Families could save £20 on Christmas dinner this year, just by opting for frozen food, according to findings from the British Frozen Food Federation. One major supermarket is offering a complete frozen Christmas dinner for under £19, while the same items bought fresh would cost more than £40.
The frozen Christmas dinner is priced at £18.48 and includes a 2.6kg turkey, a trio of broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, 12 pigs in blankets, roast potatoes, and 12 Yorkshire puddings. In comparison, a fresh Christmas dinner costs £41.46, featuring a 2.3kg turkey, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, 12 Yorkshire puddings, potatoes, and 12 pigs in blankets.
The cost of the turkey makes up the biggest part of the difference – one frozen food provider, for example, is offering frozen turkey at £5.77 per kg, where fresh birds cost a minimum of £8 per kg in UK supermarkets – but frozen items are available at lower prices across the board.
During the festive season, food spending rises significantly. According to Kantar data, UK households typically buy around 10% more groceries in December than in a regular month. The increase in spending is driven by the need for extra food for Christmas meals, family gatherings and parties.
Also, we have seen that the cost of an average Christmas dinner has surged 6.5% in the last year, meaning UK shoppers will now pay £32.57 for a festive meal for 4. This has been largely driven by a 16.3% rise in potato prices and nearly 15% rise in the cost of carrots.
Rupert Ashby, CEO of the British Frozen Food Federation, said: “We all know that household finances come under a lot of pressure over the festive season, so we wanted to highlight the savings families can make by choosing frozen food rather than fresh. Of course, Christmas dinner itself is just one part of the increased expense, and shoppers will also find a great selection of party food and other meals to enjoy with the family at any supermarket.”
And the savings aren’t the only advantage of opting for frozen options this Christmas, according to the BFFF.
Rupert Ashby continued: “Convenience is another big advantage of frozen foods, and this is especially important at Christmas when many families are cooking for larger groups. Frozen food ranges have been tailored to meet these needs, offering easy-to-prepare party snacks, ready-to-cook vegetables, and smaller meal options like turkey crowns for four.
“Plus, with frozen items, you can take exactly what you need for your meal and store the rest for later, without worrying about it spoiling, reducing food waste.
“And frozen items can be bought weeks or months in advance, avoiding the stress of last-minute trips, crowded supermarkets and long queues. This also allows families to spread out costs over several weeks, making it easier to manage budgets.
“As UK families look for affordable, convenient, and sustainable Christmas dinner options, frozen food is emerging as the ideal choice. Offering cost savings, reduced waste, and easy planning, frozen meals allow families to enjoy a stress-free, budget-friendly Christmas dinner without compromising on quality or tradition.”
