THE $8 CHRISTMAS HAM IS BACK: COLES AND WOOLWORTHS GO HEAD TO HEAD
It might only be November, but the great Christmas ham battle has officially begun.
Coles hams hit stores and go online on Wednesday 4 November, and the headline price is one that will put a smile on any festive cook's face.
Like Woolworths, Coles is selling its classic half leg ham for just $8 a kilo, the same price as last year.
The $8 Christmas ham at Coles
The Coles Single Smoked Beechwood Half-Leg Ham is $8 a kilo, a price that hasn't changed since 2023.
The hams weigh about 5kg on average and serve up to 26 people, which works out to about $1.54 a serve, according to Food and Drink Business.
Coles says all its hams are made with 100 per cent Australian higher-welfare pork, and their use-by dates stretch past Christmas Day.
Karen O'Connor, Coles' general manager of meat, deli and seafood, called it "a simple way to feed a crowd at Christmas".
Going a little fancier
If you'd like to splash out, the Coles Beechwood Double Smoked Half-Leg Ham is $13 a kilo and won gold at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian Food Awards.
The Coles Finest Free-Range Triple Smoked Half-Leg Ham is $16 a kilo and took gold at the 2025 Royal Tasmanian Fine Food Awards.
New this year is the Coles Finest Spiral Ham with a Cherry and Orange Glaze at $25 a kilo, which comes partly pre-sliced and serves 12 or more.
Coles describes it as the first spiral ham of its kind in Australia, so it could be a handy option if carving isn't your strong suit.
What Woolworths is offering
Over at Woolworths, the Half Leg Ham is also $8 a kilo, its fourth Christmas in a row at that price.
Woolworths says that matches what it charged back in 2014, which is remarkable given how much grocery bills have climbed.
Its 14-variety ham range has been in stores since 22 October, according to the Woolworths Group newsroom.
A Whole Leg Ham is $7.50 a kilo, the Double Smoked Half Leg is $13 a kilo and the Gold Triple Smoked Free Range Half Leg is $15.50 a kilo.
For something different, there's an Apple Cider and Honey Glazed Ham at $29 a kilo.
Woolworths also has an 840g Glaze and Bake Leg Ham for $27.50, in Honey, Fig and Rosemary or Davidson Plum and Honey.
The supermarket expects to sell more than 650,000 half leg hams this season, so ham is clearly still the star of the Aussie Christmas table.
Not a ham fan?
Coles has a few festive shortcuts too, including a Finest Slow Cooked Free Range Turkey Crown for $55.
There's also a Finest Slow Cooked Beef Rib Rack Roast at $58 a kilo and a Finest Slow Cooked Pork Crackling Rib Roast at $28 a kilo.
The pork roast can be finished in the air fryer in about 20 to 25 minutes, which frees up your oven on the big day.
Smart tips for buying your Christmas ham
Buying early can take the pressure off, as long as you check the use-by date on the label before you pop it in the trolley.
Think about how many people you are feeding, as a 5kg half leg goes a very long way.
If you have a small household, a smaller glaze-and-bake ham may be better value than a big leg that ends up wasted.
Make room in the fridge early, and keep your ham wrapped in a clean ham bag or a tea towel soaked in water and a little vinegar, changing it every few days.
Leftover ham is brilliant in toasties, pasta, fried rice and pea and ham soup, so plan a few Boxing Day meals around it.
Where to shop
You can browse the ranges at Coles and Woolworths online, or pick up a ham in store.
With both supermarkets holding the line at $8 a kilo, it's one festive bill that won't blow the budget this year.
