Christmas preparations have already started at the East of England Co-operative, where a gigantic winter spiced truffle walnut whirl is helping to highlight local produce on offer.
Made by Suffolk-based chocolatier Hadleigh Maid, the whirl weights 11.8kg, over 200 times more than a standard one. It has 6,300g of mixed spice and cinnamon truffle centre, 500g of white chocolate drizzle, 36 walnuts, and a festive golden sparkle.
Garry Spink, store manager of East of England Co-op’s store in Hadleigh, said: “As a supplier that is particularly local to our store, we were proud to receive Hadleigh Maid’s ginormous winter spiced truffle walnut whirl. I’m sure it tastes as incredible as it looks and it certainly got my colleagues and our customers into the festive spirit.”
A study by Evvnt predicts that adults across the East of England are likely to spend £417 on Christmas, which includes festive food shopping. The society is encouraging shoppers to support the local economy by exploring festive products from its Sourced Locally range.
Roger Grosvenor, joint chief executive at East of England, said: “Food plays an important role at Christmas, and by switching out one treat for a local alternative, customers can help to support our region’s producers.
“We have something for everyone, from Christmas essentials such as cranberry sauce and sausage meat, to sweet festive treats including mince pies and hazelnut praline. Whatever you choose, local produce is delicious and shopping local reduces our carbon footprint.”
Gavin Bowie, managing director of Hadleigh Maid, added: “The creation of the whirl was no mean feat, but as you can see our team of talented chocolatiers was up to the challenge. As a business we take a great deal of pride in our products and we are incredibly grateful for the support the East of England Co-op has given us over the years.”
