Asda launches fantastic Christmas sandwich range

From festive favourites to special new launches for this season, Asda’s range of  seven Christmas sandwiches and wraps is sure to get shoppers well into the Christmas spirit!

Asda has announced the launch of seven Christmas sandwiches and wraps, including a Vegan ‘No Turkey’ Feast Wrap and new Smoked Salmon and Soft Cheese Sandwich.  

Asda shoppers will be able to enjoy festive flavours like roast turkey, sage and onion stuffing and cranberry and port sauce, plus a very tempting gravy mayonnaise. (YUM!)

The range is a key part of Asda’s largest Christmas range to date, with 723 new items across the store.  

The full range is already available in-store and select products are available now.

An Asda spokesman said: "Christmas officially kicks off when the festive sandwiches hit the Asda shelves. And with the launch of Asda’s 2022 Christmas sandwich range, we’re on the Ho-ho-home stretch to the big day."

From festive favourites to all-new launches, with the Festive Seven sandwiches and wraps to choose from, Asda’s new range is sure to get Asda shoppers in the Holiday spirit.

New for 2022, Asda’s Salmon and Soft Cheese Sandwich (£2.50) is a must-try. Atlantic Farmed salmon is perfectly paired with delicious creamy soft cheese, cut through with a hint of lemon for freshness and layered between slices of oatmeal bread. A very sophisticated sandwich, indeed.

For those eagerly awaiting the Main Event, Asda’s Festive Feast Sandwich (£3) is an utterly perfect choice. Turkey breast, Cumberland sausage and beechwood-smoked bacon are paired with sage and onion stuffing, gravy mayo and cranberry and port sauce. It's a Christmas dinner in a bite!

Looking for something a bit different? Then why not try a twist on a classic? Give the Festive Feast Triple Wrap (£3.30) a try. Turkey and all the trimmings are encased in a delicious tortilla wrap, with the addition of spinach for a touch of freshness. (Wow! Sounds ideal!)

Asda are determined to ensure that no vegan is left behind, so Asda’s range also includes a Vegan ‘No Turkey’ Feast Wrap. A bar-marked wrap complete with succulent soya protein pieces, sage and onion stuffing, braised red cabbage, vegan sage and onion mayonnaise, cranberry and port sauce and fresh spinach. There will be no compromising this Christmas as far as Asda's vegan customers are concerned!

Nothing beats a Christmas leftovers sandwich, but why wait for Boxing Day to tuck into this iconic festive delicacy? With Asda’s Boxing Day Sandwich (£2.50), there’s no need. Smoked turkey breast and oak-smoked ham are paired with cheesy coleslaw and balsamic onion chutney to create the perfect Boxing Day bite, even before the big day!

Looking beyond the Christmas classics, the range also includes a Pork, Apple & Stuffing Sandwich (£2.50) reminiscent of a Christmas Market treat, and Brie and Cranberry Sandwich (£2.50) perfect for lovers of a Christmas cheese board.

The full range is available to buy in-store now, with select products also available to buy online at https://groceries.asda.com/cat/christmas/1215684243334.

Poinsettia season under way for Christmas 2022

They only really became really popular in the UK in the 1980s but now poinsettias are as much a symbol of the beginning of Christmas as mince pies and Christmas crackers.

And that’s good news for British growers who are taking over from the Dutch as the main supplier of the beautiful and vibrant scarlet house plants. 

One of the UK’s biggest poinsettia growers is Bridge Farm Group, based in Spalding, Lincolnshire, who supply Tesco and who now grow more than a million a year. 

In fact in the last five years alone they have increased their supply to the supermarket by nearly 800 per cent. 

Tesco plant buyer Vicky l’Anson said: “When poinsettias first became popular as a houseplant in the late 20th Century we used to import them all from Holland, but now most of our stock is grown in the UK, with Bridge Farm Group our main supplier.  

“The British variety are more acclimatised to the UK climate, so not only do they involve fewer road miles by being grown closer to home, but they are also hardier too.” 

The poinsettia season is one of the shortest and they remain in stores for roughly eight weeks – from the end of October till the end of December.  

Bridge Farm Group Managing Director Louise Motala added: “Growing poinsettia at this time of year requires heat and we know Dutch growers have cut back on production this year due to rising gas prices.

