Aldi announces new emergency foodbank fund to help support charities this Christmas

Aldi has issued a pledge to help support local charities, foodbanks, and community groups across the UK via its newly launched Emergency Winter Foodbank Fund this Christmas.

The supermarket’s Emergency Winter Foodbank Fund will see Aldi donate £250,000 to help organisations as they prepare to face heightened demand on their services this Christmas.

The fund is building on Aldi’s successful partnership with community engagement platform Neighbourly which enables all Aldi’s 980 UK stores to donate surplus food seven days a week, all year round.

Aldi will also be introducing new signage in stores this Christmas to help highlight to customers the most in demand items at their local foodbanks, as selected by the organisations themselves.

From early December, shoppers looking to donate to foodbanks should watch for the logo on shelves by certain items, like Baked Beans, Teabags and Toiletries, which can then be dropped off at the food donation points which are located near to Aldi’s checkouts.

Liz Fox, Corporate Responsibility Director at Aldi UK, said: “We know Christmas is already a particularly challenging time for many people, but this year is understandably going to be even tougher for lots of households.

“That’s why we’re more committed than ever to doing what we can to give back. We want to make food accessible for all and hope both our additional funding and donation drive will help to make a real difference for people."

Steve Butterworth, CEO of Neighbourly, added: “The cost-of-living is impacting communities up and down the country and the charities we support are expecting to see demand increase even further over the coming months.

“Without the support of the public and businesses such as Aldi we’d be unable to help those in need. Within our network there are many charities and community groups that will be able to put this funding to very good use, to support families that are struggling.”

Aldi’s latest commitment follows a recent survey of Neighbourly charities which revealed 72% will need more food items to help with increased demand this Christmas.

The items revealed to be most in-demand, and will be promoted in-store to help drive donations this Christmas, included cereal, rice and pasta, tinned food and toiletries.

Aldi is further supporting Neighbourly through its Christmas advert this year, by encouraging viewers who are able to help families in need to donate at aldi.co.uk/neighbourly. The supermarket has already donated over 27 million meals to good causes since its partnership with Neighbourly began in 2019.

Charities and community groups interested in working with Aldi should contact Neighbourly at aldi@neighbourly.com.

Salvation Army Christmas appeal

This Christmas the Salvation Army wants to reach out to the people who are suffering the most by bringing joy and hope into their lives, especially at Christmas time.

An officer said: "With the current cost-of-living crisis, thousands of people are expected to turn to The Salvation Army for help this winter. 

"In over 650 communities across the UK, we will be doing all we can for them, whatever their circumstances."

You can help by donating here https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/christmas-appeal?form=FUNJHYUFWKW.

For general information about the Salvation Army please visit https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk.

Help the Telegraph Newspaper help others this Christmas

The Telegraph’s Christmas Charity Appeal 2022 is supporting four charities for its annual fundraising campaign. 

The charities being supported by this year’s appeal are: Action for Children, Age UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI). 

The appeal was launched on Saturday November 5 and will remain operating until January 2023. Donations can be made online https://telegraph.ctdonate.org/

The Telegraph’s annual Christmas Charity Appeal started in its current format back in 1986 and has raised almost £30 million for deserving charities since its launch.

Incidentally Telegraph readers have a long and honoured history of fundraising which included in 1915 raising funds for a monument for nurse Edith Cavell, which can still be found outside St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, just off Trafalgar Square. 

They also set up the Edith Cavell Trust to help nurses impacted by their work during times of war. war.

Whilst in 1916 during the First World War, Telegraph readers’ donations helped supply 3,000,000 rations of plum-puddings for British soldiers on Christmas Day.

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Christmas pudding banned in some homes as millions of Brits have no plans to serve it this year

The UK’s first ever Christmas pudding café opens today in a bid to ‘pud’ the dessert back on the menu this festive season.

31% of Brits hosting this Christmas have no plans to serve the traditional Christmas pudding, and one in five believe it’s heading for extinction within three years.

It comes as almost half (48%) of 16–26-year-olds say they don’t like it, yet 37% have never even tried it.

Ready for a change, 80% of the nation would love to see the classic dessert given a modern twist.

Opened yesterday Thursday 24th and today Friday 25th November, Sainsbury’s FREE Pud You Dare Café, gives guests the chance to try out modern and traditional versions of the Christmas pudding.

The traditional Christmas pudding could soon become a dessert of the past, as a third of Brits (31%) hosting this Christmas, that's over six million people, don't plan to serve it this Christmas. Once a firm  Christmas staple, the dessert is becoming less and less popular, with one in five claiming they have never tasted one, rising to over a third for Gen Z (37%).

What’s more, new research from Sainsbury’s revealed a further one in five Brits believe the Christmas pudding is heading for extinction and predict it will be gone within three years, on average. The decline comes as a quarter of Brits (36%) claim they dislike the taste.

