Sainsbury’s shoppers stunned to spot CHRISTMAS cupcakes on the shelves in store

SHOPPERS were left stunned today when they spotted Christmas Cupcakes on sale in Sainsbury’s - either TEN months early or TWO months late.

With 318 days to go it seems the retailer might be stealing a march on competitors by getting into the festive spirit first.

Either that or they've got a job lot of chocolate snowflakes they want to get rid of.

One customer who spotted the treats in a branch of the superstore in Epsom, Surrey said: “I could hardly believe it when I saw the cupcakes.

“I’ve hardly gotten over last Christmas and now they’re already selling cupcakes for the next one.

“It seems a bit previous.”

The 85p cakes are described as being “topped with chocolate flavour frosting and a white chocolate snowflake”.

This afternoon the retailer blamed their surprise appearance on a labelling error.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “Although some of us may wish it could be Christmas every day, these are, in fact, our Chocolate Star Cupcakes. They’re now being displayed with the correct label.”

The shock discovery comes after Waitrose was blasted for selling Christmas goods more than SIX months early.

We told how last June the supermarket beat its rivals by getting festive products like mulled wine and mincemeat on its shelves.

McFly star Tom Fletcher told his fans of the unexpected sight at his local branch.

He said: “Shopping with Buddy and he wants me to buy this…I know he’s only 4 months old and can hardly hold his own head up but I know what he wants.”

While others bemoaned the early product placement.

Evie Pugh posted: “Nooo!!! Found Christmas mulled wine in #waitrose , how could they , its only just turning summer???? @waitrose”.

And on New Year’s Eve we revealed how EASTER EGGS had begun appearing on shop shelves - over FOUR months early.

Shocked social media users labelled it as “utterly ridiculous” some supermarkets’ rush to get the Easter 2017 countdown underway.

Many of the eggs already on sale will go out of date before Easter, which falls on 16 April.

Shopper Tracy Sword said: “Utterly ridiculous just had Christmas and Easter eggs in the shops yesterday!!!!! No wonder the years passing so quickly [sic]”.

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