SHOPPERS have mocked Marks & Spencer for selling Christmas hampers so early that the mince pies must be eaten before Halloween.
Fans reckon bosses are off their trolleys for stacking aisles with Xmas puddings plus festive cakes and chocolates before the official end of summer.
And there was ridicule over the high street giant’s festive £2.75 boxes of mince pies — decorated with pastry holly leaves — which have a best before date of October 6.
A 72-year-old shopper surveying an aisle of Yuletide treats at the M&S in Doncaster, South Yorks, shook her head and sighed: “I just don’t get it.
“Summer is not even over, and the kids are barely back in school.
“Who wants to be scoffing a mince pie in September?
“Nothing says ‘Christmas’ like having to wolf your mince pies down by early October — when we’ve not even started thinking about Halloween.
“The world has gone mad, and M&S are not helping.”
Fed-up John Bower referenced the M&S slogan: “This is not just food . . . this is M&S Food” by saying: “This not just any old PR fail . . . it’s an M&S Christmas PR fail. Bah humbug!”
Other Christmas items on shelves already include Santa-shaped chocolate bars for £1, choc festive bears at £3, packs of elf lollies for £3 and nets of golden coins for £1.25 — though these have sell-by-dates beyond December 25.
The September Christmas treats are part of a trend to begin the festive orgy of spending ever earlier.
The Sun has revealed how King Charles’s Highgrove House retreat had a range of Yuletide gift ideas for sale in mid-August.
He tells shoppers: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year and it’s time to spread the festivities to every corner of your home with a selection of our great Christmas items.”
M&S was contacted for comment.