Preferring more modern flavours, Gen Z heads up the extinction of the traditional pud, as almost half say they don’t like it (48%) and one in five have no plans to ever give it a try. Classic Christmas pudding rituals could also be forgotten within a generation as 57% of 16–26-year-olds didn’t know about flaming a Christmas pudding with brandy, and 70% are unaware it’s traditionally served with a coin. A massive 63% even think the mincemeat contains actual meat.

In a bid to put the pud back on the hot list and show the next generation of hosts what they’re missing out on, Sainsbury’s has opened the ‘Pud You Dare Café' the UK’s first ever café dedicated to the iconic Christmas dessert. 

This year, the supermarket revealed its brand-new twist on the classic, the Taste the Difference Caramelised Biscuit Pudding, a delicious take on the traditional, that’s drizzled with spiced caramel sauce and sprinkled with caramelised biscuit crumb. This comes as research reveals salted caramel is among the nation's favourite dessert flavours.

Pud You Dare visitors can enjoy the original and new variation of the Christmas classic for free, as the research revealed a whopping 80% of people agree they’d give it a try if it had a more modern twist.

It’s not just the Christmas pud that will be getting the modern treatment this Christmas. Of the Gen Z-ers hosting Christmas this year, a quarter (27%) plan to serve pizza, 18% are considering serving burgers or pasta, and 17% say they'd serve fish and chips. In fact, 31% say they'll refuse to serve traditional food this year.

Conversely, almost half of baby boomers say they'll firmly refuse to eat anything other than a traditional Christmas dinner, leading to a quarter of Brits admitting they've already disagreed with their families about who'll host this year (26%) as the nation’s Christmas eating habits become generationally split.  

Claire Hughes, Director of Product and Innovation at Sainsbury’s said: “Our insights revealed the past three years has seen the biggest shift in flavours favoured by the nation than during any other time. The Christmas pudding has slowly fallen from favour, but many of those who've written it off completely have never even tried it! We hope our café gives them the chance to change their minds.

“Although a Christmas pudding fan myself, I love embracing new flavours and it was lots of fun creating the Taste the Difference Caramelised Biscuit Pudding to appeal to a new generation. We hope that by introducing this modern take on the traditional pudding to our range, the love for this classic can be rekindled once more people have tried it.”

The free ‘Pud You Dare Café’ was open on Thursday 24th November from 12pm – 7pm, and today, Friday 25th November from 11am – 7pm, with Sainsbury’s donating £3 on behalf of each customer to Comic Relief to help tackle food poverty this winter. 

Those attending the café can enjoy the Taste the Difference 18 Month Matured Christmas Pudding, alongside the brand-new Taste the Difference Caramelised Biscuit Pudding with a choice of toppings for a personalised pud experience.

The new take on the traditional dessert features a fruity sponge to please every palate but with an innovative twist and a burst of new flavours. 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 Caramelised Biscuit Pudding will also be on offer for £10 from Friday 25th November until Saturday 24th December, along with deals on other Christmas puddings in the Sainsbury’s range.

Giving the Christmas pudding the showstopping moment it deserves, Sainsbury’s launched its 2022 Christmas advert earlier this month, with the new Caramelised Biscuit Pudding taking centre stage. View the full ad here.

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.

www.sainsburys.com

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Kick off the day right: Morrisons fuels footie fans with half price café breakfast for £2.99

Morrisons has slashed the price of its café fry-up in half to ensure fans are full of energy to soak up every minute of footballing action for a slice of the price.

Customers can enjoy 50% per cent off the full 11-piece fry up all day every day this week to keep them fuelled for all matches which include England and Wales’ two opening fixtures against Iran and USA.

Fans will have a reason to celebrate before games kick off as the Full Breakfast offers two sausages, two bacon rashers, a fried egg, a flat mushroom, half a tomato, a hash brown, Heinz baked beans and toast for just £2.99, a price hard to beat at any other well-known chain including Wetherspoon and Harvester, or any other supermarket café.

Vegetarian and vegan options with veggie sausages and sliced avocado are also available. In Scotland, the Scottish Breakfast comes with two lorne sausages, two bacon rashers, a fried egg, a flat mushroom and half a tomato, two tattie scones, Heinz Baked Beanz and a slice of toast.

Football and the Morrisons breakfast can come home this winter as the meal is available for takeaway and delivery options for those that prefer to dine in the comfort of their own home and don’t want to miss a second of the action. 

Morrisons also recently permanently reduced the price of over half the hot dishes in its cafés including fish & chips which is now £6.99 and burgers served with chips and coleslaw for £5.99. 

