Iceland’s Xmas winners
Store’s 25p mince pies beat Harrods’ in taste test ... AND it has top turkey, too
JUICY, tasty – and cheap – mince pies from Iceland have beaten the best that the likes of Harrods and Selfridges can offer in blind taste tests.
The budget chain is moving upmarket and also claimed a win with its brined turkey amid evidence luxury need not mean big bills this Christmas.
The findings come from the Good Housekeeping Institute and will be a magnet for sought-after Middle Britain shoppers. Iceland’s Luxury Mince Pies cost £1.50 for a pack of six – just 25p each.
Despite the budget price they beat the rest of the high street and even the Harrods Classic Mince Pies with Brandy, which are £1.49 each, and Selfridges Selection Speciality Mince Pies, at £1.33 each.
The judges praised the Iceland pies for having ‘juicy mincemeat with a rich flavour in a lovely crisp and buttery pastry case’.
Iceland won the Christmas dinner category with its Luxury British Whole Brined Turkey with Orange & Thyme Butter, at £4.95 per kg. That is £19.80 for a 4kg bird. Its stuffing offering – Luxury Outdoor Bred Pork, Honey and Rosemary Parcels, at £3 for 300g – also beat the best of the rest.
And Iceland’s Luxury 12month Matured Christmas Pudding was runner up in its category, despite a price tag of £6 for 454g. It beat many other puddings from more upmarket retailers, such as the equivalent Harrods Decadent Christmas Pudding (£12.50).
The success for Iceland, Britain’s answer to Aldi and Lidl from Germany, is recognition of a move to attract middle and high earning families. It coincides with the fact it has
‘Everyone loves a bargain’
become the first supermarket to gain accreditation from the highly esteemed Craft Guild of Chefs, which includes Raymond Blanc.
Fourteen meat products, 14 fish products and six desserts have been given the guild’s seal of approval. For those looking to celebrate Christmas with some fizz, a £5.29 prosecco from Lidl proved to be the best value. The Allini Prosecco Spumante was runner up in the sparkling wine category to Morrisons Prosecco Spumante at £8.25.
Consumer director at Good Housekeeping, Caroline Bloor, said: ‘Our expert team and panel of consumer testers blind test an incredibly wide range of Christmas products, so we can be very confident that these results shine a light on the food and drink that tastes the best.
‘Everyone loves a bargain and so it’s good to see Iceland mince pies and Lidl prosecco beating more expensive upmarket brands.’
Its judges ate and drank their way through 211 different festive foods from more than 30 stockists across 12 categories. Christmas is vital to Marks & Spencer and its products featured in the top five in ten of the 12 categories.
It took the dessert crown with its The Collection Belgian Chocolate & Orange Star Christmas Pudding, at £12. Judges said it was a ‘delicious twist on a traditional pud’.
Its Wedge Blue Stilton and Red Mulled wine came out on top in their categories.
M&S was joint winner in the brandy butter section with its Classic Brandy Butter and there was an honourable mention for its Made With Love Baubles and Hearts stuffing.