First hot cross buns, now chocolate: Supermarkets begin stocking Easter eggs three MONTHS before the religious weekend begins
Shoppers have been left baffled after spotting Easter eggs on the shelves at Coles supermarkets three months early.
The supermarket giant began to stock the chocolate treats around the Christmas period, according to customers on social media.
'Good grief! My local Coles has Easter eggs on display,' one shopper tweeted alongside a picture of Cadbury creme eggs on December 22.
Another shopper wrote: 'Coles were selling Easter eggs three days before Christmas.'
The customer shared a picture of a half-eaten marshmallow egg with the tweet.
In Rockingham, WA, another shopper was left outraged after finding Darrell Lea Speckled Milk Chocolate Easter Eggs on Coles' shelves.
'Ridiculous, it's not even next year yet,' they told Perth Now.
Easter eggs are also available for purchase on the Coles website.
Coles defended their choice to stock Easter treats early and explained it meets 'customer demand'.
'As we have done for many years in response to customer demand, Coles has begun stocking some popular Easter treats early including our much-loved hot cross buns and a small selection of Easter eggs,' the spokesperson said.
'Over the next month, Coles customers will begin to spot more Easter favourites at great prices, including new flavours of hot cross buns and a wider range of Easter confectionery and merchandise.'
The supermarket giant seemingly signified the end of Christmas by stacking Easter hot cross buns on their shelves on Boxing Day.
'Didn't realise the year went so fast, or maybe I drank too much at Christmas,' one person wrote on the Coles Facebook page alongside a picture of the buns.
'Is it Easter already, Coles?'
In 2021 Easter Sunday will fall on April 4, more than three months away.
Another Coles customer said: 'Coles Coles Coles.. hot cross buns on Boxing Day. We haven't even celebrated New Year's. Yes we are all keen for 2020 to be over.'
Shoppers who visited Coles stores across the country on Boxing Day were shocked to find the Easter hot cross buns had been released ahead of the new year
Coles replied to the Facebook posts and explained they decided to stock the hot cross buns after listening to the wishes of customers.
The supermarket's Head of Bakery Operations Shaun Percy said: 'Early sales of hot cross buns last year tell us there's very strong demand to see the Easter treat on shelves as soon as possible.
'While we understand there may be different views on selling the Easter treat early, our bakers are constantly being asked by customers when they can get their hands on our delicious hot cross buns.
'We're always listening to our customers and this is about offering our customers the products that they want to see on shelves for longer and as soon as possible.'
Coles conducted a survey and found more than 53 per cent of hot cross bun eaters enjoyed munching on the snack outside of Easter time.
One shopper shared a picture of hot cross buns decorated with Christmas tinsel on Boxing Day
The 2020 Easter period saw the supermarket giant sell more than 66million buns, Coles said.
The Coles hot cross buns cost $3.50 a pack and are available in a number of flavours.
Coles sales data also revealed that South Australians ate the most hot cross buns per capita in December 2019, followed by shoppers in Western Australia and Queensland.