Waitrose has been forced to order in emergency supplies of Heston Blumenthal's Hidden Orange Christmas puddings after they sold out for the second year running.
The supermarket had tripled orders for the celebrity chef's popular puds this year but has seen their entire stock fly off the shelves after going on sale in September.
In 2010, the 1.2kg pudding attracted bids of up to ?250 on eBay when a sudden surge in demand decimated stocks.
This year the gourmet puddings are already being offered on the auction website for up to ?150.
Demand for the dessert and its new 227g version, has again caught the retailer by surprise. By the beginning of November, sales had already surpassed the 2010 levels.
Now Waitrose has increased total orders of Heston puddings to ten times last year's figure in a bid to replenish stocks and ensure the puds remain available throughout the festive season.
Trade magazine The Grocer reported that on its online message boards, the supermarket promised considerably more stock would be delivered in early December and apologised to those customers unable to find the pudding in local stores.
In reply to customers asking whether more puds would arrive in time for Christmas the retailer replied: ' Demand for Heston puddings again this year has been immense.'
One shopper asked' ' With weeks to go, will further supplies be forthcoming? Does this signify we will once again witness the ?250 pud on Ebay?'
The magazine reported that more than 300 sellers have already put Heston puddings up for sale on the auction site as prices as high as pounds 200.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...and-soars.html
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Some people with more money than sense I think out there. Just spotted someone trying to sell one for ?190
The supermarket had tripled orders for the celebrity chef's popular puds this year but has seen their entire stock fly off the shelves after going on sale in September.
In 2010, the 1.2kg pudding attracted bids of up to ?250 on eBay when a sudden surge in demand decimated stocks.
This year the gourmet puddings are already being offered on the auction website for up to ?150.
Demand for the dessert and its new 227g version, has again caught the retailer by surprise. By the beginning of November, sales had already surpassed the 2010 levels.
Now Waitrose has increased total orders of Heston puddings to ten times last year's figure in a bid to replenish stocks and ensure the puds remain available throughout the festive season.
Trade magazine The Grocer reported that on its online message boards, the supermarket promised considerably more stock would be delivered in early December and apologised to those customers unable to find the pudding in local stores.
In reply to customers asking whether more puds would arrive in time for Christmas the retailer replied: ' Demand for Heston puddings again this year has been immense.'
One shopper asked' ' With weeks to go, will further supplies be forthcoming? Does this signify we will once again witness the ?250 pud on Ebay?'
The magazine reported that more than 300 sellers have already put Heston puddings up for sale on the auction site as prices as high as pounds 200.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...and-soars.html
-------------------------
Some people with more money than sense I think out there. Just spotted someone trying to sell one for ?190
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