Don’t bring us some figgy pudding just yet, because all Gen Z and Millennials want for Christmas is something they can share on Instagram — like fried halloumi. According to a new survey by Aldi, Gen Z and Millennials are shunning traditional holiday foods in favor of something more “Instagram-worthy.”
Why Did Aldi Conduct This Study?
Aldi UK surveyed 2,000 people about their festive food preferences to find out if traditional Christmas foods still jingle shoppers’ bells. Over half of Millennials and Gen Z (54%) think classic holiday dishes need a modern twist, while 78% of Gen Z are ready to trade tired traditions for global-inspired feasts.
Which Christmas Foods Are on the Naughty List?
Here’s the anti-wishlist from Aldi’s survey:
- Mince pies – 31%
- Christmas pudding – 29%
- Christmas cake – 25%
- Cranberry sauce – 25%
- Brussels sprouts – 24%
- Bread sauce – 22%
- Chestnuts – 21%
- Brandy butter – 20%
- Turkey – 20%
- Trifle – 19%
Is Tradition Completely Toast?
Not quite. Aldi still expects to sell over 2.3 million Christmas puddings this year, with single-serve options flying off the shelves. Apparently, some holiday classics are too iconic to cancel.
What’s Hot on the Holiday Menu Now?
Move over, turkey. Gen Z’s ideal Christmas dinner includes American-style loaded fries (29%), African-inspired dishes (26%), and Chinese takeout favorites (20%). Dessert? Cheesecake (33%), chocolate gateau (29%), and ice cream (25%) are the new festive frontrunners.
What’s Aldi Doing About It?
Aldi UK recently launched a Christmas Pudding Exchange Service where shoppers can dump any unwanted pudding (even if it’s from another store) at Community Donation Points in-store and get a $12 voucher to splurge on something else.
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