With the festive season now upon us, we explore the regulations affecting the supply chain of a festive favourite - the Christmas hamper. 

Every year food supply chains are affected by a number of factors. The weather, regulations, world events and consumer demand all define what ends up on supermarket shelves and for how long. 

The Christmas period is one of those times when demand peaks putting extra pressure on the food supply chain. Consumers are more adventurous with their spending and products can go viral leading to a bump in sales. This leaves retailers having to deliver the basics that consumers need as well as the luxuries that they want.  

On top of all this, retailers also have to consider the regulations that affect their access to these products. So, to understand just how these impact the supply chain as well, we’ve tracked back some of the items, from seasonal standards like the trusty Christmas pudding to indulgent extras like Cognac truffles, that while not in baskets all year round, come together in Christmas hampers to make consumers smile.  

Here’s a breakdown of the regulations that retailers need to consider when procuring these items: 

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Assessing the contents, it’s immediately clear that everything in the hamper is liable to some sort of regulation. 

HFSS – the UK’s high fat, sugar and salt legislation – affects many of the hamper's sweet treats like the festive mince pie. In fact, attention in this area has led to some manufacturers tweaking their traditional recipes to comply.  

EUDR – the EU’s controversial Deforestation Regulation – scrutinises the origins of ingredients including palm oil, cocoa, coffee and soya, many of which would be ingredients used in the hamper's goodies. 

The US FSMA 204 rule requires additional recordkeeping to protect public health across a number of foods. This include soft cheeses, such as Brie, Camembert and Goats Cheese, which all feature on dining tables at Christmas. 

Also worth considering are the protected geographical indicators (PGIs) and regional governing bodies, which also affect the quality of hamper’s contents. This is to ensure that quality products, such as Champagne and Cognac, that are targeted by fraudsters, meet the correct criteria and maintain the high standards associated with the product name.

Finally there are factors that while not regulations still impact the supply chain journey of the hamper’s products. Animal welfare benchmarks will play a role in the production of items like the duck liver pate, extreme weather can reduce the availability of crops such as almonds and tea, and correct allergen labelling will ensure consumer safety for products such as the cranberry sauce and the mixed nuts.  

We dig deeper into how changing regulations are shaping the food industry's traceability journey in our report on the subject. Download your copy to get all the insights.