Woolworths unveils 2026 Christmas food range and $100 festive feast as Australian shoppers budget early

Almost half of shoppers are already budgeting for Christmas as cost-conscious Australians plan earlier to spread festive spending over several weeks.

New Woolworths data shows 45 per cent of shoppers are actively budgeting and planning for Christmas earlier than usual, with younger families leading the trend.

The new figures come as the supermarket giant launches its 2026 festive range of nearly 500 products – including more than 120 food items, as it pitches a three-course Christmas spread starting at $100.

Woolworths Retail managing director Annette Karantoni said value was driving customers to prepare earlier.

“I think they’re planning earlier. I think they’re being smart, they’re being really savvy in the way that they shop, and I think it’s really driven by value,” Ms Karantoni told NewsWire.

She said shoppers were increasingly planning purchases over the weeks before Christmas rather than leaving their spending until the last minute.

“Forty-five per cent of shoppers are actively budgeting and planning for Christmas earlier than they normally would to get ready and spread that cost out over the next few weeks,” she said.

Long-life puddings and fruit cakes have been available since August, while fruit mince tarts are also already in stores, allowing shoppers to buy festive food progressively.

More than 1000 everyday products are also on the supermarket’s Lower Shelf Price program, which Woolworths says has reduced their prices by an average 16 per cent compared with previous shelf prices.

Ms Karantoni said customers were using shopping lists, buying own-brand products and saving Everyday Rewards dollars as different ways of managing Christmas budgets.

“They’re really savvy. They shop our stores really well, but they also use some of the tools that we provide that actually just make that even easier,” she said.

Convenience is another focus of the range, including slow-cooked meat products requiring relatively little preparation at home.

Among the new offerings is Woolworths Gold Porchetta with Cider Gravy, while the premium Gold range also includes a bacon-wrapped turducken and bacon-wrapped turkey breast stuffed with brie, thyme and apple cider glaze.

Ms Karantoni said the porchetta was designed to make Christmas lunch easier, requiring about 45 minutes in the oven at home after being slow cooked before sale.

“I think people will be looking for things that make Christmas easier,” she said.

Apple is expected to be one of the dominant flavours this Christmas, appearing across products including cider-glazed meats and an apple brandy fruit mince pie.

Black Forest flavours are also making a comeback, while espresso is appearing in chocolate desserts.

Woolworths has also expanded its gluten-free Christmas offering after the response to a recently launched gluten-free mud cake.

Ms Karantoni said nine new gluten-free products would be included in the Christmas range.

“We learnt very quickly that customers are really leaning towards products that are gluten-free,” she said.

Fresh Australian produce is expected to remain a major part of Christmas tables, with mangoes and cherries coming into season and prawns expected to again prove popular closer to December 25.

Fourteen varieties of ham will begin arriving in stores from October 22, with Woolworths expecting more than 1.2 million hams to make their way onto Australian tables over the festive season.

Ms Karantoni said the Christmas range took more than a year to develop, with the supermarket examining customer feedback and international food trends before testing products and flavours.

“It really does take us quite a long time and there’s a whole team of people that are dedicated to bringing that to life for customers,” she said.