1. Trends in 2013 Christmas Menus In The U.K. Restaurant & Pub Segments
Prepared by:
January 2014
Project #3938

2. Report Contents:
Christmas Menu Overview
Christmas Menu Starters
Christmas Menu Main Courses
Christmas Menu Desserts
Christmas Menu Pricing

3. 2013 Christmas Menu Trends: Overview

5. Starters And Desserts Gain Share On 2013 Christmas Menus
Base: 1015 Items on 90 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2012)
1059 items on 84 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2013)
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

6. Distribution of Proteins Across All Menu Items
As A Category, Seafood Items (Beyond Salmon And Prawns) Surpass Turkey As Most Popular Protein in 2013
Distribution of Proteins Across All Menu Items
Base: 1015 Items on 90 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2012)
1059 items on 84 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2013)
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

7. Incidence of Top Preparation Methods Across All Menu Items
Leading Preparation Methods Show Modest Changes; Fried Items Double In Incidence
Incidence of Top Preparation Methods Across All Menu Items
Base: 1015 Items on 90 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2012)
1059 items on 84 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2013)
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

8. Incidence of Top Sauces/Condiments Across All Menu Items
Honey Incidence Jumps As More Items Are “Honey-Roasted” In 2013; Vinaigrette Sauces Jump
Incidence of Top Sauces/Condiments Across All Menu Items
Base: 1015 Items on 90 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2012)
1059 items on 84 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2013)
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

9. Christmas Menu Examples
Vintage Inns - Butter Roast Turkey: With Sage And Onion Stuffing, Pig In Blanket, Yorkshire Pudding, Honey Roasted Parsnip, Roasted Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetable Medley And Cranberry Gravy. Option Included In Christmas Menu. Served With Roasted Roots, Roast And Baby Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetable Medley And Braised Red Cabbage. The Black Horse - Slow Braised English Shin Of Beef: With Pearl Onions, Button Mushrooms In A Port Gravy Finished With A Herb Suet Scone, Baby Carrots And Maris Piper Mash. Option On Lunchtime Christmas Fayre And Evening Christmas Fayre Menus. With Cornish Butter Browns Bar & Brasserie - Roast Breast Of Spiced Barbary Duck: Braised Pink Cabbage And A Red Wine And Blackcurrant Sauce. Served With Roast Potatoes And Seasonal Vegetables. Miller & Carter - Grilled Sea Bass: Two Sea Bass Fillets With Mediterranean Vegetables And Pine Nut Caponata. Served On Crushed Herb Potatoes, Sauteed Green Beans And Pesto. Included On Festive Menu Olde House - Salmon With Caper And Red Pepper Sauce: Salmon Fillet With A Roasted Red Pepper And Tomato Sauce With Capers And An Aniseed Flavoured Liqueur. Served With New Potatoes, Roast Potatoes And Seasonal Vegetables. Entree Option In Christmas Fayre Menu. Taylor Walker - Mushroom, Port & Onion Pie: Woodland Mushrooms In A Port Sauce With Roasted Silverskin Onions, Encased In A Baked Sage & Onion Pastry, Served With Roast And Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables And Gravy. Vegetarian. Included In 3 Course Christmas Day Menu.
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

10. 2013 Christmas Menu Trends: Starters

12. Starter Category Menu Incidence Incidence of Top Starter Flavours
Noticeable Increase In Non-Breaded Protein Starters, Perhaps Paired With Gain In Number Of Dips Offered
Starter Category Menu Incidence
Incidence of Top Starter Flavours
Base: 1015 Items on 90 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2012)
1059 items on 84 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2013)
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

13. Incidence of Top Starter Proteins Top Starter Non-Protein Ingredients
Prawns Give Way To Salmon And Duck Among Starter Proteins; Squash Mentions Increase Notably
Incidence of Top Starter Proteins
Top Starter Non-Protein Ingredients
Base: 1015 Items on 90 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2012)
1059 items on 84 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2013)
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

14. Christmas Menu Starters Examples
Alba - Quail braised with mushroom: Grilled Polenta. Option On Christmas Three Courses Menu Brewers Fayre - Classic Prawn Cocktail: Juicy Prawns In A Cocktail Sauce On A Bed Of Crisp Iceberg Lettuce, Served With Buttered Brown Bread. Flaming Grill Pub Co. - Chicken And Honey Pate: Smooth pate served with caramelised onion jam, toast and butter and a dressed mixed leaf salad garnish. Christmas Day Festive Menu Giraffe - Curried Parsnip Soup: Focaccia Croutons And Cilantro Crema. Suitable For Vegetarians. Option On The 2 And 3 Course Christmas Menu. Wildwood Restaurants - Starter Platter To Share: Cheesy potato skins, barbeque chicken wings, goats cheese crostini with chilli jam, ham hock bruschetta, cajun breaded mushrooms with garlic mayonnaise. Christmas Party Menu Loungers - Roasted Sweet Potato And Butternut Squash With Goats Cheese: Served With Ciabatta. Included On Christmas Party Menu.
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

