THE ALDI HAM BAG IS HERE: THE CHRISTMAS ACCESSORY EVERY HAM LOVER WILL WANT
Move over, designer totes, because the Aldi ham bag has officially arrived and it might just be the most Australian accessory of the year.
The budget supermarket has unveiled a limited-edition, handbag-style carrier shaped like a Christmas ham, and fans are already wondering how to get their hands on one.
It is called the Hammèz, and yes, the accent is very much part of the joke.
According to Retailbiz, the bag features premium leather finishes and takes its shape from a traditional leg of ham.
What is the Aldi ham bag?
There are actually two versions of the Aldi ham bag this year.
The first is the Hammèz, a luxe, oversized, leather-look creation, and only 150 of them have been made.
The second is the Classic Ham Bag, made from 100 per cent cotton, which is the practical cousin designed to store your ham and help keep it fresh in the fridge.
Aldi says it will give away 1,000 of the Classic Ham Bags, and personalisation will be on offer at its pop-up.
If you have ever wrestled a ham into a pillowcase or tea towel on Boxing Day, you will understand the appeal.
A cotton ham bag, dampened with a little water and vinegar, is an old-school trick many families swear by for keeping leftovers moist for days.
A boutique just for ham
In true fashion-house style, Aldi is also opening what it calls a Ham Bag Boutique.
Yahoo Lifestyle reports the pop-up will be at Parramatta Square in Sydney on November 19.
Shoppers can expect exclusive merchandise, and Aldi says there will be $10,000 worth of Aldi prizes up for grabs.
Aldi has not yet spelled out exactly how shoppers can secure one of the 150 Hammèz bags, so if you are keen, keep an eye on the Aldi Australia website and its social channels.
The Aldi ham bag joins the supermarket accessory wars
This is not the first time a supermarket has turned a humble grocery item into a fashion moment.
Woolworths recently released a roast chicken carrier inspired by the much-loved "bachelor's handbag" nickname for a hot chook.
Now Aldi has answered with a ham-shaped rival, and social media is unlikely to let the friendly competition go unnoticed.
An Aldi spokesperson described the ham as the "undisputed centrepiece" of Christmas.
When Aldi's Christmas hams arrive
Aldi's Christmas ham range arrives in stores on November 18.
Prices listed by Yahoo Lifestyle start at $11.99 a kilo for a beechwood-smoked quarter leg ham portion, cured with sea salt and honey.
Other options include a triple smoked boneless portion ham listed at $13.99, a crackling ham at $19.99 and a free range boneless ham at $21.99.
There is also a Glaze and Bake ham, a loin with a plum and Australian honey glaze, listed at $22.99.
Two further hams, including half leg options, are due in store on November 25.
Belinda Grice, Aldi Australia's group director of Seasonal and Special Buys, said customers could put on an exceptional Christmas spread without paying exceptional prices.
Aldi is also forecasting that shoppers will save more than $304 million across the six weeks before Christmas.
Tips for buying and storing your Christmas ham
Check the weight against the number of guests, as a little ham goes a long way when there are plenty of salads and sides.
Keep your ham in the coldest part of the fridge, and store it in a ham bag or clean cotton cloth rather than plastic wrap.
Rinse and re-dampen the cloth every few days to help it stay fresh.
Finally, think ahead about leftovers, because ham fried rice, pea and ham soup and toasties are the real joy of the week after Christmas.
And if nothing else, the Aldi ham bag has given us all something to smile about while we write the Christmas shopping list.
