Stocking up for Christmas: It's never too early

Arriving for lunch in a company's offices in the height of summer, you don't expect the room to be kitted out top to bottom in Christmas decorations and talk around the table to be all about the festive season.

But, then again, this was Brakes' offices and the event was the launch of its Christmas product range - an occasion scheduled so far in advance in a bid to give the trade time to prepare for a sales period that seemingly becomes ever more important each year.As you'd expect Brakes has a gigantic stockingful of first time products for Christmas 2007.

Starters and buffets​

"We were very keen to have a home-made look, and were also very conscious of salt content," says Brakes development chef Neil Smith, when introducing the new starters. He adds that Brakes has made a move away from specifically seasonal dishes to many of its products being more versatile. This is clear with many of the new foods sampled at the launch.

New for this year is a foie gras and duck liver paté, chargrilled vegetable terrine, sausage and cranberry buffet bites and a range of ready-to-bake pastry products. Brakes' turkey and cranberry filling, designed for sandwiches or jacket potatoes, has improved on last year's version by using larger slices of turkey breast and reduced mayonnaise.

"It's great to introduce adventurous stuff to people when they're in that mood for trading up at Christmas," says Neil. Hence the new tempura battered pineapple cut chilli squid.

Turkey​

Brakes has simplified the packaging of its turkeys for this Christmas. "Last year, we had netted products which caterers found fiddly and often tore off the skin," says Neil. "That's why we have made them just tied."

He recommends serving a mixture of darker and lighter coloured meats, something made easier by the range of cuts available by Brakes. It has added three new turkey products, all designed for ease of preparation and portion control.

The new free range Norfolk Black turkey breast and thigh combi pack carries the meat industry's quality assurance benchmark the British Quality Turkey Mark, and targets growing consumer interest in provenance. Boneless turkey thighs can be served with breast lobes, crowns or butterflies to vary the ratio of brown and white meat. Lastly, turkey tournedos comprise individual turkey medallions topped with pork, apricot and cranberry stuffing, wrapped in bacon.

Desserts​

New products following the main course include 'big eats' for this more indulgent time of year and "a spicy winter-warming alternative to Christmas pud," according to Neil. Chocaberry pie falls within the first category, date and orange pudding into the second.

Licensees can also offer customers Brakes' orange and amaretti truffle torte for the first time - and a new vanilla strawberry and chocolate ice-cream log has been launched with children in mind.

Party time​

A selection of napkins, tablecovers, crackers, balloons and hats are organised into five ranges designed to match different budgets. The Christmas Season napkins and crackers are an entry-level option, while at the top end of the scale, the Jewel range is priced at £1.20 per setting.