𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Marks & Spencer has enjoyed the most success in an annual Christmas supermarket taste test while Morrisons took first place in three coveted categories.

M&S was ranked the best in six out of the Good Food test’s 17 categories, including joint best turkey crown, best gammon and best Christmas pudding.

Judges described the £50 M&S Oakham hot maple-glazed turkey crown as having a “sticky, peppery hot maple glaze and stuffing packed with fruit”, while joint winner Sainsbury’s impressed the panel with its “showstopper” Taste the Difference British free-range bronze turkey crown with pork, apricot, pear, cranberry & candied ginger stuffing costing £22.75 per kg.

M&S also won the award for best Christmas pudding with its Collection 12-month matured version with pecans & panettone, costing £16 and described as “delicious” with “plenty of fruit and large chunks of nuts”.

Morrisons secured five wins overall including best showstopper dessert, best classic and best flavoured mince pie for its Cherry Bakewell version, with the former featuring “soft, buttery pastry” and filling that was “juicy and citrussy, with strong orange flavour”.

Tesco won best pigs in blankets while Lidl took the award for best trifle, and Aldi jointly triumphed with M&S for best smoked salmon.

Judges described Aldi’s Specially Selected salt-aged Himalayan smoked salmon, costing £3.99, as “a great example of a classic smoked salmon”, while the £6 M&S Collection cherry & chestnut wood smoked salmon impressed with its “rich flavour and attractive darker colour from the cherry and chestnut wood smoke”.

Aside from being named joint winner of the best turkey, Sainsbury’s also scooped best biscuit tin.

Some 13 supermarkets entered a combined 185 of their best Christmas products across 17 categories to be blind tasted by a panel of Good Food-appointed judges.

Good Food managing editor Lulu Grimes said: “This year’s Christmas Supermarket Taste Test shows you can have a brilliant festive spread without breaking the bank.

“The supermarkets offer showstopping mains and nostalgic puddings, saving time in the kitchen so you can focus on adding flair to your family favourite Christmas recipes and creating your own precious food memories.”

Cassie Best, head of food at Good Food, said: “Our Christmas starts in August when we taste all the hundreds of products submitted, and from then anticipation builds as to who will make the winners’ list.

“There was serious competition this year between the 13 supermarkets who entered as they all feature a fabulous range of festive food.

“We’re confident that our final list of winners showcases the best that the supermarkets have to offer this season. Combining supermarket buys with home-made dishes from our Good Food thoroughly tested Christmas recipes means everyone can enjoy a spectacular and affordable Christmas feast.”