Catering for seasonal events during the winter months presents a great opportunity to refresh your menus and engage customers. Embracing seasonal produce and flavours is key, but aligning your offerings with these major food and drink occasions can also bring fresh inspiration.
Whether you go big by hosting themed events, or simply add a few dishes that nod to these celebrations, there are plenty of ways to make the most of the season.
Below are just some of the key winter food and drink industry events you may want to plan for over the following months, along with our must-have winter products.
Christmas day – 25th December
Christmas is a time of celebration, indulgence and quality time with loved ones, and venues that provide an exceptional Christmas dining experience can stand out and create lasting memories for their guests.
Often associated with indulgence, customers are generally more willing to spend on premium meals, drinks, and special experiences. Offering a festive menu with multi-course options, signature cocktails, and wine pairings allows you to maximize revenue through higher price points and upselling on the day.
Discover our full Christmas range and all support we have to offer you this festive period here: Christmas wholesale food and drinks.
New Year’s Eve – 31st December
It’s one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year, with people eager to mark the occasion in style— through extravagant meals, elegant drinks and festive entertainment.
Whether it’s couples looking for a romantic evening, to groups of friends eager to welcome the New Year with a bang, we’ve selected some of our favourite canapés and fizz options, our winter buffet must-haves and even got you covered for the post party clean up here: winter seasonal produce and events.
Our Speciality Desserts Belgian chocolate fondant 25999 is an absolute treat to finish New Year’s Eve with a bang. A soft, moist sponge hides a gooey dark chocolate centre, creating a luxurious and indulgent dessert that offers a decadent finish to a meal. A perfect, warming dessert for winter, simply remove from the freezer and quickly heat to order. Pair it perfectly with a scoop of ice cream to finish off the dish.
Veganuary – 1st to 31st January
Veganuary, which encourages people to adopt a vegan diet for the month of January, has gained global traction in recent years as more consumers become interested in plant-based eating for health, environmental, and ethical reasons. By aligning your business with this movement, you not only cater to a dedicated vegan audience but also appeal to flexitarians and health-conscious diners who are eager to explore more plant-based options.
If you’re in need of menu inspiration, we have a host of vegan recipes to help you this Veganuary.
Our favourite vegan product for the winter season is our vegan cauliflower cheese tart 19856. For those who love comfort food without the dairy, this vegan cauliflower cheese tart is a standout. Creamy and rich cauliflower cheese with vintage cheddar cheese in a tart casing.
The perfect plant-based centre of plate! Even better, it’s gluten-free, ensuring a delicious option for those with dietary restrictions. It is also frozen, with individual portions for ease of service. Simply serve alongside some roasted veg or steamed greens to balance the indulgent creamy cauliflower.
For support on catering for allergies, check out our allergen support page: Allergens.
Dry January – 1st to 31st January
Dry January® started in 2013 with 4,000 people. Now in it’s 11th year, it’s come a long way since then, with over 175,000 taking part in 2023. Retail value and volume sales of low and no alcohol drinks more than doubled over 2019-24*, showing a high demand of alternative beverages from consumers.
Dry January is the perfect time to leverage this and ensure you have plenty of options for your customers. 19872 Artis Merlot 0% is a great wine alternative, while 19819 Guinness micro draught 0% is a popular choice amongst customers alongside 19230 Seedlip Grove for the spirit lovers.
Top tip: To classify as alcohol free the product has to be less than 0.05%, whereas low alcohol beer is 1.2% and below.
Find more advice on how to make your Dry January exciting in our previous blog: How to make your dry January offering exciting.
Chinese New Year – 29th January
2025’s Chinese New Year is the year of the Snake, according to the Chinese Zodiac, and it’s a fantastic opportunity to bring the flavours and traditions of this rich cultural celebration to your menu. Known for its emphasis on family gatherings and feasting, this event can inspire a range of offerings, from themed buffets to creative à la carte dishes.
Here is our simple to follow chicken chow mein recipe:
- Peel and slice shallots, chop the garlic and grate the ginger.
- Blanch the noodles and refresh in cold water, then drain and chill.
- Slice the chicken and marinade in the sherry, soy sauce, sugar and store until needed.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan and add the chicken, cook for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through.
- Add the ginger and garlic and cook for a further 3-4 minutes.
- Add the vegetables and noodles. Turn the heat up high to finish cooking and add sliced spring onions and toasted cashews ready to serve.
Find full list of ingredients and measurements here.
Valentine’s Day – 14th February
As a day centered on love, indulgence, and special experiences, many couples seek out memorable dining options to celebrate. With couples willing to spend more on this special occasion, it’s an excellent opportunity to increase average spend per customer. Offering price fixed menus, exclusive wine pairings, or decadent desserts can help you maximize revenue, as guests are often in the mood to indulge.
Take the opportunity to offer your customers luxury menu choices such as 19620 goats cheese, caramelised onion and truffle oil arancini, 80602 Rockport scallops or 15461 Chantilly Patisserie raspberry and elderflower cone for dessert.
Or why not try short rib beef bourguignon 41555 – a true winter classic, beef bourguignon is synonymous with comfort. This dish takes tender beef rib steak and slow-cooks it in a red wine gravy, complemented by smoked bacon and silver skin onions. It’s a luxurious meal that embodies rich, comforting home-style cooking with the convenience of a simple cook from frozen individual portion.
It pairs perfectly with creamy mashed potato or polenta to soak up the flavours of the red wine gravy and seasonal veg you are using across your menu.
To find out even more about the winter food and drink industry events happening over the new few months, or to explore our full seasonal winter range, click here: winter seasonal produce and events.
*Mintel low & no alcohol drink report 2024
