Asda unveils exclusive first look at 2024 festive food range

Today Asda has shared an exclusive sneak peek at its festive food range– a line-up studded with culinary gems, from melt-in-the-mouth mains to global cuisine-inspired party food, and trend-led desserts.

Despite the July sunshine, the Christmas preview comes after the supermarket has spent over 12 months perfecting the 540-product strong collection complete with festive favourites as well as fresh innovation.

When it comes to the main event, alongside the traditional turkey dinner, Asda has an array of alternative centrepieces that are guaranteed to get guests at the table talking. From the Exceptional Slow Cooked Beef Shin to the Exceptional Welsh Lamb Shoulder With Fig, Whiskey ad Spiced Honey stuffing.

For the hosts with the most, Asda is going big on all things party food and grazing this year. With the Fantastic Grazing Board and Charcuter-wreath, there’s plenty of opportunity for shoppers to put on a showstopping spread.

Customers can also expect a new flair to festive party food with a variety of products inspired by global cuisine, including Exceptional Butter Chicken Samosas, Exceptional Prawn & Veg Dim Sum and Exceptional Tempura Prawns.

Asda’s OMV! plant-based range is also back with a number of festive favourites as well as new stars of the show. The ever-popular OMV! Whole No Turkey has made its comeback, alongside brand-new starters and snacks, including OMV! No Smoked Salmon and OMV! 4 Cranberry Topped No Pork Pies.

And it wouldn’t be a true Christmas dinner without a selection of enticing desserts to choose from - Asda’s Exceptional Panettone is a reliable favourite and The Extra Special Raspberry, Pistachio & Passionfruit Pavlova Wreath is a show-stopping dessert that’s sure to be a hit thanks to the rise in pistachio-flavoured treats and desserts throughout 2024.

Asda’s Signature Flavour Christmas 2024

Following the success of Asda’s first ever signature flavour in 2023, the Asda Innovation Team, led by Senior Director of Trends and Innovation, Jonathan Moore, has also devised a brand-new flavour concept for 2024 - Fig, Whisky and Spiced Honey.

Featured in 16 of Asda’s new festive products this year, the flavour is a result of in-depth trends research and new product trials. The Fig, Whisky and Spiced Honey profile offers a rich, smooth taste, highly complementary to winter favourites. With sweet notes of oak, malt and dried fruit, whisky is a premium and distinctive festive flavour, which the Innovation team have seen rise in popularity, thanks to the growth of artisanal distilleries and more mixologists incorporating the spirit into their craft.

Alongside whisky, honey is also having a global moment as a natural sweetener and with added winter-warming spices, the elegant pairing with fig and whisky creates a rich and fruity flavour profile - the best of festive tradition, but with a spicy twist.

Commenting on the range, Sam Dickson, Vice President of Own Brand at Asda, said: “We can't wait for our customers to taste our fantastic festive food this year and we really have something for everyone – whatever their budget or diet.

“We’ve injected exciting innovation as well as bolstered quality across all of our ranges this year – whilst continuing to deliver uncompromising value, but what I’m most excited about is seeing our new Exceptional range make its Christmas debut!

“We first launched Exceptional earlier in the year and customers are already loving it – it’s a range that has quality ingredients and taste at its heart, so it’s perfect for festive indulgence.”

Hero lines and festive favourites at Asda include:

Exceptional Slow Cooked Beef Shin
A half-cut British beef shin, slow-cooked for ten hours until perfectly tender. Seasoned with Cornish sea salt and cracked black pepper, the beef is served with a rich bone marrow and Chianti red wine gravy.

Exceptional Welsh Lamb Shoulder With Fig, Whiskey ad Spiced Honey stuffing
Boneless and hand-prepared by expert butchers, this succulent lamb shoulder is topped with a sticky fig chutney and rich lamb jus, topped with sweet apricots.

Fantastic Grazing Board
This delicious grazing platter contains an assortment of cured charcuterie meats, with Iberico cheese, spicy chilli cheese, stuffed baby peppers, green olives, sea salt and black pepper breadsticks, chive and onion twists, and a slow roasted tomato, chilli, and garlic dip.

Charcuter-wreath
An easy-to-assemble, DIY wreath with Italian Milano Salami, prosciutto, Manchego Cheese triangles, mini pickled cornichons and sweet red pepper drops, this stunning charcuter-wreath promises to be a Christmas showstopper.

Exceptional Butter Chicken Samosas
Hand-folded into pastry, and double battered for an extra crispy finish, Asda’s Exceptional Butter Chicken Samosas contain chicken thigh in a rich butter chicken sauce.

Exceptional Black Tiger Tempura Prawns
These prawns are cooked in a light & airy tempura batter for a delicate, crisp texture.

OMV! Whole No Turkey
Succulent and flavoursome, this ‘whole’ vegan turkey is made using soya protein to create a delicious lean, white ‘breast’ meat alternative, succulent, dark ‘leg’ meat and golden, crisp ‘skin’. Garnished with a slice of lemon, this is a fantastic alternative for Christmas guests opting for a meat-free main.

OMV! No Smoked Salmon
Made with rice flour, these salmon-style pieces are perfectly seasons for a sweet and smoky flavour, so no one has to miss out this Christmas.

OMV! 4 Cranberry Topped No Pork Pies
Topped with a tangy cranberry sauce with a festive finish, these mini pies are made up of succulent seasoned pea protein and wrapped in golden pastry.

Asda’s Exceptional Panettone
Using traditional methods with a mother dough that has been nurtured for over 50 years, our Exceptional Panettone is filled with sultanas and candied orange and baked for a wonderfully soft texture and delightfully delicate aroma.

The Extra Special Raspberry, Pistachio & Passionfruit Pavlova Wreath
Made with free-range egg and British cream, this slow-baked, crisp pavlova wreath is hand-decorated with a scattering of raspberries, pistachio pieces, raspberry compote and tangy passionfruit cream for a pop of colour.

For those planning their festive feasts already, the Christmas Saver Cashpot within the Asda Rewards app is helping customers manage their budgets with savings well underway.

Last year, 1.7 million Asda customers saved money into their Christmas Saver Cashpot, with an average of £30 per customer going towards their festive shop.

With the Christmas Saver Cashpot launching seven months earlier this year due to popularity, this means more time for customers to build up even bigger savings, offering a helping hand when it comes to festive expenses later in the year.

To learn more, visit www.asda.com