Food lovers can start planning their festive feasts as Waitrose reveals an enormous Christmas collection featuring 665 products.
The supermarket has introduced 267 brand new items – nearly 50 per cent more innovation compared to last year's offerings.
Among the standout launches are the retailer's first-to-market Golden Mince Pies infused with Limoncello, and an innovative Stuffed Scottish Salmon filled with prawns and topped with salsa verde drizzle.
The upmarket grocer has tapped into early festive excitement, with online searches for Christmas items jumping an incredible 536 per cent over the past month alone.
Samantha Angell, who heads up innovation at Waitrose, couldn't contain her excitement: "Christmas has officially arrived! This year, we've curated the perfect collection to help every food lover craft truly special Christmas moments."
The range covers everything from main courses to sweet treats – think magnificent mains, and "nostalgic party bites," plus gifts, desserts and festive drinks, according to Angell.
The range includes what Waitrose is calling "seasonal showstopper" centrepieces that'll make any festive table shine.
There's the handcrafted No.1 Free Range Turkey Bauble wrapped in beechwood smoked bacon with hidden jewelled stuffing inside.
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Golden Limoncello Mince Pies are fruity, boozy, and complete with a distinctive limoncello kick
|WAITROSE
It's made with free-range turkey breast wrapped in smoked bacon. Inside, there's a hidden "jewelled stuffing centre" with cranberry and orange glaze to drizzle on top.
Senior brand Development chef, Paul Gamble, was full of praise for the Turkey Bauble, describing it as a "handcrafted delight".
He added that it "reimagines a classic festive favourite" with its iconic bauble shape and vibrant cranberry-orange glaze.
For seafood fans, the No.1 Stuffed Scottish Salmon offers a playful Italian twist on traditional porchetta. It's rolled with crispy skin and packed with cod, king prawn, chilli, and fennel stuffing.
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| JOHN LEWISBeth Jacobs from Waitrose's seafood team is particularly proud of their Scottish Salmon creation, considering it the height of "festive innovation".
She explained it's inspired by traditional porchetta but uses rolled salmon instead. The skin gets wonderfully crispy, giving you "the satisfying crunch of crackling".
Waitrose is also tapping into our love for retro foods this Christmas. Emilie Wolfman, who manages trend innovation at the supermarket, said that people are embracing nostalgic options "more than ever" this year.
She mentioned vol au vents as a perfect example, she said: "Many are turning to these foods as they're associated with nostalgic memories and childhood joy. It's all about bringing back iconic moments from the 70s and 80s."
But it's not just about looking backwards. The bakery team has created some seriously trendy treats, too.
There's a Pistachio & Cherry Stollen Wreath and a Tiramisu Torta, both capturing current food trends brilliantly.
A "next-level" Pistachio Meringata and Tiramisu Torta is riding the wave of social media's obsession with pistachio, while the No.1 Nutcracker dessert promises nostalgia with its hand-decorated amber lustre finish.
Meanwhile, senior innovation chef, Will Torrent, revealed that social buzz around limoncello surges 23 per cent during festive periods.
The supermarket's exclusive Golden Limoncello Mince Pies feature butter pastry with lemon, packed with golden fruits and that distinctive limoncello kick.
Drinks get a festive makeover too, with Emma Penman, mulled wine buyer, introducing the new mulled rosé – a pink blend with red fruit and clementine notes that proves "rosé isn't just for summer".
The collection caters to every dietary need with vegan showstoppers like the No.1 Mushroom, Malbec & Port Wellington and a Cauliflower Cheese Galette Crown made by a 125-year-old Cornish bakery.
Those wanting restaurant-quality meals can order exclusive dishes from celebrity chefs through Dishpatch, including Andi Oliver's Spiced Rum & Maple-Glazed Ham and Rick Stein's Lobster & King Prawn Velouté Pie.
The festive lineup lands at Waitrose as John Lewis unveils its brand-new children's service ahead of Christmas.
A new offering will provide beloved teddies with some much-needed TLC to get them spick and span ahead of the big day.