Coles Group boss Steven Cain expects shoppers will still splurge on items such as seafood, ham and Black Forest bombe puddings this holiday season and any major pull-back on spending will not occur until early next year.

Mr Cain told The Australian Financial Review Coles is catering for all budgets and expects “the best Christmas ever” as people travel to see family and get together with friends following a very tough period a year ago amid the pandemic when COVID-19 testing kits were like gold and PCR testing was needed for travel.