15. 2013 Christmas Menu Trends: Main Courses

17. Main Dish Category Menu Incidence Incidence of Top Main Dish Flavours
Fish And Other Protein Dishes - Which Include Duck And Lamb – Now More Prevalent Than Beef And Turkey Mains
Main Dish Category Menu Incidence
Incidence of Top Main Dish Flavours
Base: 1015 Items on 90 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2012)
1059 items on 84 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2013)
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

18. Leading Entrée Proteins Less Prominent In 2013
Incidence of Top Main Dish Proteins
Top Main Dish Non-Protein Ingredients
Base: 1015 Items on 90 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2012)
1059 items on 84 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2013)
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

19. Christmas Menu Main Course Examples
Bel and the Dragon - Pan Roasted Atlantic Cod: Wild Samphire And Baby Clams. Available On The Christmas Set Menu 2 With Shaved Fennel, Chorizo And Sundried Tomatoes. Browns Bar & Brasserie - Chestnut, Cranberry & Brie Wellington: Served With Roast Potatoes And Seasonal Vegetables. Vegetarian. Option On The Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, And Mistletoe Menus. Lintot Square - Duck With Pomegranate And Juniper: Duck Breast With A Pomegranate Sauce Flavoured With Sloe Gin And Juniper Berries. Served With New And Roast Potatoes, Honey Roast Parsnips And Seasonal Vegetables. On The Christmas Day Menu. Porter and Sorter - Traditional Roast Beef: Classically Served With A Yorkshire Pudding And Horseradish Sauce. Served With New And Roast Potatoes And A Selection Of Seasonal Vegetables. Available On The Christmas Fayre 2 Or 3 Courses Menu. The Museum Inn - Peppered Fillet Of Local Venison: Sour Cherry And Walnut Sauce, Fondant Potato. Option On Christmas Day Menu (All Main Courses Will Be Served With Winter Vegetables, Goose Fat Roast Potatoes Unless Specified) Belgo - Slow Cooked Lamb Shank: With Creamed Stoemp, Minted Sugarsnaps. Edamame, Green Beans And A Rich Tomato Jus. Option On Christmas Menu.
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

20. 2013 Christmas Menu Trends: Desserts

22. Dessert Category Menu Incidence Incidence of Top Dessert Flavours
Tarts And Cheese Plates More Present On Christmas Dessert Menus In 2013
Dessert Category Menu Incidence
Incidence of Top Dessert Flavours
Base: 1015 Items on 90 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2012)
1059 items on 84 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2013)
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

23. Pear And Lemon Flavors Gain Dessert Menu Share
Incidence of Top Dessert Ingredients
Incidence of Top Dessert Fruits
Base: 1015 Items on 90 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2012)
1059 items on 84 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2013)
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

24. Christmas Menu Dessert Examples
Cafe Rouge - Pudding De Noel: Steamed Gingerbread & Cranberry Pudding, Ginger Syrup & Armagnac Creme Anglaise. Vegetarian. Available On The Christmas Party Menu And Christmas Day Menu. The Restaurant Bar & Grill - Regional British Cheeses: Apple Chutney, Crackers. Vegetarian, Contains Nuts. Included In 3 Course Christmas Set Menu Dinner. Olde House - Burnt Orange And White Chocolate Torte: Crisp Chocolate Biscuit Crumb Layered With Rich Chocolate Orange Truffle And White Chocolate Orange Mousse, Finished With A Caramel Glaze. Served With Vanilla Flavoured Ice Cream. Vegetarian. Dessert Option In Christmas Fayre Menu. The Sorn Inn - Warm Apple And Gingerbread Custard Tart: Raisin Vanilla Cream, Apple Ice Cream. Included In Christmas Day Menu. Browns Bar & Brasserie - Browns Christmas Eton Mess: Roasted Plums, Cinnamon, Orange Soaked Cranberries And Chestnuts. Vintage Inns - Cheese Board: Cornish Brie, Cropwell Bishop Stilton And Ford Farm Cheddar, Served With Chutney, Celery, Oatcakes And Bath Oliver Biscuits. Option Included In New Year's Eve Menu. Option Included In Christmas Menu.
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

25. 2013 Christmas Menu Trends: Pricing

27. Starters See Greatest Year-Over-Year Price Increase On Christmas Menus
Christmas Menu Starter Pricing
Low
High
Average
% Change from 2012
Casual Dining
£3.25
£25.00
£8.71
+39.1%
Pub Chains/Groups
£3.65
£18.00
£8.31
+29.1%
Christmas Menu Entree Pricing
Low
High
Average
% Change from 2012
Casual Dining
£6.95
£115.00
£31.85
+9.0%
Pub Chains/Groups
£8.99
£80.00
£31.90
+0.5%
Christmas Menu Dessert Pricing
Low
High
Average
% Change from 2012
Casual Dining
£2.00
£25.00
£6.44
+8.1%
Pub Chains/Groups
£1.99
£9.95
£5.63
+10.7%
Base: 1015 Items on 90 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2012)
1059 items on 84 pub & restaurant Christmas-themed menus (2013)
Source: MenuMonitor; Technomic, Inc.

28. For More Information Please Contact:
Elizabeth Reardon
Client Services Associate
Adrian Greaves
Business Development Director