The Executive Director of the Australian Retailers Association, Russell Zimmerman, expects food retailers to savour a veritable cornucopia this festive season as Australians spend almost $21 billion between 14 November and 24 December on Christmas feasts.
Mr Zimmerman said that "Food" retailing has been consistently strong in the last 12 months, enjoying 3.8% year-on-year growth - a trend the ARA predicts will continue with 3.2% growth forecast across the Christmas period.
"We're seeing new takes on Christmas classics which will have customers licking their lips, while retailers prepare for the large volume of sales that come with the pre-Christmas food rush," Mr Zimmerman said.
Bakers Delight are optimistic about this year's trade and are gearing up for their annual peak in pre-orders on Christmas Eve, with their Lemon and Fruit Minced Tarts a favourite over the festive season, alongside their usual top sellers such as their High Fibre Low GI Block Loaf, White Block Loaf, and rolls.
Steve Plarre, CEO of Ferguson Plarre, expects sales to heat up, particularly for biscuits due to their shelf life and 'giftability.' Ferguson Plarre's Christmas Tarts will be popular again, alongside their Gingerbread Men, Shortbread Biscuits and Festive Vegan Chocolate Cake.
"We are seeing customers looking for a mix of innovative and exciting new tastes with a touch of tradition. We also see fresh products left until the last minute in a fresh food business like ours - so we expect sales to really ramp-up in the last five days before Christmas," said Mr Plarre.
Woolworths customers can expect a range of exciting twists on traditional flavours this Christmas - from candy cane popcorn, a range of convenient ham roast kits, or beautiful fresh cherries or seafood with the Woolworths 'Picked for Christmas' campaign to bring festive feasts to life.
Andrew Hicks, Woolworths Group Chief Marketing Officer, said their store experience would go up a notch, saying, "customers can expect lots of in-store theatre to help bring the season to life with lots of fun activities planned for parents and their kids."
The Sydney Fish Market is preparing for a wave of seafood sales, with 130 tonnes of prawns and close to 1 million oysters to be traded across the site for Christmas. 40 tonnes of rock lobster and snapper will be traded, with barramundi and kingfish proving popular Christmas catches.
"Tables across Australia will be spread with an abundance of festive cheer - a warm invitation to share love, joy, and peace with family and friends at a precious time of the year," Mr Zimmerman concluded.
For more Christmas predictions, visit www.australian-retailers-association.com/christmas-predictions
