Gen Z and Millennials Are Shunning These Traditional Christmas Foods, Says Aldi

Don’t bring us some figgy pudding just yet, because all Gen Z and Millennials want for Christmas is something they can share on Instagram — like fried halloumi. According to a new survey by Aldi, Gen Z and Millennials are shunning traditional holiday foods in favor of something more “Instagram-worthy.” 

Aldi UK surveyed 2,000 people about their festive food preferences to find out if traditional Christmas foods still jingle shoppers’ bells. Over half of Millennials and Gen Z (54%) think classic holiday dishes need a modern twist, while 78% of Gen Z are ready to trade tired traditions for global-inspired feasts. 

Here’s the anti-wishlist from Aldi’s survey: 

1. Mince pies – 31% 
2. Christmas pudding – 29% 
3. Christmas cake – 25% 
4. Cranberry sauce – 25% 
5. Brussels sprouts – 24% 
6. Bread sauce – 22% 
7. Chestnuts – 21% 
8. Brandy butter – 20% 
9. Turkey – 20% 
10. Trifle – 19% 

Not quite. Aldi still expects to sell over 2.3 million Christmas puddings this year, with single-serve options flying off the shelves. Apparently, some holiday classics are too iconic to cancel. 

Move over, turkey. Gen Z’s ideal Christmas dinner includes American-style loaded fries (29%), African-inspired dishes (26%), and Chinese takeout favorites (20%). Dessert? Cheesecake (33%), chocolate gateau (29%), and ice cream (25%) are the new festive frontrunners. 

Aldi UK recently launched a Christmas Pudding Exchange Service where shoppers can dump any unwanted pudding (even if it’s from another store) at Community Donation Points in-store and get a $12 voucher to splurge on something else. 

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