“We have been able to manage our energy costs through the use of sustainable biomass heating, enabling us to continue to produce over one million UK grown poinsettias again this year and ensuring that consumers will still be able to buy this much-loved festive plant this Christmas.”

Poinsettias originated in Mexico where they originally grew much like a straggly weed. They got the name “Poinsettia” after Joel Roberts Poinsett who was a representative of the United States to Mexico as well as being a keen botanist. 

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Asda announces new range of speciality Christmas cheeses, starting at just £1

Perfect for hosting over the Christmas season, Asda’s new selection of a baker's dozen (13!) of speciality cheeses has everything from cheeseboard classics to innovative flavour pairings, ideal for spicing up your festive feasts. And they start from just £1!

Alongside standard and delicious Christmas classics, like brie and smoked cheddar, Asda customers will be able to discover new and exciting flavour combinations which include a show-stopping Double Gloucester Cheese Pâté with Sweet Chilli Jam.

The new range is available as part of the store’s largest Christmas range to date. 

Whether it’s for Christmas party nibbles or a Boxing Day spread, the cheeseboard is a pillar of the festive season. 

This Christmas, Asda has launched a new range of 13 speciality cheeses, including fruity fusions and flavour combinations sure to thrill any turophile.

Looking to impress? Asda’s Queso de Oveja con Aio Negro (Sheep’s Cheese with Black Garlic - £4) will wow any dinner guest with its distinctive veined appearance. A product of the La Mancha region where sheep have grazed for centuries, the Spanish cheese is blended with black garlic from a dairy in Albacete, then sealed and aged. The sweet and nutty cheese pairs perfectly with the balanced, tangy black garlic, which also gives the cheese its stunning marbled appearance.

For a show-stopping centrepiece, take a look at the Extra Special Belton Farm Double Gloucester Cheese Pâté with Sweet Chilli Jam (£5). This rich and creamy Double Gloucester cheese terrine is topped with a sweet and spicy sweet-chilli jam layer and set in a striking star shape, very much the star of the show.

A twist on a classic, Asda’s Extra Special Aged Red Leicester with Geeta’s Mango Chutney makes a sweet and aromatic addition to a cheeseboard, whilst the Extra Special Wensleydale with Fruit Infused with Cognac (£2) adds a tasty and zappy little kick due to the cranberries and raisins soaked in cognac that have been carefully blended with some tasty award-winning Wensleydale.

For those who enjoy fruitier flavours, there's Asda’s Extra Special Tuxford and Tebbut Potted Blue Stilton with Spiced Apple & Port Compote (£4.50)? 

Produced in one of Britain’s oldest creameries, hand-crafted Blue Stilton® is perfectly paired with a fruity compôte of Golden Delicious apples from Spain and Calem Velhotes Tawny Port, sure to get tastebuds tingling.

Shoppers can also find Christmas classics like a creamy Brie de Meaux (£3) and a rich and luxurious Smoked Cheddar with Wax Truckle (£1) as part of the range, meaning from the traditional to adventurous palates, Asda has it all fully covered.

The new range is available to buy online and in-store from 17th November.

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Thousands of local community groups could unlock further funding through Co-op and Crowdfunder tie-up

Co-op and Crowdfunder have joined together to offer thousands of local causes the chance to unlock additional funding to maintain and enhance vital community projects.

The initiative is open to local charities and grass-roots community organisations benefitting from Co-op’s Local Community Fund, with the money raised when Co-op member’s buy own-brand products and services now able to count on Crowdfunder’s funding website towards match funding.

Since 2016, Co-op members have raised £117 million for local communities, including funding for over 30,000 local community projects supporting an estimated 7M people across the UK through the Co-op’s Local Community Fund.

The money works to build stronger and more resilient communities by tackling key issues such as access to food, mental wellbeing support and opportunities for young people, and includes 4,500 community groups who are celebrating after receiving funding support through Co-op's Local Community Fund during the latest round of funding taking place this month.

Through the new partnership, causes who benefit from Co-op’s Local Community Fund can now go on and apply for additional support through the +Extra Funding page on Crowdfunder, with over £10 million in match funding available from Crowdfunder’s national and regional partners.

