With Christmas Fast Approaching, Agility And Craftsmanship Matter More Than Ever
With Christmas Fast Approaching, Agility And Craftsmanship Matter More Than Ever
By Carol Oldbury, CEO, Hames Chocolates
With Christmas now just a few short weeks away, this year’s festive season feels more critical than ever for confectionery businesses. The industry has weathered another challenging period, ongoing cost pressures, cautious consumer spending and a retail landscape that continues to shift rapidly. For manufacturers, these final weeks are not only commercially significant but pivotal to how the year will ultimately close.
Despite the pressures, the run up to Christmas remains a moment when consumers seek small treats, meaningful gifts and those little indulgences that elevate the season. For Hames Chocolates, this period consistently plays a defining role in our yearly performance, and this year is no exception.
Quality Still Drives Last Minute Purchasing
One of the most encouraging trends we continue to see, even this close to Christmas, is the strong appetite for high quality, beautifully crafted confectionery. Consumers may be more cautious, but they still want products that feel special without being out of reach.
Our 2025 festive collection was built with this in mind: indulgent flavours, value led gifting formats and responsible cocoa sourcing, all designed to meet the expectations of today’s consumers and support retailers through this crucial peak.
These Final Weeks Demand True Agility
With only 2–3 weeks remaining, agility becomes the defining advantage. This is the moment when retailers need responsive partners, manufacturers able to flex production, accelerate turnaround times and support tailored ranges as sales patterns unfold.
This period is a powerful reminder that flexibility, rapid NPD, responsible production and collaborative planning aren’t just seasonal needs; they are the foundations of future-proofing the confectionery category.
In these final weeks before Christmas, we have the opportunity to:
- Reinforce trust with our retail partners
- Demonstrate reliability and consistent quality
- Respond quickly to shifting demand
- Set the stage for a stronger and more resilient year ahead
A Season of Opportunity, Even Under Pressure
As we enter the final stretch, I’m immensely proud of how our teams and the wider industry as we all continue to deliver excellence under pressure. The businesses that can combine craftsmanship with agility will be the ones leading the sector forward.
Christmas may be close, but the opportunities it brings remain significant. At Hames Chocolates, we’re ready for the final push and confident in what these last few weeks can deliver.