What’s your favourite thing about Christmas? The gifts? Seeing your family? Decorating your house? All of that is good and all, but let’s face it: the thing we all look forward to most is the classic Christmas dinner.
Whether you’re a fiend for stuffing or just can’t get enough sprouts, the Christmas meal is legendary – but it takes a village. Between making sure the turkey isn’t dry, providing vegan and vegetarian options, and trying not to end up with soggy carrots, there’s a lot to consider, so it’s always good to get ahead.
If you’re already planning your feast for the 25th, Which? are here to help. In a quest to find out which supermarket is the best place to stock up for the big day, they surveyed more than 8,000 people on the quality and value of the Christmas groceries they’d bought from each major supermarket, then crunched the numbers to determine which was the victor.
Although you might expect upmarket havens like Waitrose or Marks & Spencer’s to top the list, you'd be wrong. Aldi was actually named the ‘best place to shop’, with a score of 84 percent. It owes its success to its (relatively) low prices and wide range of wintry choices, as well as being the best provider of pigs in blankets, stuffing, and fresh vegetables.
A representative for the store said: ‘This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams, who are committed to delivering great value, quality, and service to our shoppers.
‘Christmas is a special time for many, and we’re proud to help families across the UK make the most of their festive celebrations, all while keeping their budgets in check.’
Second was Marks and Spencers, trailing closely behind with 82 percent overall, followed by Waitrose at 80 percent and Lidl at 78. Basically, the most successful places were all either budget supermarkets or luxury ones. All the leftover ones in the middle are clearly missing a trick.
So go forth and get your Christmas shopping done early, rather than suffering the usual December 23 rush. This year, you have time to be prepared, and to shop at Aldi. Good luck!
What’s that jingling, ring-ting tingling?
It’s sleigh bells, duh! Christmas is fast approaching guys, so have a look at our roundups of the best shopping centres for Christmas shopping, the best places to visit at Christmas, the best Christmas markets in Europe and the world and the planet’s most iconic Christmas trees.
Did you see that the UK’s best shopping centre has been crowned for the 2024 festive season?
Plus: These Scottish cafes are selling the UK’s most expensive coffee for nearly £300.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.