David Luckin, Co-op’s Head of Community Funding & Impact, said: “We know that costs are rising for local charities and community organisations across the country, while demand for the support they provide is increasing. Now more than ever, causes need access to funding to maintain, build and enhance their projects. 

"I'm delighted to see the incredible amounts raised by our Members, simply by choosing Co-op - the Local Community Fund can be a real life-line, promoring the development of stronger, more resilient and fairer communities. That is why we are excited to be launching our partnership with Crowdfunder, a move which gives these local projects the opportunity to unlock further funding and make even more difference to their communities.”

Rob Love, Founder and CEO at Crowdfunder, said: “We are thrilled to be working with the Co-op on this new initiative. UK charities and community causes are calling for support and this partnership will help give these projects access to a range of funds meaning they can top up their fundraising efforts with match funding from a variety of partners we work with at Crowdfunder.”

Further information is available by visiting www.crowdfunder.co.uk/funds/co-op-community-fund

(Image courtesy Mary Pahlke from Pixabay)

‘They’re coming, be ready’: Argos celebrates the return of the big Christmas get together in its 2022 advert

Immersing viewers in the loving chaos of a busy Christmas day, this year’s story is centred around a young couple who expect a small and quiet dinner, but are surprised when friends and family descend en masse.

From the party-goers to the football fans and excited kids, Argos shows this year’s Christmas celebrations are for everyone

Set to premier across ITV and Sky channels from 5:30pm on 9th November, the full advert can be viewed here:

Celebrating the welcomed return of fun-loving, chaotic Christmas get-togethers, Argos’s Christmas advert will air for the first time from 5:30pm across ITV and Sky channels on 9th November.

Through the story of a small family meal that becomes a very lively party, this year’s advert marks the return of Christmas as we know it, with family, friends and neighbours all showing up to celebrate together.

The advert opens on a home decked out with Christmas decorations, where a couple is quietly preparing for the big day. Questioning “so how many are coming”, as he places a bowl of crisps on the table, the wife responds, “hmm just a few”, completely oblivious to the number of people about to descend on their home.

The scene cuts to a crowd of excitable neighbours wearing their festive glad rags and holding presents and champagne flutes chanting “party”. The scene then switches to a group of enthusiastic bakers wearing colourful aprons, running with trifles in hand, before focusing on some children joining the crowd too.

The wine glasses, Christmas tree and bowl of crisps all start to shake as the soundtrack builds in volume, revealing an orchestral version of Opus’ Live is Life, now synonymous with Argos, as the advert focuses on the multitude of people heading towards the house. As the huge crowd approaches the couple look at each other wide-eyed in panic.

As the crowd begins to multiply, the advert then cuts to a couple frantically running with their babies, before following a pair laughing in hysterics with the joke from their already opened Christmas cracker. The scene zooms out to a wide shot of the crowd – charging down the street and including anyone and everyone, from football fans to family and friends with their suitcases and pillows, anticipating a long stay.

The couple, now more aware of the chaos about to greet them, are taking deep breaths and the wife reassures her husband that “It’s going to be okay” before the champagne from the crowd is popped.

The crowd is finally joined by spirited children firing nerf guns, cutting to an aerial shot of the cul-de-sac filled with all of the different groups of people. A message appears on screen: “They’re coming”, “Be ready”.

The couple look at the nibbles and the husband takes out the Argos app, with the Habitat Dipped Speckle Stoneware Serve Bowl on his screen, stating “We’re gonna need a bigger bowl”, showing that Argos has everything you need to make this Christmas extra special. The doorbell then rings, and the Argos logo appears.

Rob Quartermain, who is the Head of Marketing Campaigns, at Argos has said: “We know how difficult the last few years have been for everyone, so we really wanted to bring a smile to viewers faces by highlighting the fun and comedic moments of Christmas get-togethers, along with the unique experience of being able to bring everyone, from all ages and backgrounds, to share a wonderful Christmas together at home. This year’s advert really aims to celebrate that moment, and how Argos has everything you need to make this Christmas truly special.”

This year’s advert was created by The&Partnership. The 30” advert launches for the first time on Wednesday 9th November across TV and on social. Four different 10” edits are also expected to land across TV and on social towards the end of November.