A Christmas menu is now available to kickstart the season of festive feasting and customers can tuck into a two-course meal for £9.99 or three courses for £11.99 from 11.30am to 3.30pm each day. 

Michael Weightman, Head of Morrisons Cafés, says: “Our breakfasts are a customer favourite and we’re helping celebrate the start of the tournament by halving the price. We hope there will be a lot to cheer about in the coming days with football and our breakfasts ensuring fans get their days off to a flying start!”

Morrisons half-price breakfast offer will be available in its 397 cafés nationwide all day every day from Monday 21st November until Sunday 27th November. 

For more information and to find your nearest café visit: https://my.morrisons.com/blog/food/new-cafe-menu 

Buying a loved one woollen knitwear this winter? You need to visit The Nautical Company

What with reports of the looming fuel and energy crisis and increasing heating oil, electricity and gas prices, there is nothing more comforting on a cold winter's night than a pure new wool sweater. 

It is the enduring choice that will last the lucky recipient for years to come. 

A spokesman for the company said: "After 12 years in business, we and our customers know what sets these garments apart."

He pointed out: "Our focus has always been to partner with heritage brands with an emphasis on quality.  With production of the knitwear in Ireland and France, this is also a sustainable choice for us and for you as it keeps our air miles low."

Available are: Chunky knit Fisherman's Jumpers, Breton Sweaters & High Neck Jumpers and Beanie Hats and Scarves.

But that's not all, the Hampshire-based company also sells Pea Coats for Men and Women, belts, bags, jewellery, shirts and tops, Nautical décor, Christmas gifts and more besides.

https://www.thenauticalcompany.com.

Maximising small spaces this Christmas says Victory Curtains and Blinds

Mirrored baubles on the Christmas tree

Mirrored baubles on the Christmas tree act the same way as mirrors, by reflecting light around the room and making it feel more spacious. You’ll get the same illusion of a bigger room but with more style and Christmas appeal. 

Rearrange furniture to create flow

A quick rearrange of your furniture can make a room feel a lot bigger than it is. It’s important you ensure that there is no furniture obstructing walkways or entrances to the room, as this will make the space feel more cramped. Push your sofa against a wall (where possible) and position it towards the window, so your outside view can be enjoyed from the comfort of your seat.

Extend your celebrations into the outdoor space

If the weather is nice, make use of sunny weather and extend your Christmas celebrations outdoors. Awnings are a great addition to your outdoor space as they shield your home from direct sunlight which can heat your home. They’re also a lovely touch when you’re eating outdoors, as they’ll provide the right amount of shade you need to enjoy your meal. 

Keep window dressings open (apart from when you’re out the room)

Any room will appear larger if it’s well-lit! There are two options you have when it comes to lighting a room, artificial or natural. Open your window dressings to let the sunshine flood into the room throughout the day. Make sure you shut them slightly when you’re out the house though, as you don’t want anyone peeking through at your lovely Christmas presents. 

Have a Christmas tidy-up

Too many unnecessary things can make a room feel small. If you want to squeeze more people into your lounge it might be worth removing any furniture and accessories that are taking up more space than needed, like your pouffe or rug. Top tip: If you can see the floor the room will look and feel larger! 

https://www.victoryblinds.com.au

Lindt Proudly Supports the NSPCC's Childline This Christmas

For the fifth consecutive year, international premium chocolate producer, Lindt & Sprüngli is proudly supporting the NSPCC to raise vital funds for Childline. 

For every Lindt TEDDY Milk and White chocolate (100g) purchased from Lindt chocolate shops, major grocery channels, retailers and e-shop www.lindt.co.uk, Lindt will donate £1.00 to the NSPCC. With a target of £100,000, Lindt's donation will help keep Childline running throughout the Christmas period.

Passionate about supporting the NSPCC, Lindt has raised in excess of £600,000 so far for this valuable cause. Besides this Lindt is sponsoring the NSPCC's annual 'Merry Little Christmas' charity concert for the second year at Cadogan Hall, London on 13th December 2022.  This is an enchanting evening of carols ad festive musical performances from well-known celebrities and some very special guests. Visit www.nspcc.org.uk for tickets (£40 per person) and for further information.

Delicately dressed in gold foil, tied with a red ribbon and a heart charm, the Lindt TEDDY Milk chocolate is an iconic hollow figure across the entire globe. NEW for this year, the Master Chocolatiers have launched Lindt TEDDY White chocolate using their finest white chocolate. An ideal stocking filler or gift this Christmas for friends and family.

Supporting children and young people for over 35 years, Childline gives every child who needs it access to free, confidential support whenever they need it. The Childline counsellors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online and on the phone on 0800 1111.

For more information or for the online store visit www.lindt.co.uk/shop and also follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lindtuk or Instagram www.instagram.com/LindtUK