and mince pies are on sale
Mincing around: The season to be jolly tis approaching
Temperatures are still nudging 20c and the children are barely back at school after summer ? it must be time to start the Christmas preparations.
Mince pies and Santas made of milk chocolate are hitting supermarket shelves a mere 104 days before the main event.
Sainsbury?s was first to get in on the act, with packets of mince pies appearing in stores on September 1.
This week they were joined by Christmas puddings and large ?5 tins of Quality Street.
Decorations are not far behind, expected to be in stores later this month.
Last week Tesco and Asda started selling large tins of sweets and Morrisons began building up its Christmas range on Monday, according to the Grocer magazine
But their enthusiasm is not exactly shared by David Meara, Archdeacon of London, who said selling festive products so early was ?to the detriment of the spirit of Christmas?.
He said: ?With products sold in September, by the time December comes you?re totally fed up. The danger is people won?t appreciate Christmas for what it is as it becomes much less fresh and thought-provoking.?
Malcolm Pinkerton, from retail analysts verdict, said: ?I think consumers are still hoping the summer hasn?t gone.?
However a Sainsbury?s spokesman said retailers were only responding to consumer demand. He said: ?It helps them spread the cost of Christmas and manage their budgets.?
Tesco has been selling milk chocolate Santas for ?1 since September 8 and Asda has been stocking large tins of sweets such as Cadbury Heroes and Roses.
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Only 104 days to Christmas go... and mince pies are on sale | Mail Online
Mincing around: The season to be jolly tis approachingTemperatures are still nudging 20c and the children are barely back at school after summer ? it must be time to start the Christmas preparations.
Mince pies and Santas made of milk chocolate are hitting supermarket shelves a mere 104 days before the main event.
Sainsbury?s was first to get in on the act, with packets of mince pies appearing in stores on September 1.
This week they were joined by Christmas puddings and large ?5 tins of Quality Street.
Decorations are not far behind, expected to be in stores later this month.
Last week Tesco and Asda started selling large tins of sweets and Morrisons began building up its Christmas range on Monday, according to the Grocer magazine
But their enthusiasm is not exactly shared by David Meara, Archdeacon of London, who said selling festive products so early was ?to the detriment of the spirit of Christmas?.
He said: ?With products sold in September, by the time December comes you?re totally fed up. The danger is people won?t appreciate Christmas for what it is as it becomes much less fresh and thought-provoking.?
Malcolm Pinkerton, from retail analysts verdict, said: ?I think consumers are still hoping the summer hasn?t gone.?
However a Sainsbury?s spokesman said retailers were only responding to consumer demand. He said: ?It helps them spread the cost of Christmas and manage their budgets.?
Tesco has been selling milk chocolate Santas for ?1 since September 8 and Asda has been stocking large tins of sweets such as Cadbury Heroes and Roses.
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Only 104 days to Christmas go... and mince pies are on sale | Mail Online
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