Pud You Dare? Café Dedicated SOLELY to the Mighty Christmas Pudding Is Coming This Month!

Sainsbury’s are will opening a special café dedicated to the festive icon as it launches new Caramelised Biscuit variation of the classic

One in five Brits and almost a third of Gen Z (31%) believe the traditional Christmas Pudding is on track for extinction.

To get the pud back on the table, the Sainsbury's Pud you Dare Café invites guests to try out a classic Christmas Pudding along with the brand-new Caramelised Biscuit Pudding on 24th & 25th November.

The café is completely FREE and, for every attendee at the café, Sainsbury’s will donate £3 to Comic Relief

The UK’s first ever café dedicated entirely to the Christmas pudding is set to open its doors later this month.

Sainsbury’s is launching the Pud You Dare Café in a bid to get the classic ‘pud’ back on dining tables this festive season. It comes as research reveals that one in five Brits – and almost a third of Gen Z (31%) – believe the traditional Christmas Pudding is on track for extinction, with the average prediction being that it will disappear within three years.

Open in Holborn, London, on 24th and 25th November, the first of its kind café will give pud lovers, sceptics and haters the chance to enjoy several Christmas pudding options that are available at Sainsbury’s.

All generations are invited to embrace the taste of Christmas and open their hearts (and their palates) to the festive icon FOR FREE. Customers can tuck into the classic Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 18 Month Matured Christmas Pudding, alongside the brand-new Taste the Difference Caramelised Biscuit Pudding – as seen in the Sainsbury’s 2022 Christmas advert – with a range of delicious toppings to choose from.

The festive desserts will be complemented by a choice of seasonal tipples, including Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Spiced Ginger Biscuit Irish Cream Liqueur, Taste the Difference Chocolate Mulled Wine and Taste the Difference Cranberry and Orange Presse.

Featuring a fruity sponge to please a range of tastes, the supermarket’s new twist on the traditional Christmas pudding is packed with flavours to appeal to the modern generation. With salted caramel being one of the nation’s favourite dessert flavours (coming second only to chocolate) the new pud on the block will set tastebuds racing. Vine fruits laced with a hint of brandy for a boozy hit are combined with a generous drizzle of spiced caramel sauce and caramelised biscuit crumbs to create a delicious fusion of traditional and modern tastes.

The café follows the recent launch of Sainsbury’s 2022 Christmas advert, which immerses viewers in a medieval fairy tale and depicts a young chef’s quest to reimagine and breathe new life into the traditional Christmas pudding. Starring Alison Hammond and featuring a voiceover from Stephen Fry, the advert celebrates the innovation and creativity of Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Christmas range and showcases the Caramelised Biscuit Christmas Pudding.

Claire Hughes, Director of Product and Innovation at Sainsbury’s commented: “The once loved Christmas pudding is at risk of being wiped out across the nation, and we’re making it our mission to ensure it firmly has its place at the dinner table this Christmas Day. That’s why we’re encouraging all generations to try the Christmas classic and save it from extinction. For both long-standing and younger pud sceptics, we’ve also launched a new caramelised biscuit pud this year, giving it a modern twist with salted caramel and biscuit crumbs. We’re sure it will be a hit with everyone at the table – even the pud purists!"

Any surplus food will be provided to Sainsbury’s long-term redistribution partner, FareShare, through their London delivery partner The Felix Project. Sainsbury’s and FareShare continue to work together as part of their shared mission to support communities with access to food.

Pud You Dare Café Details:

Opening Days: Thursday 24th & Friday 25th November 2022

Address: HELLO LOVE, 62–64 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AR

Opening Times: 12pm – 7pm on Thursday 24th November, and 11am – 7pm on Friday 25th November

Cost: FREE

Booking: Via www.opentable.co.uk/r/sainsburys-pud-you-dare-cafe-london 

Those already a fan of Christmas pudding, or any new converts following a visit to the Pud You Dare café, can purchase the brand-new Taste the Difference Caramelised Biscuit Pudding, in store and online at Sainsbury’s. A wide range of Christmas puddings are available from Sainsbury’s, with prices starting from £1.