Marks & Spencer stood out as the top performer in the recent BBC Good Food Christmas dinner taste test. The supermarket claimed victory in six out of 17 categories, excelling in areas such as turkey crown, gammon, and Christmas pudding.

M&S’s Oakham hot maple-glazed turkey crown, priced at £50, impressed the judges with its sticky, peppery hot maple glaze and fruit-packed stuffing. It shared the top spot with Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference British free-range bronze turkey crown, which featured pork, apricot, pear, cranberry, and candied ginger stuffing at £22.75 per kg, lauded for its golden, glossy glaze and crispy bacon.

In addition to the turkey, Marks & Spencer also took home the title for the best Christmas pudding with its Collection 12-month matured version containing pecans and panettone, priced at £16. Described as delicious with plenty of fruit and large nut chunks.

Morrisons secured first place in three categories, including best showstopper dessert, best classic, and best flavored mince pie for its Cherry Bakewell version. Tesco claimed the title for best pigs in blankets, while Lidl won for best trifle, and Aldi tied with M&S for best smoked salmon. A total of 185 Christmas products across 17 categories underwent rigorous testing.

Lulu Grimes, the managing editor at Good Food, commented on the results, highlighting that consumers can enjoy a fantastic festive spread without overspending. She emphasized the supermarkets’ offerings of impressive mains and nostalgic desserts, allowing families to focus on enhancing their traditional Christmas recipes.

Cassie Best, head of food at Good Food, explained the extensive process behind selecting the winners, noting the fierce competition among the 13 participating supermarkets. The final list of winners was carefully curated to showcase the best holiday offerings available this season, complementing homemade dishes for a memorable and cost-effective Christmas feast.