DINNER WINNER
I tried Aldi’s quirky new Christmas range including fudge-flavoured cheese and a festive-twist on a shopper favourite
See inside the Christmas showcase in our video above
IT'S never too early to think about Christmas - especially if you're a supermarket like Aldi that's gearing up for the festive season.
On Tuesday, the retailer gave journalists a sneak peek into what shoppers can buy this year.
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Everything from classic turkey, to mince pies, party picky bits and kids' toys were on display.
Christmas is big business for supermarkets. There is an annual scrum from retailers to attract customers to spend in their stores.
Shoppers usually spend more around Christmas, which makes it a key time for shops to win the weekly shop battle.
Despite grocery inflation soaring, last December saw the highest level of transactions in supermarkets since 2019.
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This year, Aldi is keen to impress upon me how half of its Christmas food range is made up of "premium" lines.
QUIRKY MENU ITEMS
Some of the standout items include Specially Selected Wagyu Tomahawk steak, which costs £24.99 per kilo and on sale from December 19.
As well as the traditional 1.8kilo Specially Selected Slow Cooked Turkey Crown landing in stores from the same date.
However, it was some of the more quirkier items that caught my eye.
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First up, I checked out the party food range, which can all be cooked 180 degrees Celsius - making it easy if you host a Christmas party.
Two products from the range really stood out for me.
ALDI BARGAIN BUYS
First, was the new 377g Specially Selected Sweet Caramelised Biscuit and Cinnamon Tear and Share Bread which is on sale from December 6 for £2.99, and tasted much like the popular Biscoff biscuit.
I'm a massive fan of Biscoff so this went down a treat.
Second, was the new Specially Selected Breaded Chicken Doughnuts (£3.49, 330g).
The bites are a combination of batter, chicken, waffle sprinkles and a BBQ sauce and available from December 6.
The bites were far too sweet and dense for, but if you're someone who loves anything BBQ you're bound to love them.
MERRY CHESSEMAS
Next, I headed to the cheese section to see what was on offer.
I'm always one to whack out the cheese board at Christmas so was keen to see what Aldi would have in store - and I was certainly was not let down.
The Specially Selected Bombay Spiced Red Leicester is making a return from November 27 after stellar sales last year, for £2.49 per 200g.
But it was three new flavours that really caught my attention: Specially Selected Wensleydale with West Country Fudge, Specially Selected Coastal Cheddar with Wasabi and Ginger and Specially Selected Coastal Cheddar with Pineapple.
All three new flavours are available to buy from November 27 and will be on sale for £2.49 for 200g.
I got to try all three of the new flavours as well as the returning Bombay cheddar.
And while the Bombay cheddar was just the right amount of spice and the Wasabi and Ginger cheddar was surprisingly fragrant and moreish, the other two didn't take my fancy.
If you're a fan of a digestive biscuit with your cheese at Christmas, the fudge Wensleydale might just be your bag though.
Two standout mince pies were the new Specially Selected Maple & Pecan Mince Pies (£2.25, 4 pack) and savoury Specially Selected Ruby Port Fig and Cheese Puff Pastry Mince Pie (£2.59, 4 pack), both available to buy from November 1.
The Maple and Pecan mince pies, which don't come with any mincemeat inside, tasted just like Werther's Originals and were a hit of pure nostalgia.
The Ruby, Port and Fig mince pie wasn't quite to my taste though but may be for someone who likes a sweet and savoury combo.
CUTHBERT'S TIME TO SHINE
Some classic characters are on show this year, with a new Kevin the Carrot toy cake that will be popular with shoppers.
Aldi is also selling a range of Bluey toys including a plush toy for £12.99 which is hitting shelves on November 28.
But the main event this year is Cuthbert, with a new Christmas-themed cake based on the iconic character set to go on sale.
It is the first time the popular caterpillar character has featured on the Christmas range.
We have asked Aldi how much the cake will cost and when it will go on sale and will update this story when we've heard back.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Christmas is a time of indulgence and magic - and this year's Aldi certainty haven't held back.
Aldi is not the first retailer to launch a Christmas showcase this year - our reporters have already been to Sainsbury's, M&S' and Tesco's.
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How to save money on your food shop
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes - plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury's also sells £2 "Taste Me, Don't Waste Me" fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps - food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go's app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains - yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.
Super cheap bargains - sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they've found on the cheap, including food finds.
"Downshift" - you will almost always save money going for a supermarket's own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as "downshifting" and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
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