It will come as no surprise that this month is full of Christmas goodies with a roundup of our favourite Christmas adverts. Our brand spotlight star is Coca Cola; who has again knocked it out of the park with their seasonal takeover across multiple channels.
Our Top 5 Christmas Ads
1st – John Lewis
John Lewis does it again, this ad captivates audiences with its relatable storyline and heartwarming ending, blending sentimentality with visually stunning scenes. Watch it here...
2nd – Aldi
Kevin is back with a merry sprinkling of charming humour, festive magic, and delightful storytelling. While the silly puns and whimsical touches make it a thoroughly enjoyable festive treat. Watch it here...
3rd – Waitrose
Waitrose nailed it this year with a tense and relatable take on family drama during the festive season. Featuring a great cast, the first part left us hanging! Who stole the pudding?! Watch it here...
edit: Part two has been released! Find out who the culprit is...
4th – Tesco
Tesco beautifully captures feelings of loss and the nostalgia of cherished family traditions in this years heartwarming ad. We especially love the gingerbread elements! Watch it here...
5th – Amazon
An uplifting tale of community festive spirit from Amazon this year, and some beautiful singing to boot! Watch it here...
Demonstrating best practice this Christmas!
Coca-Cola’s 2024 festive strategy masterfully blends nostalgia, digital innovation, and smart retail tactics to maximise its holiday impact. With a 'Shelf-Out' approach, the brand seamlessly integrates traditional holiday charm with modern engagement tools, ensuring a powerful connection with consumers throughout the season.
Unleash your inner Santa!
“Quite the campaign in how to own Christmas. Coke have been rolling out the same headline creative and activations for years… because it works. Big, bold, obvious and easy to buy!” – F&BM View
Summary
Coca-Cola’s 2024 Christmas campaign, “The World Needs More Santas,” celebrates kindness by encouraging everyone to embody their “inner Santa” through acts of goodwill. Blending nostalgia with modern AI innovations, it offers interactive experiences, weekly cash prizes, and shopping voucher giveaways via QR codes and the Coca-Cola app.
Create real (AI) Magic
"AI is everywhere these days but this offering from Coke (and Santa) is a little different and something that may well go viral! Typing or talking to Santa generates an animated snow globe featuring 3D elements from your conversation. A clever use of technology with speech to text, video avatar, AI/ LLM powered conversation and image & video generation. Coke are really pushing browser technology here with excellent results!” - F&BM View
Summary
Coca-Cola’s new AI-driven experience brings festive magic to life! By scanning the QR code on Christmas-themed products, consumers can visit an online experience where (with the help of generative AI) they can chat with Santa to create an animated snow globe based on their own Christmas memories which can be shared on social platforms.
Spreading magical Christmas moments!
"A brilliantly executed on-trade POS campaign that’s both eye-catching and memorable. Delivering a classic Coke bottle in a miniature truck adds a playful, nostalgic touch, reinforcing the brand’s iconic charm. It’s a clever way to engage customers and create a fun, lasting impression” – F&BM View
Summary
Coca-Cola’s POS Kits are back, bringing festive cheer to pubs and bars! Each kit includes a lit back-of-bar truck display, coasters, and table talkers to create a winter wonderland vibe. Pub operators can enter to win one of three £250 shopping vouchers by setting up their display and sharing a festive photo!
Holidays are coming
“As iconic as they come, the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck makes its highly anticipated return with a heartwarming theme. The campaign features lovely messaging and a meaningful charity tie-in, which will resonate deeply with shoppers and consumers alike, spreading joy and encouraging kindness throughout the holiday season!” – F&BM View
Summary
Coca-Cola’s iconic Christmas Truck returns with the theme The World Needs More Santas, spreading cheer and encouraging kindness. Every visitor triggers a meal donation to FareShare, aiming to provide up to one million meals. Enjoy festive games, a lucky dip for exclusive merch, and seasonal treats under the dazzling holiday lights!
A LIDL Christmas rivalry
“Move over Coca-Cola, Lidl is in town! We have all seen Lidl push the boundaries with suspiciously similar remakes of well-known supermarket brands, but it’s not holding back this Christmas! To be honest, I love how bold this is, it stirs up a bit of brand competition and puts Lidl as a leading disruptive retail store.” – F&BM View
Summary
If you thought it looked familiar, you wouldn’t be wrong! For the first time, Lidl’s own-label soda, Freeway, is rolling out its Christmas truck, across nine UK locations. Visitors can enjoy festive treats, giveaways, and a chance to find a £100 Golden Ticket. Plus, the Wish-mas booth and Secret Boxes activation promises holiday fun and prizes!!
Win with Lindt
“A 75th anniversary is a significant milestone deserving of an impactful, well-executed campaign. The in-store activation stands out through its strategic use of diverse techniques, creating a cohesive shopper experience. While the digital entry mechanism is consistent and well-crafted.” – F&BM View
Summary
Lindt & Sprüngli is celebrating 75 years of LINDOR with a nationwide competition featuring over £600,000 in prizes. One lucky winner will enjoy a luxury trip to Zurich, including an exclusive tour of the Lindt Home of Chocolate. It’s the perfect way to honor 75 years of smooth, indulgent chocolate bliss this festive season!
All aboard the Profit Express!
"A great piece of signposting within C&C, featuring themed carriages and can’t-miss offers. With the added bonus of modularity that allows brands to get ‘on board’ — sorry, couldn’t resist!" – F&BM View
Summary
Inspired by the Polar Express, this festive campaign delivers exclusive seasonal deals and captivating supplier displays. Featuring themed carriages, breathtaking visuals, and can’t-miss offers, The Profit Express is designed to support independent retailers during this crucial trading period — all while spreading unforgettable holiday cheer!
