Careers

Where Christmas Begins

At Sainsbury’s, Christmas isn’t just the “Big Day” when we’re all tucking into our tasty festive feasts – it’s years of partnership with incredible farmers and suppliers, in fields and factories across the UK where craft, care and community come together to develop quality produce for our customers.

In celebration of the thriving food culture we play our part in across the UK, we’ve launched “Where Christmas Begins” a series of short‑film, following Chef Ian Haste as he lifts the lid on the quality, heritage and hard work behind the nation's festive favourites. From sprouts and stilton to roast beef and root veg, each episode celebrates the people and long‑standing partnerships that help us deliver a brilliant Christmas for our customers.

Sprouts in East Lothian with Kettle Produce

Want to know how 100 million Brussels sprouts make it to our tables each Christmas? In our first short-film, Chef Ian Haste travels to East Lothian to meet three generations of the Logan family who are working in partnership with Sainsbury’s and Kettle Produce to get their sprouts onto Sainsbury’s shelves. In December alone they will harvest 180 acres of quality sprouts (that’s 90 football pitches) to make sure the nation's Christmas plates are piled high with this festive icon.

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Stilton in Leicestershire with Long Clawson Dairy

What does it take to make the perfect wedge of Stilton for your Christmas cheeseboard? Ian heads to Long Clawson - the co-operative that’s been crafting this festive favourite for Sainsbury’s since 1913 - to find out. With 2,500 wheels of DOP-certified Stilton being made every single day, the Dairy and cheesemakers work hard all year round to ensure the best tasting, consistent and high quality cheese end up on our festive plates. Made from milk sourced exclusively from farms in the three surrounding counties of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire, every wheel is a true taste of tradition. From the farms supplying the milk to the skilled cheesemakers shaping every wheel, quality is at the heart of every step.

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Beef in Wiltshire with ABP

What’s your favourite Christmas dinner centrepiece? In our third short-film Ian heads to Wiltshire to meet Alex Rawling - one of our trusted beef suppliers who works with ABP to help us get quality roasts on tables across the nation. Not only is Alex helping more people enjoy an alternative centrepiece this festive season, he’s also supporting Gamechanger beef farming - producing lower-carbon beef designed to reduce emissions by 25% while improving taste and farming sustainability.

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Carrots & Parsnips in Nottinghamshire with Strawson's

You can't forget the finishing touches to everyone's favourite Christmas dinner - the roast veg! In the final stop on our Christmas adventure, Ian headed to Strawson’s to meet the team delivering over 500 tonnes of carrots and parsnips every day to put the crunch in your Christmas lunch.  From adopting electric vehicles to planning next year’s crops, this partnership is all about care, innovation, and sustainability.

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This wraps up our journey across the UK - from sprouts in Scotland to Blue Stilton in Leicestershire, tender beef in Wiltshire and now the root veg that completes your plate. Thank you to the farmers, growers, and makers who help make Christmas magical. 

 

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