Aldi rolls out new Christmas hampers

Aldi has launched a range of luxury hampers for Christmas as it takes on the upmarket retailers Fortnum & Mason and Mark & Spencer, as well as boosting its range of premium drinks for Christmas.

The discounter has launched five limited edition hampers on its online site which are priced between £20 for a ‘chocolate lovers’ hamper, to £98 for a luxury hamper containing four wines, along with a selection of chocolates, biscuits and a Christmas pudding that the retailer says have been made by specialist producers and British artisan suppliers. The hampers clock in around £150 cheaper than those of some of its rivals, it claims.

Tony Baines, joint managing director of corporate buying at Aldi, said the retailer “refused to be beaten on price”.

Wines included in its premium Exquisite Hamper (which comes in the same colour blue livery as Fortnum & Mason’s) include a Champagne Veuve Monsigny Blanc de Blanc 2007, a Burgundy from Jean Bouchard and two of its most recent Lot Series wines, a Priorat and Sauvignon Blanc. The Christmas Feast Hamper (RRP:  £87.98) includes Aldi’s Champagne Monsigny Brut, a Chablis Grand Cru 2012 from Andrew Vanner and a Peñusa Rioja Reserva, with three bottles also available in the Specially Selected Luxury Hamper, a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir as well as a Prosecco Superiore. The final two hampers come with Hawkes Bay wine from its Exquisite Collection, or a chocolate cream liqueur.

Speaking to db last month, wine buyer Mike James said gifting was a key focus for the retailer this Christmas across the wine aisles, as it boosted its range of classics and rolled out its latest limited edition lot series.

The retailer has also added Aldi’s Ducastaing 1975 Armagnac (RRP: £24.99), four premium gins including an ‘Old Tom’ style Gin Lane 1751 (RRP: £19.99), and Gin Mare (RRP” £27.99), and a selection of wines including the Andre Vannier Chablis Grand Cru 2012 and Veuve Monsigny Blanc de Blanc Champagne (RRP: £19.99 each) which are included in the luxury hamper. It has also added a Domaine Vrignaud Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot, (RRP: £37.62), a Chateau Saint Pierre Grand Cru Classe 2011 (£19.99), and a vintage Maynard’s 40 Year Old Tawny Port (£29.99).