Christmas comes VERY early: Puddings appear in supermarkets

[luke]

Christmas comes VERY early: Puddings appear on supermarket shelves with 93 days to go

There are 93 days to go until the big day but already Christmas puddings are lining the shelves of supermarkets around the country.

With summer barely over, retail giants are racing to hawk festive treats to shoppers still trying to get a few more wears out of their sandals.

Puddings were spotted on shelves at Mark & Spencer in Weymouth, Dorset, and the high-end chain has launched its Christmas range and discounted its luxury chocolates.

Sainsbury's selections boxes have hit the shops and Tesco are stocking a new, Value Christmas pudding for just £1.


Glad tidings? Christmas puddings on the shelves of Marks & Spencer in Weymouth, Dorset, with 93 days still to go until December 25

Supermarkets are taking no risks of low sales this winter, countering the economic crisis with aggressive marketing tactics and beginning their seasonal campaigns well in advance.

M&S's popular Swiss Chocolates are half price, their Belgian Chocolate giftboxes have a third off and they are offering three-for-two deals on individual Christmas puddings.

Sainsbury's Festive biscuits - including the Cadbury's chocolate range - are half price and they have slashed the cost of their Taste The Difference Christmas Pudding to just £3.75 for the next three weeks.

Tesco have even sparked a battle for the children's market with tubs of Haribo's Christmas sweets on sale at half price.


Santa's coming: M&S have slashed the price of selection boxes in the hope shoppers will start buying now

While some are irritated every year by the months of promotions in the run up to the festive period, others see it as a chance to spread out their spending and save money.

Tesco insisted it was responding to the demands of its shoppers. A spokeswoman said: 'Our customers have told us they want to be able to buy the things which will last now and start stocking up early.

'Tins of chocolates and biscuits are popular buys just now. The trick is to remember where you stash them when you get them home.'


Sleigh bells ring: Sainsbury's have reduced the price of their Christmas pudding for the next three weeks only

Earlier this week, the boss of Britain's biggest toymakers described trading conditions as the bleakest in 40 years this Christmas.

Richard King, chief executive of Character Group who produce Go Go Hamsters, said parents would make huge savings as stores were forced to cut prices to win their custom.

He said: 'It's going to be a bloodbath. There is going to be a lot of promotional pricing.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2040715/Christmas-comes-VERY-early-Puddings-supermarket-shelves-93-days-go.html

i quite fancy a mince pie now

[Brown Sauce]

roy wood has a lot to answer for ..