Coles already stocking hot cross buns for Boxing Day, Woolies to follow

Opinions have been divided after Coles started selling hot cross buns on Boxing Day - and Woolies won’t be far behind.

Coles has entered the battle for hot cross bun supremacy five months early, already stocking the Easter favourite across shelves.

Shocked shoppers have already noticed the range buns on sale at Coles this Boxing Day.

Woolworths says it will soon follow.

Coles Head of Bakery Operations Shaun Percy said the early sales were based off a growing demand for the sweet treat outside of the Easter period.

Last year, more than 1.6 million hot cross buns - about 124,000kg worth of buns - were sold within just five days of landing across stores.

Mr Percy said there was a strong demand to see the treats on shelves as soon as possible.

“Our bakers are constantly being asked by customers when they can get their hands on our delicious hot cross buns,” Mr Percy said.

Hot cross bun enthusiasts have celebrated the move but others are divided on the sudden announcement so far ahead of Easter.

Coles has already started selling hot cross buns. Picture: Supplied

One Twitter user angrily wrote: “I will refuse to buy hot cross buns until 1 month prior to the Easter period! You have to be desperate to get them now.”

Another suggested googling how to freeze the buns in case “Easter 2021 is in lockdown”

Youtuber Gillian Bower questioned why the supermarket chain was so keen to have hot cross buns on the shelves less than a day after Christmas.

Woolworths said it would have its range of delicate treats ready by New Year’s Eve.

A Woolworths spokesman said up to 17 million hot cross buns usually fly off the shelves by the end of January alone.

The Victorian town of Cowes had the biggest craving for hot cross buns, with Coles sales data revealing 6510 buns were sold their last year.

TOP TOWNS THAT LOVE HOT CROSS BUNS BELOW:

NSW:

KINCUMBER - 5064

CASTLE HILL - 4842

PENRITH - 4830

BROADWAY (Ultimo) - 4110

BATEMANS BAY - 3912

GREEN HILLS - 3786

ERINA - 3678

CHATSWOOD CHASE - 3648

TUGGERAH - 3492

CASULA - 3492

VIC

COWES - 6510

WAURN PONDS - 6096

TAYLORS HILL - 4476

MILDURA - 4284

YARRAVILLE - 4062

CHIRNSIDE PARK - 4002

GREENSBOROUGH - 3858

COBURG NORTH - 3828

SOUTHLAND (Cheltenham) - 3780

POINT COOK - 3678

QLD

CAIRNS CENTRAL (Cains) - 5328

CARINDALE - 5034

NORTH LAKES - 4584

MANGO HILL - 4068

TOOMBUL (Nundah) - 3984

THE PINES (Elanora) - 3582

BAY CENTRAL (Hervey Bay) - 3522

CALOUNDRA - 3396

SUNNYBANK HILLS (Sunnybank) - 3324

ASPLEY HYPERMARKT (Aspley) - 3228

SA

MARION (Oaklands Park) - 3888

REYNELLA (Morphett Vale) - 3108

ST AGNES - 3060

WEST LAKES - 3030

TEA TREE PLAZA (Modbury) - 2694

GAWLER GREEN (Evanston) - 2658

VICTOR HARBOR - 2574

MURRAY BRIDGE GREEN (Murray Bridge) - 2514

NT

CASUARINA - 2010

PALMERSTON (Darwin) - 1644

COOLALINGA - 1638

ALICE SPRINGS - 1590

DARWIN - 1476

OASIS PALMERSTON (Darwin) - 1368

NORTHLAKES (Marrara) - 1086

ACT

CANBERRA CIVIC (Canberra) - 2532

BELCONNEN - 1956

CURTIN - 1944

GUNGAHLIN -1902

AMAROO - 1572

MANUKA (Griffith) - 1452

QUEANBEYAN - 1284

WODEN PLAZA (Woden) -1254

TAS

RACECOURSE (Launceston) - 2802

GLENORCHY -2376

KINGSTON - 2166

MEADOW MEWS (Kings Meadow) - 2058

EASTLANDS (Rosny Park) - 2022

DEVONPORT - 1986

BRIDGEWATER - 1554

NEWSTEAD - 1434

MOWBRAY - 1410

SORELL - 1356

WA

ELLENBROOK - 6408

WARWICK GROVE (Warwick) - 5100

JOONDALUP - 4578

OCEAN KEYS (Clarkson) - 4482

KARDINYA - 4452

DUNSBOROUGH - 4428

BALDIVIS - 4086

MIRRABOOKA - 3750

WANNEROO - 3714

AUSTRALIND - 3660

Source: Coles sales data