The online source for all things Christmas
Aldi shoppers can make 'fir' massive savings compared to other tree retailers including B&Q where a 150-180cm Nordman Fir Cut Tree will set shoppers back by £38, that's more than double the price of the Aldi equivalent.
What’s more, customers can be assured that all live Christmas trees sold by Aldi have been grown in the UK, with all trees in Aldi’s festive range coming from a sustainable plantation in the heart of Scotland.
Today’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) retail sales results show an unexpected fall in the amount of goods sold in November, despite the allure of Black Friday deals.
The amount of goods Brits bought in November fell by -0.4% compared to October and tumbled -5.9% compared to November of last year.
ParcelHero says these latest figures are a particular blow as they include Black Friday’s results, normally a good indicator of how well Christmas is likely to go for retailers.
ParcelHero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks M.I.L.T., says: "Looking at the overall parcel volumes for late November we feared Black Friday had been something of a clunker, and that seems to be the case. Experts had been talking of a 0.3% uplift in sales in November but that didn’t happen.
‘Perhaps even more concerning, even though Brits bought fewer items in November, we actually spent 0.5% more than in October, and 4.2% more than in November 2021. That’s the impact of galloping inflation, and also indicates there were fewer bargains around over this year’s long Black Friday period."
He went on to say: "The gloss has certainly been taken off Black Friday sales. There was a notably lower seasonal spike in sales this November, compared to 2021, and online sales suffered as a result. The value of goods we bought online this November collapsed by -5% compared to last year, even though we actually spent 0.6% more than in October, reflecting the lack of great Black Friday online discounts.
"Online sales did manage to cling to their 26.2% overall share of the entire November retail spend, however. That’s been the case since May and shows that, at least, we now know the new “normal” for online shopping post-pandemic.
"The only crumb of comfort we can offer retailers is that the volume of parcels booked this week through ParcelHero has spiked significantly. We may be experiencing a late jump in online spending as shoppers brace themselves and reluctantly start last-minute Christmas shopping.
"ParcelHero has re-launched our popular Christmas tool in the nick of time for a late online surge. Shoppers can now discover retailers’ final online order dates in time for Christmas, find out the last mailing dates for presents to UK and international destinations, and see handy packaging and Customs clearance hacks to help ensure gifts reach their destinations in time."
To check the easy-to-use retailers’ final order and final mailing dates tool, see: https://www.parcelhero.com/events/christmas-gifts-delivery
(Image courtesy of cdz and Pixabay)
Available from 16 December (00:01) to 20 December (23.59). Both offers are on a 36-month Phone Plan and 24-month Airtime Plan.
illustrative photo of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra in burgundy
Save £564 on device and airtime. £41 monthly. £49 upfront.
close-up photo of the rear cameras on the iPhone 13 Pro Max
Save £296 on device and airtime. £47 monthly. £29 upfront.
Terms and conditions apply. please check with Vodafone for details.
For more information about Vodafone UK please visit: www.vodafone.co.uk.
Incidentally I already own a Samsung S22 Ultra through Vodafone and it's an absolutely phenomenal piece of kit which I can strongly recommend. I will make an excellent Christmas present for a loved one or perhaps a nifty bit of self-gifting?
The City Council has repeatedly made £15-per-week vouchers available to all pupils who receive free school meals (FSM) over holiday periods.
These are issued to parents before their children breaking up from school.
Alongside the supermarket vouchers are a range of outdoor holiday activities throughout Nottingham. At these, FSM pupils will receive a free lunch, plus a programme of activities focused on healthy eating, fitness and mental health.
The two projects are funded through a combined award of £3.55 million from the Household Support Grant Scheme and the Holiday Activity Fund (HAF).
The £1.8m HAF grant was, through a bidding process, made available to community groups, charities and schools with the ability to deliver outdoor holiday activities in neighbourhoods across the city.
Nearly 20,000 children attended these clubs and were fed over the Easter, summer and October half-term holidays, and this money will be used to deliver more activities during the Christmas holidays, via a continued link-up between the Council and Nottingham Forest Community Trust as its lead project partner this year.
The HAF funding is allocated from the Department for Education with certain criteria attached. This stipulates the support for tackling holiday hunger should be through free school meals pupils attending holiday clubs.
Parents can book places by visiting www.asklion.co.uk/funandfood to see the list of clubs and the contact details of the groups.
There are also a limited number of places available for children who aren’t eligible for FSM and these will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Councillor Cheryl Barnard, Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Schools, said: “We are aware of how hard things have been for people in our city and so it is great news that pupils in need of help will be able to benefit from supermarket vouchers and activity clubs again this Christmas.
“The Council has made this support available throughout the year during school holidays, but this is a special time for children and their families. We want to help them in every way we can.
