Britons are expected to consume a record amount of brandy sauces and luxury custards this Christmas, and major retailers and food processors are already gearing up to cope with the massive surge in demand.
Milk Link's Staplemead Creamery (as part of its joint venture with Arla Foods, Staplemead Dairy Products) has begun ramping up production, with festive alcohol sauce production rising by 105% since last year and Christmas custard production increasing 30%. The first 9,000 cases of Christmas sauces are due to leave the Staplemead site this week.
The Christmas party season also drives huge demand for fresh dips and Staplemead will double its production of ingredients for dips. In addition, production of soured cream, crème fraîche and soft cheese at the facility will be increased to up to 450 tonnes per week during December.
Shelagh Hancock of Milk Link Ingredient Services, said: "The last few years has seen a huge rise in demand for our luxury dairy products, such as the Finest* Brandy Sauce that we supply to Tesco, and this year is already looking like a record. Retailers have been placing larger and more varied orders and we have just had the first orders from Sainsbury's and Asda for our new Vanilla Liqueur."
Staplemead Creamery will be supplying Somerfield with Christmas sauces this year for the first time, in addition to the festive ranges being produced for Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco.
Tesco's order for Courvoisier Brandy Sauce is one of the largest and the retailer has also placed own label orders for Finest Remy Martin Sauce, Finest Navy Rum Sauce and Finest Chocolate Sauce – to be made with Channel Island cream. Asda has also put in orders for an 'Extra Special' Remy Martin Sauce and Harvey's Sherry Custard.
