Product focus: last-minute Christmas ideas

Whether you’re looking to bolster your shop’s confectionery selection,
offer customers a taste of the sea or present some new ideas to home cooks, this month’s round-up covers a lot of bases. There’s also a few ideas for topping up your festive stock. This week we take a look at last-minute Christmas ideas

Joe & Seph’s has created three advent calendars, including a vegan popcorn calendar it claims is a world first. Then there is the Classic Gourmet Popcorn calendar, which opens up like a giant storybook and features 19 flavours; and for the cocktail aficionado, there’s the Tipsy Gourmet Popcorn calendar, with flavours such as Espresso Martini and Caramel Macchiato & Whisky. All three have an RRP of £25.
joeandsephs.co.uk

Doisy & Dam has created three new Christmas treats for consumers looking for ethical, Vegan Society-certified, palm-oil-free alternatives to mainstream brands. Jingle Ballers are crunchy malty balls enrobed in dark chocolate orange; The Christmas Mix presents 10 packs of the company’s best-selling products in a Christmas Tree shaped box; and Truffles encase a smooth centre in dark chocolate. 
doisyanddam.com

Paxton & Whitfield is tipping Brillat-Savarin Affiné Aux Truffe as this year’s choice Christmas cheese. This rich French triple cream cheese, which is not yet widely available in the UK, has an increased fat content thanks to cream being added to the milk during making. Paxton & Whitfield’s Brillat Savarin cheesemaker is based in the town of Nuits-Saint-Georges.
paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

Manfood says its Orange & Ginger Ham Glaze is a must-have aid for achieving the perfect sticky coating on a Christmas ham. The glaze, which is available via Diverse Fine Foods, Gorgeous Food Company and Cress Co Marketplace in cases of 16 (RRP £3.95 per jar), also doubles up as a basting sauce for roast meats.
welovemanfood.com

As well as bringing together three of Womersley’s best-selling fruit vinegars, the Oxfordshire producer’s newly created gift boxes contain recipe cards devised by three food bloggers and writers. RRP is £17.50-18.95 and wholesale price is £113.70 for a case of 10 boxes, giving stockists a 40% margin. 
womersleyfoods.com

Shropshire-based Flower & White says its aim, in developing Glitter Balls, was to push the boundaries and challenge the traditional perception of meringue. These crunchy chocolate covered meringue balls come in two flavour combinations: Classic Pops (milk chocolate, caramel gold & white chocolate) and Party Pops (raspberry & prosecco, Irish cream & orange liqueur). RRP £4.99 for 150g. 
flowerandwhite.co.uk

A music box tin containing chocolate mini bars and a bauble filled with truffles are among the highlights in Butlers’ Christmas collection, which has every gifting opportunity covered. While The Festive Menu assortment caters more for adults, the stocking-shaped chocolate truffle tin, the Coco Cubs tin and the Milk Chocolate Reindeer Food 100g bar are all aimed at children. 
butlerschocolates.com

This foodie gift set marries two of Truffle Hunter’s most popular seasoning products – Truffle Dust and Flaked Black Truffle Sea Salt – in one box. The shaker-style jar format makes it easy to enhance multiple dishes, including vegetables, pasta, soup, meat and fish, says Truffle Hunter. RRP £19.95; trade price £13.95.
trufflehunter.co.uk

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