Hot debate, but hot cross buns are on the shelves

THE new age debate about when hot cross buns should be sold can become quite heated.

Nevertheless, Coles placed its first batch of Easter treats on supermarket shelves on Friday, a day earlier than last year.

The retailer released data showing Mildura ranked No.4 among Victorian regions for hot cross bun sales, last year selling 6877 buns at the end of December alone.

Coles Fifteenth Street store manager Michael Topp said he was not surprised by the figures.

“The bakers were even saying last year they know they have been putting that amount of buns through the oven so we know they are in high demand,” he said.

More than 2.1 million buns were sold across Australia in the first four days of the launch last year and a Coles customer survey showed 53 per cent of customers enjoyed the treat outside the Easter holiday period.

Mr Topp said despite the numbers of people who don’t like the treats hitting the shelves early, the store received little negative feedback.

“We don’t very often get negative feedback — a little bit here and there — but we don’t find anyone gets too upset about it,” he said.

“We are a customer-driven business and if our customers didn’t want them then we wouldn’t bake them.”

Aside from the traditional 100 per cent Aussie fruit flavour, last year Coles also offered chocolate and gluten-free varieties.

Coles category manager Frederick Hancock said there would be even more varieties for customers this year.

“While the traditional hot cross bun with 100 per cent Aussie fruit remains a favourite, we are looking forward to delighting our customers with some new and exciting flavours over the coming weeks,” he said.

The sweet treats will be available from now until the end of the Easter holidays in all Coles supermarkets.

“We are expecting them to go really well, customers love them,” Mr Topp said.

“They certainly sell straightaway so we know customers love them.”