Woolworths shopper outraged after spotting Easter eggs and hot cross buns already on supermarket shelves
Shoppers were stunned to discover Easter eggs and hot cross buns stocked in a major supermarket months before the April holidays.
A Woolworths shopper, who lives in Mosman on Sydney’s lower north coast, shared a photo of rows of Cadbury Easter bunnies on display in their local store so soon after Christmas.
“Give it a break,” the poster wrote.
The Woolworths store also sold dozens of packs of Cadbury Dairy Milk Easter eggs and bags of Turkish Delight Easter eggs.
‘Just one day after Christmas and voila – there are already hot cross buns on the shelves!’ someone wrote on social media.
Customers were quick to call out the supermarket giant for turning the once-sacred Christian holidays into year-round money-making opportunities.
Hot cross buns were spotted by eagle-eyed shoppers as early as Boxing Day.
“Ridiculous, at least let’s get Christmas over with first,” someone else wrote.
Dozens of Cadbury Easter bunnies are sold in Woolworths stores across Australia (pictured is the selection at a retailer in Mosman, on Sydney’s lower north shore)
Woolworths confirmed that hot cross buns are being sold in stores across Australia.
“When it comes to hot cross buns, Aussies love all the different types, both traditional and non-traditional, and that’s why we’ve brought a range to stores this year that offers something for everyone,” a spokesperson said. NCA Newswire.
Easter will be celebrated this year on Sunday, April 20, with the Easter long weekend in Australia starting on Good Friday, April 18.
Woolworths will introduce its new four-pack of ‘Cinnabon’ hot cross buns in March, with the buns containing a cream cheese filling and a cinnamon swirl.
The retailer introduced Caramilk flavored fairy bread and hot cross buns to stores last year, which were popular with shoppers.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Woolworths and Coles for further comment.
Woolworths announced earlier this month that it will stock Australia Day items this year, after the retailer was accused of scrapping the national celebration last year.
The retailer has revealed that all of its Woolworths and Big W stores will offer a special ‘Perfect for Australia Day’ section this month.
Shoppers also noticed that hot cross buns were sold in Woolworths stores on Boxing Day last year (pictured), before Aussies had celebrated New Year’s Eve
While the offering will mainly focus on food, customers will also have the chance to pick up an Australian-made Australian or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag while shopping.
Customers can also purchase additional branded items such as t-shirts, bucket hats and sunglasses.
The backflip comes after the retailer was criticized last January after shocking customers by announcing it would not stock Australia Day merchandise.
A Woolworths spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that last year’s decision was prompted by “a decline in demand in our stores”, but that this time the company’s outlets will “celebrate Australia Day as a team, and with our customers’.
“We listened and realized that many customers and teams wanted us to do more to help them celebrate this day,” the spokesperson said.