Elevated nostalgic dishes and world flavours are set to dominate menus this festive season, and Booker has launched its dedicated online Christmas hub and guide, packed with menu inspiration and ingredients to support foodservice operators through the busy party period.
Booker’s 2026 Christmas collection leads with the strapline Make More of Christmas, designed to help operators get ahead of the curve to drive footfall and bookings, and in turn, to maximise profits and deliver an enjoyable, successful dining experience for customers throughout the holiday season.
Newstalgia is the buzzword this Christmas, and it’s about balancing familiar favourites and comfort foods with world flavours and contemporary updates to make menus feel on-trend and indulgent without losing their core seasonal appeal.
Booker’s selection of own brand starters, main meal components, meat-free dishes, sides and accompaniments helps busy kitchens deliver high-quality, seasonal menus quickly and efficiently, offering ready-to-cook and partially prepared options that save time and labour, while still allowing chefs to add their own creative touch.
Promising to bring more value, quality and choice, Booker also offers a selection of British and global cheese options, a comprehensive portfolio of beers, wines, spirits, no and low alcohol drinks, as well as tableware, crackers and decorations.
Menus for making merry
Starter dishes include Chef’s Premium Coquille St Jaques, Smoked Salmon Terrine and Cheddar Cheese Souffle, offering time-saving, luxurious seasonal appetisers.
For the main event, contemporary options such as Venison and Duck Pie, Brie, Pancetta and Cranberry Mac and Cheese bring something unusual to the table, while crowd-pleasing classics such as Carvery Gammon, Pork Joint and Stuffed Turkey Breast Joint appeal to those seeking traditional favourites.
At the butchery counter, operators continue to access bespoke advice and custom meat cuts and joints to suit their specific menu requirements, from prime beef, gammon and pork, and turkey including chilled and frozen whole birds, crowns and ready-to-slice cuts.
Beyond meat, Booker stocks fresh fish fillets and prepared seafood main courses, as well as plant-based options such as The Fat Chef Beetroot and Butternut Squash Wellington and Mediterranean Vegetable Tart, offering alternatives that appeal to meat-free and flexitarian diners alike.
Sharing boards and group grazing have been trending throughout the year, and this is set to continue into the festive season as groups meet up for casual dining and drinking. Booker has launched a selection of items that work well on boards and sharers under its Food To Share range, including on-trend options such as Frickles, Kimchi Hash Browns, Pork and Nduja Meatballs, Breaded Jalapeño Peppers and Hoi Sin Duck Bao Buns. Easy to store, prepare and serve, these make for festive menu winners as they encourage longer dwell time, elevate the menu and suit informal dining for groups, buffets, short-run specials or bar snacks at any time of day.
Keep it seasonal, and consider adding optional pigs in blankets, honey glazed parsnips, or sprouts with leek and bacon to sharing boards for that festive touch. Add mini pots of cranberry sauce and gravy, too, for dipping.
While it’s always worth offering classics such as Christmas pudding and mince pies for the traditionalists, there’s real appetite for sought-after flavours such as pistachio, Biscoff, cherry and lemon. Booker’s new festive desserts range includes versatile and convenient options such as White Chocolate, Cherry and Praline Torte, and a Chocolate and Ginger Tart – fusing familiar formats with popular flavours.
Christmas wrapped with Booker
Available under Booker’s own brand tiers, Chef’s Essentials, Chef’s Menu and Chef’s Premium, the Christmas 2026 range is designed to suit different operator needs, price points and venues – from pubs, bars and restaurants to festive markets, street food stalls and casual diners.
Nev Irani, Booker’s Managing Director for Foodservice, says: “Our Christmas 2026 collection has been designed to help busy operators meet consumer demand for nostalgic flavours, trending ingredients, and versatile dining experiences – with an eye on shifts in eating habits whilst being mindful of cost challenges.
“The holiday season is all about meaningful, memorable moments, and food and drink can really make or break the occasion. We’re here to bring the quality, choice, service and value that operators need for a successful festive season, along with product consistency to ensure every order meets customer expectations, minimises wastage and maintains operational efficiencies across busy kitchens.
“Our combined festive food and drink proposition, along with the convenience of in-branch and delivered service, makes us a one-stop-shop for all foodservice operators navigating the seasonal rush.
“Booker colleagues, whether at your local branch or on the road, are here to help. Customers can discover and sample the new products being added to our extensive range at our Booker Foodservice Trade Show at the NEC Birmingham on 23rd September.”
Booker is running its annual Foodservice Trade Show 2026 at the NEC Birmingham on 23rd September. Find out more and register here:
https://eventdata.uk/Visitor/BookerFoodserviceTradeShow2026.aspx
Visit Booker’s 2026 Christmas hub here https://www.booker.co.uk/christmas.
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