Oink! Oink! Hampshire Is Going crazy For Pigs In Blankets

When it comes to Christmas trimmings, the people of Hampshire know what they want - and shoppers are certainly bringing home the bacon this year with record numbers of pigs in blankets being snapped up from farm shops in Wickham and Winchester.

The tasty Christmas classics - a farm-shop-made chipolata wrapped in locally-sourced bacon - have been ordered in record numbers by customers at Westlands Farm Shop’s two branches.

Staff at the two shops have been up to their elbows in sausages and bacon wrapping 4,800 sausages already this year.

With over 700 Christmas orders already placed and over a week still to go, the shop has reported that 481 packs of 10 pigs-in-blankets have been reserved for local Christmas dinners. Among this year's orders, 213 customers have chosen free-range turkeys from Portchester, putting the business on course to surpass 2024's total orders with several weeks still to go until the big day.

The numbers tell a bigger story about changing consumer values. Customers are increasingly prioritising transparency and traceability over convenience, choosing to know exactly where their food comes from and who has produced it. For many, the answer lies in supporting businesses where they can see the entire supply chain, from farm to table.

Operations Manager Harry King said:

"We're seeing more and more people wanting to know exactly where their Christmas dinner has come from. There's a real move towards conscious shopping and supporting local producers, especially this year."

The trend comes during what has been a particularly challenging year for British farmers, with many facing difficult conditions and economic pressures. By choosing local farm shops, customers are actively supporting regional jobs and keeping money within local supply chains.

"It's been a tough 12 months for farmers across the UK, so it's encouraging to see this level of support from our customers. They're buying local, and actively seeking out traceable, high-quality produce and asking questions about how it's been reared."

The farm shop expects to exceed last year's 800 orders, crediting the increase to customers prioritising transparency and supporting regional food networks.

For those yet to place their Christmas orders, Westlands Farm Shop is still taking bookings for the festive period.