Some 4.7 million workers are set to get a company Christmas box this year, 700,000 more than last year, according to KPMG research. The average cost of a Christmas box has gone up almost €2 to €33.60 – just under the tax free limit of €35.

However, the all or some of the contents of 1.5 million boxes were thrown away last year, with tins of chicken ragout and mugs with company logos among the least popular items.