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Frito-Lay spot / Rethink
Welcome to The Drum’s Christmas campaign round-up for 2023. Here, you’ll be able to watch and review all the best ads from around the world
The festive season is here once again, and, similar to last year, brands are getting their seasonal spots out early. They are all competing for attention in unique ways, be it pulling on the heartstrings or making viewers laugh.
Among the ads, you will see a few famous faces, including notorious Christmas crooner Michael Bublé in the latest Asda teaser. We’re sure he won’t be the only celebrity in this year’s offerings.
Plus, John Lewis has drummed up more excitement than ever this year as Saatchi & Saatchi prepares its debut ad for the retailer. After a partnership of 14 years, the shop parted ways with creative agency Adam&EveDDB at the start of this year.
We’ll have all the best ads right here for you. Here’s what brands have released so far.
Christmas in Japan is a little different from other parts of the world. The holiday is a romantic one, with a huge focus on love.
For its festive campaign, condom brand Skyn is giving a whole new meaning to the term ‘blind date’.
Father Christmas isn’t shy about showing his disappointment at being left cookies time after time in this festive spot from Frito-Lay. In fact, the usually jolly gift-giver is so sick of the sweet treats he even has a disturbing nightmare about them.
Aldi France has released a touching new tale that features a super sleek modern-day Father Christmas who has decided to be proactive this festive season and deliver gifts to people around the world a day early.
Comedian Katherine Ryan dressed as a traditional Christmas pudding in this fun spot for TV streaming service Now.
Royal Mail marked its busy Christmas period with a poetic ad that celebrates the hardworking people who deliver our parcels all year long, but especially during the cold and hectic Winter months.
With many brands leaning into humor this festive period, Apple took an entirely different direction and pulled on heartstrings with its holiday ad.
After almost 10 years away from shelves, confectionary brand Cadbury is bringing back its chocolate coins right in time for the festive period.
To mark the occasion, the Mondalez-owned company and its ad agency VCCP released a fully integrated ad campaign that includes a special out-of-home (OOH) build in Leeds.
Supermarket chain Tesco set BBH an objective to ‘Become More Christmas’ this year. The key insight driving that was that, for many people, the festive feels go way beyond the big day itself. Read our interview with BBH’s deputy executive creative director Felipe Serradourada Guimaraes.
A retro-inspired ad for pet treat brand Temptations leans into nostalgia for cheesy holiday specials from the 1970s, replete with schmaltzy holiday songs, tacky decorations and glitzy outfits.
Ikea Canada has taken more of an honest approach to its holiday spot this year. For many people, this time of year can feel a little busy and overwhelming, meaning that taking five minutes to recharge their social batteries is a must.
KFC has claimed that contrary to popular belief, sometimes the customer isn’t always right. This is especially true when it comes to its festive menu offerings. For years, customers have requested that the fast-food brand offer a turkey burger but the chicken shop wants to remind people that it is indeed a chicken chain.
Central Cee and Kano star in JD Sports ad celebrating youth culture. The festive spot celebrates over 25 years of the retailer's iconic duffle bag. Read our interview with agency about the making of this spot.
Walkers is leaning into the tricky Christmas moments that many people will relate to, from scrapping over the last tree to arguing over the games controller and having to fit one too many people on the sofa.
The premise of the ad is that Walkers are one of the few things actually made for sharing at Christmas.
Jane Horrocks voices Tessa the Turkey in this Peta festive spot that calls for a new Christmas tradition – one that excludes the killing of turkeys.
The hotly anticipated first John Lewis Christmas ad from Saatchi & Saatchi is finally here. After months of speculation, the brand has revealed its new approach to festive marketing that centers around traditions.
Retailer Muji has revealed its festive animated ad created by artist Jenny Wright, which features products such as tin candles, notebooks, bedlinen, Christmas ornaments and its aroma diffuser.
Lovehoney has launched its inaugural Christmas TV ad that uses real customer experiences to showcase the joy of giving or receiving a Lovehoney Christmas present.
Amazon has used a heart-warming cover version of The Beatles track In My Life for its holiday campaign.
Heathrow has launched its festive campaign with a message that the most special festive memories are those made with loved ones - and often when departing or arriving at an airport.
Asda has followed up its widely successful Buddy the Elf spot from last year with another festive hit starring Canadian crooner Michael Buble. Read our interview with the brand and its agency here.
This year's Boots ad tells the story of a young girl and her mum making a journey to the North Pole to show Santa how much they appreciate him by giving him a gift.
Armed with a Boots shopping bag filled with gifts, the pair embark on an epic journey together, from the local high street to the snow-capped landscapes of the North Pole.
Vodafone launched its new festive ad campaign, focused on the importance of connecting to the people and things that matter most this Christmas.
Coke leaned on its heritage this year to create Santa-laden ad
We caught up with it's global head of creative strategy to hear how the soda brand thinks there’s a little Father Christmas in all of us. Read the interview here.
Hosts and their oven gloves are the unsung heroes of Christmas. Morrisons’ Christmas ad celebrates their hard work in a humble spot that tries not to 'glamorize’ Christmas. Read our interview with the creative team here.
Supermarket chain Lidl wants to remind people of the small gestures that can make a huge difference this Winter.
TK Maxx has unveiled its Christmas ad and things have gotten fashionable, fun, feathery and furry. There's also the return of last year's 'lil' goat'.
Waitrose is to inject more humor and fun into its advertising in the coming year and has used its Christmas advert as a springboard for this new creative direction.
The spot takes place at a fun, kid-free festive party and has a cameo from Eurovision host Grahame Norton.
Sports Direct is the latest brand to release its Christmas ad and, similar to last year, there’s a whole host of recognizable faces making an appearance, but it’s the positive message behind the campaign that the Fraser Group-owned brand wants people to remember. Read our interview with its chief marketing officer here.
In the UK, figures show that 131,000 children are in temporary accommodation this Christmas - an increase of 10,000 since last year.
To highlight this, housing and homelessness charity Shelter has released a poignant festive ad that brings these numbers to life.
M&S has taken a star-studded approach for its 2023 Christmas campaign, tapping Queer Eye’s Tan France, actors Hannah Waddingham and Zawe Ashton, plus singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Supermarket chain Asda released a snippet of its Christmas ad during ITV’s Good Morning Britain.
Toys Connie and Trevor have returned to screens this Christmas in Argos’s festive campaign.
In the spot, Connie puts on an epic show, strutting past toys as she struggles to contain her excitement in anticipation of the big day.
This short spot for Dobbies features multiple vignettes of people finding their ‘Christmust’ at the garden center chain, highlighting the incredible feeling that finding that specific thing gives you.
Primark is hoping to position itself as the destination for early bird shoppers just as much as last-minute dashers.
Etsy’s holiday campaign harnesses the insight that the best gifts come from personal observations – maybe even a bit of sleuthing – about the people you’re buying for.
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Digital department store Freemans launched its Christmas ad earlier than any full festive campaign in its 118-year history.
For the first time, out-of-home activity will be trialed regionally, as well as extensive digital campaign amplification through all owned channels and significant investment in paid channels, including YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.
Directed by British Bafta-winning director Tom Green, Peroni's Christmas offering follows Nino as he shovels a pathway through the snow in his hometown Torino, which allows the community to join him for a beer.
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Not On The High Street rolled out billboards highlighting the landfill issue caused by bad Christmas gifting.
Homesense’s Christmas campaign capitalizes on its famous sibling brand, TK Maxx, to bring in shoppers this festive period.
