SHOPPERS have spotted that the early push of Christmas goodies in Sainsbury’s means products run out well BEFORE the festive period.
The supermarket giant, like many others, is gearing up for Christmas early, packing its aisles with seasonal goodies – that go out of date in November.
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Anyone buying their £1 a box festive mince pies will find they will not last until the festive season.
Shoppers spotted that a carton of six on sale this week at a store in Halifax, West Yorks, had a sell by date of November 14.
Christmas day isn’t for another 40 days after that expiry date, so shoppers who love the festive treat will inevitably have to buy more closer to the time.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “Each year we stock some festive products in advance of the main Christmas period.
“This is because some customers like to buy gifts and longer life items in plenty of time, or treat themselves early.”
The store has also already reduced boxes of its Taste the Difference pies, as they are already discounted to £1.50 from £2.
Other Yuletide treats on sale were Christmas cakes, Xmas puddings and panettone.
But Sainsbury’s has reassured customers that more stock will arrive in time for the festivities, it just means you can enjoy Christmas a little early and restock when you need to.
It seems Christmas items appear in the shops earlier every year, with examples of B&M bargains starting way back in July.
Even before that some shoppers cashed in on an early Christmas as Aldi stocked mince pies in June for families getting together when Covid rules were due to relax.
More recently though, a customer uploaded a snap of festive grub in the Sainsbury’s in Greater Manchester to Instagram and wrote: “Sorry, I didn’t realise it was Christmas already.”
Bargain hunters across the UK have been shocked to see scented candles, wrapping paper, and a whole host of perishable food items all centred around the holiday that isn’t due to take place for another four months.
It’s not just Sainsbury’s either as shoppers have taken to Twitter to share their baffled finds of Christmas goodies across all the major supermarkets.
One user tweeted just a few days ago, bewildered, saying: “Tesco has Christmas stock already?”
To which another user replied: “A lot of it, mince pies especially, go out of date in November.”
One commented under a picture of the Sainsbury’s mince pies: “Those mince pies are surely out of date before Christmas? That’s for gluttons, not the well organised.”
In the conversation though, one user shared their advice on cashing in on the early product launches and stocking up ahead of the busy period.
They said: “The tins of celebrations etc worth hoarding, but vast majority of what I eat over xmas is fresh stuff.
“They get it out early so people buy, eat it, buy again to replace etc.”
Meanwhile another user said: “Just been to Tesco and cannot believe that at the beginning of September they have a Christmas aisle…..and even more so that one of the sections is practically sold out!”
While another user said “Mince pies will be out of date before November, wasted money if they bought for xmas.”
But while the supermarkets are busy rolling out Christmas goods there are fears that the food shortages most are currently facing won’t have been resolved by December.
It doesn’t mean that shoppers can’t be excited for the new products though, just as many were with M&S’ unveiling of its 2021 festive range.
The works has launched Disney, Marvel and the Gruffalo book advent calendars too, with the added incentive that they’re 40% off.
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