What you need for a Culinary Christmas Market

A Culinary Christmas Market needs more than festive food and decorations. You need enough serving ware for busy periods, insulated equipment to keep soups and sauces hot, and practical storage for prepared ingredients. This shopping list covers the core items for stalls, food preparation, drinks, payments and power. Use your registration numbers and dietary requirements to adjust food quantities before you place the grocery order.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 4
Market stallsqty 8
Tablesqty 14
Chairsqty 60
High tablesqty 8
Tableclothsqty 14

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 150
Reusable bowlsqty 100
Reusable glassesqty 150
Coffee cupsqty 100
Knivesqty 150
Forksqty 150
Spoonsqty 150
Serving spoonsqty 20

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 8
Chef's knivesqty 8
Mixing bowlsqty 10
Lidded containersqty 20
Serving plattersqty 20
Food warmersqty 8
Thermos flasksqty 8
Coolersqty 6
Food thermometersqty 3

Equipment

Hot platesqty 6
Soup kettlesqty 4
Coffee machinesqty 3
Kettlesqty 3
Extension cordsqty 8
Power stripsqty 6
Card machinesqty 2

Lighting

String lightsqty 12
LED lampsqty 16

Decorations

Christmas treesqty 3
Christmas baublesqty 60
Christmas garlandsqty 8
Christmas wreathsqty 4
Christmas table runnersqty 14
Menu signsqty 12
Directional signsqty 8
Allergen boardqty 2
Name badgesqty 30

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 12
Waste binsqty 4
Mopsqty 4
Bucketsqty 4
Broom setsqty 3
Hand soap dispensersqty 3
Kitchen glovesqty 6
Apronsqty 20

Catering

Groceries
- Potatoes - 15 kg
- Sweet potatoes - 5 kg
- Winter carrots - 6 kg
- Parsnips - 3 kg
- Celeriac - 3 pieces
- Pumpkin - 6 kg
- Leeks - 3 kg
- Onions - 5 kg
- Red onions - 2 kg
- Garlic - 8 bulbs
- Mushrooms - 4 kg
- Red cabbage - 4 kg
- Brussels Sprouts - 4 kg
- Apples - 5 kg
- Pears - 4 kg
- Cranberries - 2 kg
- Raisins - 1 kg
- Lemons - 3 kg
- Mandarins - 6 kg
- Fresh parsley - 10 bunches
- Fresh thyme - 8 bunches
- Fresh rosemary - 8 bunches
- Beef stew meat - 8 kg
- Chicken thighs - 6 kg
- Vegetarian meatballs - 5 kg
- Smoked salmon - 3 kg
- Bacon cubes - 2 kg
- Minced meat - 5 kg
- Eggs - 10 dozen
- Unsalted butter - 4 kg
- Whipped cream - 8 liters
- Milk - 15 liter
- Oat milk - 8 liters
- Cooking cream - 6 liters
- Crème fraîche - 3 kg
- Parmesan cheese - 2 kg
- Grated Cheese - 4 kg
- Brie - 3 kg
- Blue cheese - 1.5 kg
- Baguettes - 30 pieces
- Mini rolls - 200 pieces
- Puff pastry - 30 sheets
- Whole wheat bread - 10 loaves
- Flour - 5 kg
- Self-raising flour - 3 kg
- Granulated sugar - 4 kg
- Powdered sugar - 2 kg
- Brown sugar - 2 kg
- Honey - 2 kg
- Maple syrup - 1 liter
- Dark chocolate - 3 kg
- Cocoa powder - 1 kg
- Vanilla sugar - 20 sachets
- Gelatin - 100 grams
- Nut mix - 3 kg
- Sliced almonds - 1 kg
- Rosemary salt - 500 gram
- Salt - 2 kg
- Black pepper - 500 grams
- Nutmeg - 200 grams
- Cinnamon - 300 grams
- Cloves - 100 grams
- Star anise - 100 gram
- Paprika powder - 250 gram
- Curry powder - 250 grams
- Bay leaves - 100 gram
- Vegetable stock - 4 liters
- Beef broth - 4 liters
- Diced tomatoes - 12 cans
- Tomato paste - 8 cans
- Coconut milk - 8 cans
- Olive oil - 5 liters
- Sunflower oil - 5 liter
- Balsamic vinegar - 2 liters
- Red wine vinegar - 1 liter
- Mayonnaise - 3 liters
- Ketchup - 3 liters
- Mustard - 2 liters
- Garlic sauce - 2 liters
- Cranberry sauce - 2 liter
- Soy sauce - 1 liter
- Chili sauce - 1 liter
- Coffee - 6 packs
- Tea - 300 bags
- Hot chocolate - 15 liter
- Mulled wine - 25 liters
- Apple juice - 15 liters
- Orange juice - 15 liters
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Spa Blue - 10 crates
- Spa Rood - 4 crates
- Beer - 10 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 4 crates
- Ice cubes - 20 kg
- Coffee cream - 6 liters
- Sugar cubes - 3 kg
- Marshmallows - 2 kg
- Gingerbread - 150 pieces
- Christmas cookies - 250 pieces
- Paper napkins - 1000 pieces
- Baking paper - 4 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 100 pieces
- Hand soap - 6 dispensers
- Hand sanitizer - 6 bottles
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 12 pairs

Tips

Plan reusable plates, bowls and glasses for at least 1.5 times your expected peak number of guests, so clean items are available while used ones are collected. Add coffee cups separately if hot drinks are served.
For soup, sauces and other hot dishes, prepare enough capacity for the busiest service period rather than the full event at once. Keep one food thermometer per active preparation or serving area and check hot food at least every 2 hours.
Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one drink per person for each additional hour. Include extra coffee, tea and hot-water capacity because winter visitors often return for a second hot drink.
Count extension cords and power strips only after checking every stall’s outlet needs. Keep power cables away from walkways, and test hot plates, soup kettles, coffee machines and kettles before delivery day.
Buy lidded containers, coolers and serving platters before preparing vegetables, soups and sauces. Label containers with the dish, allergens and preparation date; leave at least 24 hours for receiving and checking supplier deliveries.

Frequently asked questions

How many plates and bowls do I need for a Christmas market?: Plan for 1.5 reusable plates and bowls per expected peak guest count. For 100 guests at the busiest point, that means about 150 plates and 150 bowls, with extra stock if washing-up is limited.
How much food should I buy for a Culinary Christmas Market?: Base the order on confirmed registrations, then add 10% for walk-ins and seconds. Split the calculation by dish and dietary requirement, and complete the final grocery order at least 3 to 5 days before the market.
How many drinks should I provide per person?: Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, followed by one drink per person for every additional hour. Add separate quantities for coffee, tea and other hot drinks rather than treating them as general beverages.
When should I prepare Christmas market food and sauces?: Sort non-perishables several days ahead, then wash and cut vegetables and prepare soups or sauces as close to service as food-safety rules allow. Check deliveries on arrival and label prepared containers with allergens and dates.

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