Customers at a popular UK supermarket were left scratching their heads in bewilderment after discovering the store was packed with Christmas products.
Sainsbury’s in Salford will be selling mince pies to customers three months before December 25.
While some would like to get started on preparations for the festive period, some customers at the Salford branch were not impressed.
One shopper, named Bianca, said: “I’m going to boycott these products until December 1st, when they should actually be on sale for the first time.”
The furious customer continued to ask, “My God, what has this world become?”
Sainsbury’s in Salford divided shoppers after selling out of mince pies three months before the festive season
Meanwhile, another customer called Abigail said: ‘Mince pies are not appropriate until brandy butter is available.’
Shopper Alice weighed in on the debate, saying: “Absolutely not. Mince pies are absolutely disgusting outside of December.”
“They need the Christmas spirit to be magically nice during the three weeks around Christmas and New Year.”
While some shoppers were alarmed to see Christmas items on sale in September, others were excited at the prospect of Christmas coming early.
On the topic, one shopper, Katy, said it’s a practical decision, explaining: ‘I like it when stores put out Christmas items early.
‘This means that people on a budget can shop little and often in the months leading up to Christmas.
And store things or freeze them if convenient instead of using them all at once.
Elsewhere, a customer named Jane happily added Christmas items to her cart. She said: “We bought a few, it’s never too early.”
Pictured: Some of the festive decorations and decals available to buy at Home Bargains this week
The Range has stocked its aisles with festive cushions for customers to purchase ahead of Christmas.
Pictured: Christmas decorations and baubles on display at UK retailer Home Bargains
Meanwhile, after hearing of Sainsbury’s decision, Salford resident Shirley said: “Oh, maybe I need to make a trip to Sainsbury’s.”
The supermarket isn’t the only store welcoming Christmas products into its aisles: The Range, Home Bargains, Marks and Spencer and Harrods are also launching festive ranges.
While most of us were still sweltering in the British summer heat, Harrods was gearing up for the festive season with the opening of its Christmas grotto.
The luxury retailer kicked off the snow season four months early, after kitting out its Knightsbridge store with a full floor of Christmas decorations.
The upmarket store in west London already has dozens of trees on offer, with the cheapest conifers selling for £1,429 undecorated.
The most gorgeous trees will sell for a whopping £3000 if it is a fully decorated living room staple.
For those on a tighter budget, a trophy white stag for the hallway will set you back a comparatively cheaper £1800.
Home Bargains has allowed customers to prepare for the Christmas period in September by selling off decorations.
For those who want to decorate themselves, even the glass ornaments are priced at £29.
According secret londonRetailers open their Christmas stores early to ensure there are ample opportunities for fleeting tourists to explore the full holiday selection.
Customers looking to escape the extreme weather of the August heat wave can cool off in the second-floor ice cream parlor before heading into December in the Christmas grotto.
Elsewhere, Waitrose has unveiled its Christmas food range for 2024, and the options are as stylish as you’d expect.
September may have just begun, but it’s never too early to think about holiday food.
In fact, Waitrose claims that searches for Christmas products are already up 290 per cent on last month and Brits are clearly already in the seasonal mindset.
The luxury supermarket chain has revealed details of 554 products, with 175 new ones for 2024, to be launched in the coming months.
The delicious menu puts an elegant twist on holiday classics including Santa buns, brown butter crab rolls and Wagyu sirloin.
Other favourite dishes include treacle-covered pigs in blankets and mince pies with frangipane and brown butter.
If you’re celebrating Christmas this year or even hosting a party with friends, Waitrose offers you a selection of luxury canapés.
Pictured: Some of the festive scents and candles available at Marks and Spencer in Manchester.
Festive decorations have filled the aisles of Home Bargains three months before Christmas Day.
Santa buns are an adorable and bright option for your Christmas table, decorated with Santa’s face and belly and filled with shredded vegetables and hoisin sauce.
Another option to impress your guests is the crab and brown butter crumpets, topped with a rich crab gratin.
A slightly more unusual combination is white stilton with lemon peel and limoncello for a boozy start to your Christmas meal.
As for starters, Waitrose has also put a twist on the classic prawn cocktail by adding rich brown and white crab meat topped with British lobster, and is offering a pork terrine with pistachio and apricot.
Holiday main dishes also have the boujee factor, giving you the option to spice up meals with a twist from the classic turkey and roast potatoes.
Waitrose even has a Wagyu beef sirloin with a beer malt glaze and shallot, herb and garlic crumble, which they say takes roast beef to the “next level”.
Another centerpiece is their blood orange and festively spiced ham.
Waitrose is offering its traditional range of seasonal sandwiches for a quick pre-Christmas lunch.
Maddy Wilson, Waitrose own brand director, said: ‘Christmas really is a time to shine for food lovers, creating the perfect menu to impress for all festive occasions.
‘With searches on Waitrose.com already on the rise, it’s clear this is something they’re already thinking about.
‘Whether you want options to level up even further or GOOD food with no fuss and no prep, we’ve created a range that ticks everyone’s boxes this Christmas. We hope our customers love the range as much as we do!’
And Lizzie Haywood, Waitrose innovation manager, added: ‘Food trends are constantly evolving and our customers love being able to find them in the latest innovations from Waitrose. Christmas is our chance to have some real fun and bring as many of the latest trends to our shelves as possible.
‘Whether it’s limoncello liqueur in baked goods and cheese, the delicious luxury of our new Wagyu products or the comforting classic taste of carbonara in party foods, there’s plenty for our customers to explore and get excited about this Christmas.’