“Nottingham has some 15,000 children eligible for free school meals, and many of these families are already be feeling the strain because of the national cost-of-living crisis. It is right and proper that we are given this funding to ensure healthy meals for young people in need.
“I’d also like to take this chance to wish everyone in Nottingham a very merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.”
Calum Osborne, Deputy CEO of the Nottingham Forest Community Trust, said: “We are delighted to work closely with Nottingham City Council to offer high-quality, enriching activities and healthy meals for children across the city as we come to the end of a hugely successful year of running this programme.
“By collaborating with Nottingham City Council, local community-based organisations and business, we can achieve so much more when we work together to positively impact thousands of children.”
Nottingham City Council has previously endorsed Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign to tackle holiday hunger.
At a meeting of the Full Council in November 2020, councillors highlighted the levels of child poverty in Nottingham and gave a commitment to support free school meals to children throughout the holidays in 2021.This has since been extended through 2022.
People who book their flu jab at any Asda Pharmacy can now receive the vaccine for just £4.98, making it the cheapest on the market, at a crucial time in the winter season when cases are high.
Asda is encouraging those who haven’t yet had their flu jab to book an appointment at one of its 254 in-store pharmacies, either online or instore.
Customers can book a private flu jab at a cost of £4.98, less than half the price of its original price of £9.98 – up until 31st March 2023. This follows the huge success of its £1 and £2 Asda Reward cash pot incentives earlier this year.
The retailer hopes the new market leading price will encourage as many customers who haven’t yet had their flu jab to do so, ensuring the nation is as protected as possible this flu season.
Faisal Tuddy, Superintendent Pharmacist at Asda, said: “It’s so important to get your flu jab, especially if you are vulnerable or visiting family members this Christmas. At a time when we’re seeing cases of flu rise rapidly, we’re proud to be able to make this service as accessible as possible to anyone that wants it.”
Speaking of the increase in cases of flu and the importance of getting the vaccine, Doctor Kathryn Basford from Asda Online Doctor, said: "For most people, the flu is an unpleasant and inconvenient illness which can make you feel unwell and not be able to work or do your normal activities for up to a week, but for some, it can be much more severe, and even be life-threatening.
“If you don’t fall into a vulnerable group which is offered a free flu vaccine through the NHS, it’s still really important to get the vaccine to help protect those around you who you could pass on the infection to.”
To book, customers simply have to visit their in-store pharmacy team or head to the booking service available online at https://www.asda.com/about/instore/pharmacy - available up until 31st March 2023.
Appointments are available seven days a week, with a range of appointment times available throughout the day.
Customers can enjoy a free cake when purchasing a hot or cold beverage from Morrisons café on Monday 19th December and Tuesday 20th December.
The sweet treats included in the offer are the We Love Cake Mince Pie, We Love Cake Ice Christmas Cake, White Forest Cake and the Victoria Sponge Cake - ideal for taking a welcome break from Christmas shopping.
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.
Customers can also tuck into Morrisons Christmas menu and enjoy a two-course meal for £9.99 or three courses for £11.99 from 11.30am to 3.30pm each day.
Emily Waite, BREW Buying Manager at Morrisons, said: “In the lead up to Christmas, we want to do all we can to spread some festive cheer and help make our customers’ shopping experience as enjoyable as possible. We’ve picked some of the most popular cakes to be included in the offer and hope our customers enjoy them!”
Morrisons sweet treat offer will be available in its 397 cafés nationwide on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th December whilst stocks last. One free cake will be available per customer.
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Part of the special Victuallers Edition series, the latest edition of 'Finisterre' is available in a 50cl bottle, RRP £50, ABV 46%, from salcombegin.com and the Salcombe Distilling Co. stores in Salcombe and Dartmouth.
Since the last release in 2018, this batch of 'Finisterre' has been quietly maturing for three years in its American oak Fino sherry cask during which it has further mellowed and sweetened whilst maintaining its defining characteristic with the salinity from the sherry being more prevalent in the finish.
The result of a collaboration with Bodegas Tradición, one of the most respected sherry houses in Spain which is renowned for producing genre-defining aged wines using traditional and time honoured methods, Finisterre derives its name from a rock-bound peninsula on the West Coast of Spain. This super premium gin reawakens a bygone era of adventure and trade, tracing a famous 19th century trading route of the Salcombe Fruit Schooners from Cadiz to England, passing by this Galician outcrop.
When it first launched, Lorenzo Garcia-Iglesias, general manager of Bodegas Tradición said: “We share the same passion and dynamism as Salcombe Distilling Co. to only create exceptional produce, so were delighted they selected one of our beautiful casks in which to age their fantastic gin.”
