Get ready for a retro Christmas! Asda reveals 70s desserts and party foods are making a comeback as people turn to comfort food in uncertain times

• Jonathan Moore, Asda’s Senior Director, reveals 70s food products are back
• Read More: Searches for prawn cocktail and baked Alaska soar by up to 300% 

Forget Chrismas pudding, it’s retro desserts like Baked Alaska that are set to grace dinner tables this festive season, due to the cost of living crisis and shows like Daisy Jones and the Six making people nostalgic.

Old school puddings including crème brulee, rice pudding and tiramisu are also increasingly popular with customers around the UK, who are turning to comfort food in an uncertain world – with Asda recording a leap in sales of traditional favourites. 

Jonathan Moore, Asda’s Senior Director of Food Trends said: ‘There is still a strong sense of comfort when it comes to nostalgia especially at Christmas time. When times are tough, we find reassurance in harking back to our ‘inner child’ and those childhood favourite foods that once comforted us.’ 

It comes as the retailer unveiled its trend book, outlining key themes that will guide food and drink product development for the next 18 months, with climate concerns influencing the rise of innovations such as dehydrated oat milk. 

Asda revealed 70s products are set to be very popular this festive season as the cost of living crisis and shows like Daisy Jones and the Six are making people nostalgic

1. Pressure on purse-strings sees shoppers looking to elevate everyday heroes 

The report suggests that ‘Sandwiches 2.0’, ‘Not-So-Humble-Veg’ and ‘Things On Toast’ are all key trends that will dominate the coming 18 months as customers use purse-friendly ingredients as the base of their gourmet creations.

Confirming this prediction, Asda has seen a 12 per cent uplift in sales of potatoes in the past year as consumers turn to TikTok, which has more than 10 billion views for #Potato, for inspiration on how to get creative with the household staple.

2. In a less-stable world, people are looking to food for distraction.

As shoppers look to food for moments of joy in their lives, in a way that doesn’t break the bank, Asda expects to see a number of trends rise in popularity over the coming months. 

The ‘Flavour Bomb’ trend will see experimental condiments and sauces – think coffee siracha or fruity chipotle – elevate simple dishes, giving them a powerhouse of flavour time and time again. 

‘Stick It’ predicts the rise of making food handheld. Seemingly un-holdable dishes like pasta will become a more interactive snack and croissants, waffles and even slices of cheesecake will be drenched in syrups and sauces and served on a stick.

Asda’s OMV! Vegan Strawberry Trifle will be popular this Christmas and it retails at £6.95 

The brands Extra Special Chocolate & Honeycomb Avalanche Dessert retails at £10 

Pigs in blankets are always a winner on Christmas day and the brand is selling them for just £1.35 

3. The rise of 70s and 80s inspired TV shows like Daisy Jones and the Six and Stranger Things sees the appreciation of retro translate into food with the resurgence of retro desserts.

Asda explains that old-school favourites such baked Alaska, crème brulee, rice pudding and tiramisu are all set to grace dinner parties across the UK. The retailer has already started to see this trend in action with shoppers going mad for its recently launched retro ‘school cake’. Tens of thousands of people shared their love for the cakes across social media and the excitement led to over 5,000 people searching for ‘School Cakes’ on Asda.com. 

4. As extreme weather events put food production at risk, consumers are demanding that producers look to more sustainable solutions. 

‘New Staples’ is a trend that Asda has pinpointed as an increasingly prevalent movement thanks to consumers growing understanding of the true impact grocery staples have on the planet.

The ‘New Staples’ trend predicts the rise in sales of regenerative crops such as ancient grains an alfalfa that nourish the soil instead of stripping it of nutrients. 

Another iteration of this trend that Asda expects to see is the surge in seaweed as a food solution since it’s one of the most sustainable crops on the planet as it doesn’t require fresh water, pesticides, or fertiliser.

5. Retail innovation turning to freeze-dried, dehydrated and powdered food in response to rising shipping costs and carbon emissions. 

Asda expects to see a rise in ‘Just Add Water’ products like on-the-go cereal and dehydrated oat milk enter the market. 

The smaller nature these formats means that shipping costs and carbon emissions can be reduced, helping both the environment and consumers pockets.

Asda’s £10 Extra Special Amaretto & Cherry Cheesecake is the perfect addition to the Christmas table 

The store also has a selection of mince pies which come in numerous different flavours 

Jonathan said: ”Products like Asda’s award-winning showstopper Chocolate and Honeycomb Avalanche Dessert are expected to be prominent on this year’s Christmas dinner table as customers take comfort in looking back at times gone by with fondness – even if they weren’t born in that year.

‘Retro puddings are having the biggest resurgence, which customers can enjoy with our Black Forest Cake twist on a Yule Log or our decadent Amaretto and Cherry Cheesecake. Plus, Strawberry Trifle has got a vegan spin in our first ever OMV! festive range this year.

‘With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, we’re looking for any excuse to celebrate and therefore, we’re looking for delicious food we know and love, that brings us joy and instantly elevates any party spread at an affordable price. 

‘Our award-winning Scallop and King Prawn Vol Au Vents with Brown Butter and Spiced Dark Rum Sauce are one of our hero party food products this Christmas. 

‘It’s a seventies favourite combined with another trend we’ve spotted around the concept of ‘Eat, Play, Love’ where small sharing plates, grazing boards and mix-and-match meals are holding their popularity.

‘Finally, fondue is back again, with our Extra Special Wyke Farms Vintage Cheddar Bake with Caramelised Onion Chutney, exclusive to Asda, perfect for sharing.’

Commenting on the launch of the second book, Jonathan, said: ‘We have spent months researching and identifying seven mega trends emerging in the UK food scene, alongside delving deeper into the relevant social and cultural drivers behind them. 

‘Over the next 18 months, we’ll be working hard to bring these trends to life on Asda shelves in a way that’s both exciting and accessible for our customers’.’

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