHITE CHOCOLATE AND CARAMEL FLAVOURED CHEESE  

Love it or hate it – Aldi’s latest launch is bound to get people talking this festive season. The Christmas Retailer of the Year¹ is set to release three controversial cheese flavours as part of its collection of Specially Selected Speciality Cheeses (£2.49, 200g).   

The NEW Wensleydale Ballycastle with White Chocolate & Caramel (£2.49, 200g) offers all the indulgence of a dessert and a cheese in one. Combining smooth Wensleydale with Aldi’s signature Ballycastle Irish Cream, along with a dash of delicious white chocolate and caramel, the decadent treat is nothing if not a grate talking point!  

Ideal for shoppers who enjoy adventurous taste combinations, the quirky cheese joins two more flavours in Aldi’s premium Speciality Cheese selection. Returning Cheddar and Pineapple and the NEW Sweet and Smokey Maple Cheddar both provide the perfect fusion of sweet and savoury for an unexpected addition to a classic cheeseboard.  

The divisive yet delicious new cheeses arrive to Aldi’s aisles as part of the supermarket’s biggest festive selection to date. With something for everyone, the collection includes the showstopper Specially Selected Luxury Cheese Truckle Tower (£13.99, 1kg), the can’t-go-wrong NEW Specially Selected Hickory Smoked Vintage Cheddar (£2.49, 200g) and the one-stop-shop Specially Selected Ultimate Cheese Selection Pack (£12.99, 625g). 

Aldi’s Specially Selected Speciality Cheeses are available from 26^th November.