Co-founder of Salcombe Distilling Co. Angus Lugsdin says: “We were honoured to work with the prestigious Bodegas Tradición to create this limited batch of cask aged gin. The fresh citrus notes are tempered through the cask maturation process which takes has taken three years, creating wonderful candied citrus aromas and moreish saline notes from the aged Fino. The result is a sophisticated and elegant gin with great character and depth of flavour.
He continues: “'Finisterre' was the result of our curiosity with cask aged gin and we are thrilled with how this extraordinary product is continuing to develop. We were delighted by the response to the first two editions and we hope our latest release is as well received.”
Taste profile
Nose - Wonderful candied citrus aromas including orange blossom and moreish saline hints from the aged Fino.
Palate - Sweet, dried citrus peel and warm fruit with an underlying dry finish.
Finish - A sophisticated and elegant gin with great character and depth of flavour whilst the aged Fino adds a further layer of complexity and gentle spice. The dryer salinity of the Fino sherry comes through over previous years.
Serving suggestion - As with all of Salcombe Distilling Co.'s gins, it's excellent served on its own over plenty of ice, mixed with premium Indian tonic water or for an exceptional martini married with Fino sherry in place of the more traditional vermouth.
Victuallers Special Edition 'Finisterre' Gin joins Salcombe Distilling Co.'s award-winning line-up of Salcombe Gin 'Start Point', Salcombe Gin 'Rosé Sainte Marie', the Voyager Series, Victuallers Special Edition 'Snapes Point' Sloe Gin, Salcombe Rum 'Island Street' and New London Light non-alcoholic spirits and aperitifs.
For further information about Salcombe Distilling Co. and Salcombe Gin, visit www.salcombedistilling.com, follow SalcombeGin on Instagram and Facebook and Salcombe Distilling Co on Twitter.
These two top Westcountry businesses are launching a range of super stylish co-branded kit including a Long Sleeve Pro Change Robe Evo, Waterproof Soft Cooler Bag (18L and 30L), Waterproof Cool Bag Backpack (15L), Waterproof Backpack (30L) and Waterproof Kit Bag (40L and 60L). This exclusive new range is available from hattiers.com.
With both brands emphasising importance on their environmental journeys and their love for the outdoors, this partnership aims to inspire a new sense of everyday adventure.
Says Philip Everett-Lyons, founder and CEO of Hattiers Rum: “There is an incredible synergy between Hattiers and Red Paddle Co as both of our companies share
a similar ethos and values. We're really excited about this partnership which is the start of a long term working relationship between the two brands.”
Founder and CEO of Red Paddle Co, John Hibbard, says: “We're delighted to be working with a fellow South Devon brand that shares a similar love of coastal adventures. We're all about balance in life and after an epic paddle-boarding trip, what could be better than ending the day with a tot of rum! It's also great to be collaborating with a B Corp certified company as we reach the final stages of our application and certification.” Hattiers was the first rum brand in the UK to become B Corp certified.
To celebrate the coming together of the brands, Hattiers Rum joined forces with Red Paddle Co for their 'opt outside' campaign this November. In a bid to say no to over consumerism both businesses opted out of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday hype, instead pulling together to make a difference in their much loved natural environment. Volunteering with local environmental projects, the new partners helped clear the South Devon shorelines from plastic pollution with 'Till The Coast Is Clear' and contributed to The Deer Wood Trust's Woodland Project.
Specialising in sourcing fine blended aged rums from around the world, which they sustainably blend on Flete Estate in the South Hams, Hattiers Rum creates three stunning unique rums; Egremont Premium Reserve Rum, Eminence Blended Aged White Rum and Resolute Navy Strength Rum. The Hattiers Rum range is available at hattiers.com as well as Waitrose & Partners, Harvey Nichols, Master of Malt, Fortnum & Mason, The Whisky Exchange, Enotria & Coe and Drink Finder.
Launched in 2008 by founder and CEO, John Hibbard, Red Paddle Co was born when John, a former windsurfing UK Champion, discovered Stand Up Paddle Boarding. He quickly noticed a gap in the market for an alternative Stand Up Paddle board which wasn't cumbersome and heavy. Ever since, John has been on a mission to produce the very best inflatable paddle boards on the market and to continue growing the SUP community. Now, more than ten years on, Red Paddle Co is a brilliant community of passionate paddle boarders from all over the world and considered the world's best inflatable stand up board brand.
For further information about Hattiers Rum please visit www.hattiers.com or like and follow Hattiers Rum on Instagram: hattiers_rum and Facebook: HattiersRum. For further information about Red Paddle Co please visit www.red-equipment.co.uk or like and follow Red Paddle Co on Instagram:
Redpaddleco and Facebook: Red Paddle Co.